With 22 endorsed initiatives across 34 countries, the Kunming Biodiversity Fund accelerates efforts to reverse global nature loss under the Kunming-Montreal framework.
NAIROBI — In a significant move for global biodiversity conservation, the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF) has endorsed its first full-size projects — 22 initiatives that will support 34 countries spanning regions and ecosystems. The announcement, made on October 24, 2025, marks a key milestone in the Fund’s mission to help nations deliver on the commitments of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
Launched in May 2024, the KBF has quickly matured into a comprehensive funding mechanism, focused on scaling national and local actions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss — a threat that endangers ecosystems, food security, livelihoods, and human health worldwide.
“Globally, biodiversity is vanishing at an alarming pace,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “The Kunming Biodiversity Fund is moving quickly — approving projects and channeling finance to developing countries that need it most.”
One Fund, Global Impact
The 22 endorsed projects represent a full suite of strategic initiatives designed to deliver tangible biodiversity outcomes. They are built to support national biodiversity strategies (NBSAPs), strengthen institutional capacity, enhance policy implementation, and enable cross-sector cooperation in line with KMGBF targets.
The Fund, which was established as a Multi-Partner Trust Fund by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China in partnership with UNEP, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat, and UNDP, launched with an initial pledge of 1.5 billion Yuan.
“China has consistently advanced the global biodiversity conservation agenda with the strongest determination and most proactive approach,” said Huang Runqiu, China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment. “The Kunming Biodiversity Fund should uphold fairness, openness and transparency, while strengthening project oversight and monitoring real impact on the ground.
A Whole-of-Society Approach
The KBF emphasizes a whole-of-society strategy to tackle biodiversity loss — combining government leadership with civil society, indigenous groups, and the private sector. The endorsed projects are expected to drive reforms across national and subnational policies, and mobilize additional resources at scale.
“Through the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, countries will be better equipped to align national strategies and turn commitments into action,” said Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. “Continued investment will be crucial to sustain this momentum.”
The Biodiversity Crisis: One Million Species at Risk
The urgency behind these efforts is reinforced by alarming findings from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES):
- One million species are at risk of extinction due to human activities.
- 75% of land-based ecosystems and 66% of marine environments have been significantly altered.
- These changes directly threaten economies, food security, and public health.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted by nearly 200 countries, provides a global blueprint to reverse this decline by 2030. The Kunming Biodiversity Fund is emerging as one of the first major financial tools to translate those targets into action.
As the Kunming Biodiversity Fund continues to scale, its success will depend not only on the projects it funds, but also on its ability to attract additional partners and financing. Both UNEP and the CBD Secretariat have called on the international community to contribute to the fund and expand its reach.
“This is a strong start,” said Andersen. “But with much more to do, we invite other partners to join us and help mobilize additional funding.”
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