The UK Blue Belt programme is at the forefront of international marine protection and will make a significant contribution towards the UK’s commitment to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s target to protect 10% of the world’s coastal and marine areas by 2020. This programme will help to provide long term protection of over four million square kilometres of marine environment across the UK Overseas Territories.
Professor Dickon Howell has been providing expert strategic and technical advice, and support on developing and implementing Integrated Marine Management in UK Overseas Territories to the UK Government through the Blue Belt Programme. This has included work on marine regulation, Marine Protected Area management, marine spatial planning and technology innovation.