The Kunming Biodiversity Fund has approved 22 projects as its first full-size initiatives, supporting 34 countries across all regions to meet global biodiversity commitments, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced. Launched in May 2024, the fund aims to speed up implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – the international roadmap to halt and reverse nature loss.
One million species face extinction largely due to human activities, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Three-quarters of land-based environments and two-thirds of marine areas have been dramatically altered. This accelerating biodiversity loss threatens economies, livelihoods, food security, and health worldwide.
The fund focuses on taking a whole-of-society approach to address nature and biodiversity loss, improving policies at national and subnational levels, building capacity and cooperation, and mobilizing more resources. HUANG Runqiu, Minister of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, says the fund should uphold fairness, openness, and transparency while strengthening supervision and management of projects.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen says biodiversity is vanishing at an alarming pace, which is why the fund is moving quickly—approving projects and channeling finance to developing countries that need it most. “The 22 newly approved projects, that will benefit at least 34 countries, will fast-track efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in line with global goals,” she said. But she adds there’s much more to do, inviting other partners to join and help mobilize more funding.
Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, says the endorsement represents a big step for implementation. “Through the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, countries will be better equipped to align their national strategies and strengthen implementation to turn commitments into action,” she said.
