Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Accepted in Part
Increase long-term funding for British Antarctic Survey terrestrial biodiversity research and ecological specialists.
Recommendation
To address this urgent gap, the Government should increase long-term core funding to the British Antarctic Survey to support its terrestrial biodiversity research. Investment should prioritise the recruitment, training, and retention of ecological specialists, ensuring sustained expertise in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems. (Recommendation, Paragraph 143) 98
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, explaining that Antarctic research priorities have evolved beyond traditional terrestrial ecosystems and that funding for talented researchers and competitive project grants is available through existing mechanisms like UKRI and NERC, but does not commit to increasing *core* funding specifically for BAS's terrestrial biodiversity research.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government partially accepts this recommendation. 32. Historically, the study of terrestrial ecosystems was a major focus of all Antarctic research programmes since it was a readily accessible environment for science expeditions. With the advent of new scientific understanding, technologies, methods and logistics, investigation of a greater variety of Antarctic environments is now critical to understand how the rapid climate change we are seeing in this region is impacting the global environment and the lives of people across the planet. Priorities in Antarctic terrestrial research now include understanding biodiversity changes in Antarctica resulting from warming, especially in microbial communities, and the introduction of alien species from outside the continent. 33. DSIT supports the development of talented researchers across the range of discipline and career levels, principally through funding to UKRI and the four National Academies. In the last SR (2022/23–24/25), this was backed by more than £2.5bn of funding, and over £900m has been allocated to UKRI and the Academies for 2025/26. This ensures the UK continues to support ground-breaking discovery and applied research, and can attract, develop, and retain talented scientists, researchers and innovators across all career stages. 34. Funding for Antarctic terrestrial science is available to UK researchers on a competitive basis, from NERC and other funders including EU programmes. BAS is prioritising its research on areas of Antarctic change that have a global impact.