Mourant-administered trust supports major Durrell conservation project

11.08.06

The Amazon Trust, a Jersey charitable trust administered by Mourant, is funding an innovative training programme being run by Durrell’s International Training Centre for professional conservationists in the Islands of the Pacific.

The funding will enable experts from Durrell’s International Training Centre to run a three year programme of training courses specifically tailored to meet the needs of island conservationists, which will equip them with a comprehensive and effective conservation ’toolbox’ to help threatened island species recover from the brink of extinction. The funding will also allow Durrell to offer continued support to conservationists from the region, many of whom are operating in isolation and with little support from the outside world, through the production and distribution of an island species conservation handbook.

Two Durrell experts leave their Jersey headquarters next week to run the first of these programmes in the Galapagos where Durrell is already well recognised within the conservation community. It is planned to run courses in Samoa in 2007 and Fiji in 2008.

Chris Clark, Head of Durrell’s International Training Centre expressed his delight at the funding from the Amazon Trust. "This grant represents a tremendous opportunity to apply charitable resources within Jersey for the betterment of conservation activities on Islands in the Pacific region. The Trust and valued colleagues will share a wealth of experience in addressing the problems facing biodiversity on Islands worldwide with local conservation workers. The first of these three courses could be held in no more appropriate a place than the Galapagos Islands, the home of island biogeography made so famous by the voyages of Charles Darwin."

Nicola Davies, Chief Executive of Mourant, expressed pleasure at being able to aid the international conservation work of a Jersey-based charity. "We are very impressed with Durrell’s vision in conceiving this important three year training programme. As trustees of the Amazon Trust, we are delighted to be able to donate £221,000 in support of Durrell’s mission of saving endangered species from extinction."

The Amazon Trust is a charitable trust administered by Mourant in the course of its international financial services business. It was established in 1995 in connection with an executive incentive scheme structured for a Mourant client which was subsequently acquired by Barclays PLC.

For more information about Durrell please visit their web site.