Uni part of climate scheme

VULNERABLE communities in the developing world will be better placed to cope with the effects of climate change, thanks to an initiative coordinated by Edinburgh University.

The scheme will encourage people in some of the world's poorest communities to develop more fully the economic potential of their natural environment. Among those it seeks to benefit are South Asian farmers facing changing monsoon patterns and Chinese villagers whose lands are at risk of being turned to desert.

The 40 million Ecosystems Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme is funded by the Department for International Development, Natural Environment Research Council and Economic and Social Research Council. Edinburgh University will receive a grant of 8m to host the ESPA directorate.