When the UK leaves the EU, the Falklands Conservation initiative (and other NGOs) could lose crucial funding previously received from the European Commission - funding that helps protect biodiversity and ecosystems in European territories overseas. 

This means that animals such as penguins could be at severe risk - because the money to protect them isn’t there anymore. We cannot let this happen!

Many don't know that the UK is actually responsible for more penguins than any other nation on earth. The Falkland Islands, a British territory, are home to a third of the world’s southern rockhopper penguins and gentoo penguins. Around a million penguins nest in the Falklands every summer.

I’m asking the Government to ensure that when the UK leaves the EU, the equivalent funding the EU gave is put towards conservation within the Falklands. If this doesn’t happen we will possibly lose an integral part of our global ecological system.

This is an issue much greater than the ultimatum held by 'BREXIT'. The lives and protection of these species should be greater than any other political concern we may hold.

Over-fishing, tourism, unlicensed egg-collecting, and exotic diseases like avian pox all propose a threat to penguins because of low resistance among the isolated populations. We need to protect these precious animals, and not let Brexit get in the way of this.

I am a 17 year old student who operates a conservation agency (@ecoidentity) and I am passionate about ensuring the protection of these crucial ecosystems. I ask you kindly to sign and share this petition as a large public concern is what will draw this issue to Parliament's concern.