As recess gets underway for party conferences, there has been some very interesting feline news that reminds us of the work that still needs to be done to protect biodiversity here in the UK, and worldwide. You might have heard that a new cat species Leopardus tilcayo has been classified in Bolivia. Interestingly, though a discovery for the scientific community, indigenous communities in the Andes have lived alongside this cat for generations.
The Labour Government recognises that if we are to protect biodiversity in places that matter most, like in the Andes or Amazon rainforest, where the tilcayo live, we must engage with indigenous communities. In the UK–Brazil Strategic Partnership 2026 to 2030, we have committed to promoting the rights of indigenous peoples to encourage their participation in the management of natural resources. Or as a part of the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund’s Andes Amazon Project, the Government is working with their counterparts in Ecuador and Peru, indigenous communities, and local organisations to create 50,000 hectares of new protected areas, and increase sustainability of 2.86 million hectares of indigenous land. This project is proudly funded by UK International Development.
The indigenous people’s knowledge of a cat species we only recently ‘discovered’ is testament to the expertise local communities have. It is our responsibility to promote this local knowledge so that preserving our natural world is driven by those who have the know-how to do it.
International environmental degradation doesn’t care for national borders. Working with other countries to protect the Amazon and Andes can teach us about how we can protect our habitats and wildlife in the UK. Our native breed of wildcat, the Scottish Wildcat, who almost went extinct, are set to be released in more places in Scotland. Climate events have harmed the Scottish Wildcat population and Scotland’s Wildcat Strategy is planning out how we can restore their numbers.
Whether it’s the release of wildcats in Scotland, beavers in London, or protecting the environment of the tilcayo, if we are to restore habitats, we must cooperate internationally.