| The Overseas Territories |
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The British Overseas Territories (formerly known as a dependent territories or earlier as a crown colonies) are territories that are under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom, though not part of the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). Overseas territories should be distinguished from crown dependencies (the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, which have a different constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom), and protectorates (which were not formally under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom).
They should also not be confused with Commonwealth realms, which are independent states sharing the same sovereign as the United Kingdom.
At one time, most crown colonies were directly administered by officials appointed by the British government.
Today, however most overseas territories are self-governing territories, only relying on Britain for defence, foreign affairs, and some trade issues. |
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Overseas territories have never been considered integral parts of the United Kingdom, and have never had representation in the British Parliament, on the grounds that they are separate jurisdictions. This is in contrast to other European countries, such as France, Denmark, and the Netherlands, whose dependencies have varying degrees of integration with their so-called 'mother countries'. Only in Malta was integration ever seriously considered by the British Government, in 1955, but this was later abandoned, while in Gibraltar it was rejected in 1976.
UK government policy on overseas territories is set out in the 1999 White Paper Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories. Click HERE to read.
Their continued relationship with Britain is, based on the democratic principle of self determination. They have chosen to remain British! |
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Gibraltarians celebrating the 300th anniversary of British control in Gibraltar |
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Where are the Overseas Territories? |
| UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum |
The UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum exists to promote the co-ordinated conservation of the diverse and increasingly threatened plant and animal species and natural habitats of UK's Overseas Territories (UKOTs) and Crown Dependencies. It aims to do this by providing assistance in the form of expertise, information and liaison between non- governmental organisations and governments, both in the UK and in the Territories themselves.
Founded in 1987, the Forum has gained worldwide support and recognition as being the best source of information and expertise on conservation in UK's Overseas Territories by both Governmental and non-governmental organisations. |
To raise public awareness about the wealth of biodiversity in UKOTs, and potential threats
To facilitate the implementation of international conservation conventions
To promote compilations of existing data, surveys of biodiversity and ecological studies, to inform plans for sustainable use and conservation
To assist the development of biodiversity targets and action plans to achieve these for each UKOT
To network information amongst UK and its Overseas Territories conservation groups, governments, educators and environmentalists
To support conservation groups in the UKOTs, and to publicise conservation activities and successes
To facilitate design and management of projects
To seek funding for projects in the UKOTs and for Forum activities |
| To find out more about conservation in the Overseas Territories, click HERE. |
| UK Overseas Territories Association - UKOTA |
| UKOTA exists to promote the interests of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories and co-operation between them. Specifically UKOTA demonstrates the collective and individual partnerships between the territories and Her Majesty’s Government. |
| To find out more about the UK Overseas Territories Association, click HERE. |
