Why in news?
Seven countries—Cook Islands, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Uganda—have received a total of US $5.8 million from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund to support projects that make agriculture more nature‑friendly. The grants were announced under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Background
The Kunming Biodiversity Fund is a multi‑partner trust fund established in 2021 during the first part of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. China pledged 1.5 billion yuan (about US $200 million) to launch the fund. It operates under the leadership of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with the Convention’s secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme providing oversight. The fund helps developing countries implement their national biodiversity strategies and action plans.
Latest projects
- Mainstreaming biodiversity: Madagascar, Mexico and Uganda will integrate biodiversity considerations into their agrifood systems to promote sustainable farming practices.
- Community empowerment: The Cook Islands will use agro‑ecological approaches and develop data systems that empower local communities to manage their resources.
- Controlling invasive species: Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal and Sri Lanka will receive support to manage invasive alien species that threaten native plants and animals.
- Enhancing ecosystem resilience: Turkey’s project focuses on strengthening community resilience around Lake Eğirdir, a biodiversity‑rich area affected by pollution and agricultural run‑off.
About the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
- Adopted in December 2022, the framework sets 23 targets for 2030 and four long‑term goals for 2050. The overarching vision is to achieve harmony with nature by mid‑century.
- Targets include conserving at least 30 percent of the world’s land and sea areas, restoring 30 percent of degraded ecosystems and mobilising significant financial resources to close the estimated US $700 billion annual biodiversity finance gap.
- The framework encourages all stakeholders—from governments and businesses to Indigenous peoples—to act in synergy.
Why it matters
- Narrowing the finance gap: Developing countries often lack funds to implement ambitious biodiversity plans; the Kunming fund helps bridge this gap.
- Supporting sustainable agriculture: By promoting agro‑ecological practices and managing invasive species, the funded projects contribute to healthier soils, cleaner water and resilient food systems.
- Encouraging international solidarity: The fund illustrates cooperation between nations to protect nature, complementing other mechanisms like the recently launched Cali Fund, which channels private resources derived from digital sequencing information.
Source: Down To Earth