Photo (L–R): Sarah Hulton OBE, Kedell Worboys MBE, Will Stone MP, Katie-Jo Luxton, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, Andrew Rosindell MP
90% of the biodiversity that the British Government has responsibility for resides in the UK Overseas Territories (OT). And one of the most isolated ecosystems in the OT’s is St Helena, an island situated 1,874 kilometers from London. On the Island of St Helena, the Peaks National Park is home to 250 species that are found nowhere else on earth.
The St Helena Cloud Forest Project (SHCFP), launched in 2021, founded to protect and restore the Cloud Forest of St Helena, has made significant progress in restoring the island’s unique habitat, a vital source of water and biodiversity for the territory.
Over the past four years, the project has led efforts to regenerate native plant species, improve climate and water monitoring systems, and build local capacity for long-term environmental management. Located in the island’s highest peaks, the cloud forest is not only home to dozens of rare endemic species, but also plays a critical role in capturing moisture and maintaining water security for the island’s population.
The SHCFP has been managed on the ground by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and has been supported by the UK Government through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, the Integrated Security Fund, and the Darwin Plus initiative funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
To mark the project’s success, a reception was held on 7 April 2025, hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Island Innovation was represented by Sustainable Development Manager, Arianna Abdul-Nour, and Sustainable Economic Development Manager, Adam Ó Ceallaigh.
Alongside them, the event brought together more than 75 guests, including UK Parliamentarians, FCDO and Defra officials, SHCFP partners, and St Helenian students based in the UK. Key speakers included Environment Minister for St Helena Christine Scipio, Interim Director for the FCDO Overseas Territories and Polar Regions Directorate Sarah Hulton, and RSPB Executive Director of Global Conservation Katie-Jo Luxton.
During the reception, it was announced that the SHCFP will receive a one-year bridging grant through the FCDO’s Overseas Territories Climate Security Programme. This new funding will ensure that the project’s momentum continues while additional long-term support is secured.
In response to this, Colby Thomas a St. Helenian Student in the University of Exeter said: “Securing the next phase of funding is a major milestone, but continued investment is essential to protect the remarkable biodiversity of the cloud forest and ensure the island’s natural heritage thrives for generations to come.”
Elizabeth Cairns-Wicks welcomed the funding by saying: “As a young islander who has already witnessed the extinction of the St Helenian olive tree that once grew in this cloud forest, it is of great relief that the FDCO have committed funds to continue conservation work.” She went on to say “With funding there is hope to create a global success story – we stand together to not witness anymore extinction.”
