conservation scientists are dismayed at the proposed cuts to uk 's biodiversity programme. An as yet unpublished internal review by the department of environment ( doe ) recommends the scaling down of the programme and also reduce its bird conservation activities. Critics argue that doe has worked rather slowly on this programme. For instance, it took 17 years to designate 136 sites as special protection areas for bird conservation under European laws. The status of another 130 sites are still awaiting confirmation.

The attempt to effect cuts comes at an inopportune time, considering that the un Convention on Biological Diversity is being held from November 4-15 this year in Argentina, where uk will be formally represented by John Gummer, the environment secretary. uk 's response to the un Biodiversity Convention has been to complete 116