Global environmental leaders have hailed the Kunming Biodiversity Fund as a transformative force in advancing worldwide conservation initiatives, particularly across developing nations. Established by China in May 2024 with a substantial commitment of 1.5 billion yuan ($213 million), this international financing mechanism is rapidly scaling up biodiversity protection projects worldwide.
At the recent seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, Elizabeth Mrema, deputy executive director of the UN Environment Programme, revealed the fund’s significant progress. The initiative has established an Independent Technical Advisory Group, launched calls for catalytic and full-size projects, and implemented operational manuals to ensure consistency and efficiency in its conservation efforts.
The fund addresses a critical financing gap hindering implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022. In a major development last October, the initiative endorsed 22 comprehensive projects valued at $27 million, supporting biodiversity action across 34 countries. These projects are translating global commitments into tangible national actions through policy strengthening, capacity building, and resource mobilization.
Steven Victor, Environment Minister of Palau, emphasized the fund’s importance for Pacific Island nations facing unique challenges. “Food system transformation is critical for Palau, where we import 80 percent of our food,” Victor noted. He expressed hope that the project would provide scientific foundation and expertise needed to restore traditional connections with nature while addressing modern conservation needs.
Sri Lanka’s Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi highlighted how the fund will support creation of a unified national biosecurity system to proactively address invasive species. “This investment is transformative,” Patabendi stated, explaining that it will institutionalize a comprehensive framework for invasive species prevention and establish a national digital monitoring system for real-time response capabilities.
China’s Vice-Minister of Ecology and Environment Guo Fang reiterated the fund’s role in advancing global biodiversity governance and supporting developing countries in achieving 2030 conservation targets. The initiative represents China’s commitment to multilateralism and building a shared future for humanity, while playing a leading role in narrowing the global biodiversity financing gap.