Seven countries have received $5.8 million in funding from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF) to promote nature-friendly agricultural practices. This initiative, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, is part of the broader Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which aims to close the global biodiversity finance gap and accelerate progress toward international conservation targets.
The funding will support projects in the Cook Islands, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Uganda, focusing on biodiversity integration, community empowerment, and invasive species management. These projects aim to strengthen the link between agriculture and biodiversity by encouraging sustainable practices that protect ecosystems while supporting rural livelihoods.
The KBF, established in 2021 by China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme and partners, was launched during the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. With an initial pledge of 1.5 billion yuan (about $200 million) from China, the fund assists developing countries in implementing the KMGBF’s ambitious goals to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
This financial support comes amid global efforts to close an estimated $700 billion annual biodiversity finance gap. Alongside other mechanisms like the recently launched Cali Fund, which supports Indigenous Peoples and local communities through fair benefit-sharing, the KBF represents a significant step toward mobilizing resources for biodiversity conservation.
The newly funded projects will align national agricultural systems with biodiversity goals, empower communities through knowledge-sharing and traditional practices, manage invasive species, and promote sustainable water and land use. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu praised the initiative, noting that it will help developing countries advance biodiversity objectives through sustainable agriculture while strengthening food diversity and climate resilience.
