Conservation International-GEF Project Agency’s Post

Conservation of big cat species has a profound impact on our efforts to protect natural ecosystems and achieve the #2050Vision for biodiversity conservation. Using landscape-based approaches to protect these ecosystems also contributes to carbon sequestration, key 🔑 to our efforts to address #ClimateChange. There are 7 big cat species found globally 🌏 (Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma), inhabiting a diverse range of landscapes including rainforests, mangroves, savannahs and cold deserts. The International Big Cat Alliance #IBCA, a global initiative led by India 🇮🇳, aims to bring together 95 big cat range countries, conservation and development organisations, private sector, civil society and local communities to strengthen global efforts and partnerships on big cat conservation. UNDP has been actively partnering with IBCA since its inception, supporting establishment and operationalisation of the interim secretariat. Delighted to join 1st meeting of IBCA's International Steering Committee, and highlight how the alliance can play an important role in accelerating #SouthSouthCooperation for big cat conservation, and become a platform for knowledge exchange, moving beyond sharing best practices to adaptating them to new local contexts. UNDP is committed to deepening our partnership with IBCA on this important conservation agenda. Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India WWF IUCN Global Tiger Forum - India UNDP Climate UN Biodiversity Midori Paxton UNDP in Asia and the Pacific Ashish Chaturvedi Isabelle Tschan

Great new story from Global Environment Facility on Gabon and the role of sustainable finance projects in promoting peace with wildlife in forest havens. The project is the first of four initiatives funded by the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (#GBFF), launched at the 2023 GEF Assembly. These efforts support countries in meeting the ambitious targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by addressing the root causes of biodiversity loss and steering the world toward a nature-positive future. In Gabon, the focus is on smallholder farmers and their families, who face increasing challenges from human-wildlife interactions near conservation areas. This project engages local partners to improve the management of protected and conserved areas by developing a national strategy to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, while also supporting local initiatives. Building on the ongoing GEF-funded initiative Enduring Earth: Accelerating Sustainable Finance Solutions to Achieve Durable Conservation, the project will establish long-term funding mechanisms to ensure steady support for protected areas. Implemented by World Wildlife Fund and executed by The Nature Conservancy, the GBFF will contribute to a more peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife, reducing conflicts that could hinder Gabon’s biodiversity protection efforts. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eQ9kEgpU #Biodiversity #SustainableFinance #WildlifeConservation #EnduringEarth #GlobalBiodiversityFramework #GBF #GBFF #ForNature #COP16 #Peacewithnature

The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) joins in observing International Day for Biodiversity under the theme “Be Part of the Plan”. This is a call to action for all stakeholders to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by supporting the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The Caribbean stands out as a globally renowned biodiversity hotspot, with its coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, tropical rainforests and unique fauna. These ecosystems not only protect Caribbean coastlines from tropical storms and erosion but also serve as a critical source of food and jobs for local communities. The CBF aims to provide sustainable financing that protects and conserve biodiversity at scale within the region. To date, the CBF has disbursed over US$30 million to 105 sustainable development projects in 14 Caribbean countries that positively impacts more than 30,000 people. With more strategic partnerships and increased resource mobilization, the CBF will continue to work towards a vision of a Caribbean where both nature and people thrive. Learn more about the CBF’s biodiversity conservation work in the region: https://lnkd.in/gePxAB5w #Biodiversity #GlobalPartnership #CaribbeanConservation #ClimateAction #IDB2024 #BiodiversityConservation #KunmingMontrealFramework #EcosystemProtection #SustainableDevelopment #SustainableFinancing

In this article, Kathlyn Tan and Naomi Clark-Shen highlight the urgent need and significant benefits of expanding Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Southeast Asia. With less than 4 percent of the region's seas under formal protection, Southeast Asia's low MPA coverage exacerbates the alarming rate of marine biodiversity loss. Establishing more MPAs can not only lead to more resilient marine ecosystems, but also increase economic opportunities, and sustainable livelihoods for future generations. As conservationists, community leaders and policymakers navigate the tricky waters of scaling MPAs in South-east Asia, investors and philanthropies, too, have a critical role to play, with numerous opportunities to enhance coastal resilience. "With careful planning and equitable participation, MPAs can—and must—benefit nature, animals, and the people who depend on them." Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/g6g-EVQH #MarineConservation #Sustainability #SouthEastAsia #Biodiversity #OceanProtection #StraitsTimes #ImpactInvesting #Philanthropy

📌TARGET 3: Conserve 30% of Land, Waters and Seas Did you know? In the Philippines, it is estimated that ancestral lands and domains of Indigenous Peoples overlap with 88 of the country’s 129 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and that 25% of the country’s total KBA coverage overlap with ancestral lands and domains of Indigneous Peoples (WWF et al, 2021). Indigenous peoples are key stewards of biodiversity, and securing tenure over their ancestral lands, waters and domains are a crucial part of their stewardship. Photo: https://lnkd.in/gyvwwzD5 Target 3: Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories. Find out more about the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework here: https://lnkd.in/geEmeefH Source: WWF, UNEP-WCMC, SGP/ICCA-GSI, LM, TNC, CI, WCS, EP, ILC-S, CM, IUCN. The State of Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ Lands and Territories: A technical review of the state of Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ lands, their contributions to global biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, the pressures they face, and recommendations for actions Gland, Switzerland (2021). #IndigenousPeoples #indigenousrights #KMGBF #WeAreIndigenous

Today, we honor International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, many of whom play an incredible role in preserving our planet's biodiversity. 🌍 Around the globe, Indigenous Peoples and local communities have long protected their lands and waters in reciprocity with nature, often guided by deep connections to place, culture and ways of knowing. These communities collectively manage at least one-quarter of the world’s lands, 17% of all forest carbon, and vast stretches of freshwater and marine habitats. Their stewardship and management often achieve greater conservation results and sustain more biodiversity than government protected areas. Lasting conservation must actively involve people and partners linked to the natural systems we seek to protect, and their voices must be at the center of what we do. We are continually learning and growing in how we show up as an authentic, ethical and effective conservation partner. Learn more about how TNC works with indigenous peoples around the world here: https://lnkd.in/eBq4ngQK 📸 Photo: A drum group celebrates the historic agreement to officially protect Thaidene Nëné in Canada’s Northwest Territories. (Pat Kane) #IndigenousPeoplesDay #PartnershipinConservation

The profound connection Caribbean people share with the oceans and our natural surroundings is evident in our unwavering commitment to conservation and sustainable development. Back in 2008, the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI) showcased our nations surpassing the global target, protecting more than 20% of marine areas by 2020. This momentum not only advanced marine management but also gave rise to the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), channeling over US$175 million into conservation and sustainable development throughout the Caribbean. As global efforts converge on the goal to protect 30% of all natural areas by 2030, Caribbean leaders were quick to endorse this "30 by 30 goal." This initiative presents a unique opportunity for the region to build on the successes of the CCI and collaboratively pursue new conservation targets. Explore more in the latest issue of Caribbean Beat: https://lnkd.in/ewFUD8wa #CircularEconomies #SustainableDevelopment #BlueCaribbean #30x30 #MarineConservation #ACEFacility #CaribbeanSustainability

The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund salutes The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as the organization celebrates 20 years of work in The Bahamas. TNC is an environmental organization renowned for pioneering initiatives for healthy oceans, and climate resilience through science, policy, capacity-building as well as innovative finance. In fact, TNC was pivotal in the establishment of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund and a regional network of national conservation trust funds, including The Bahamas Protected Areas Fund, which provides sustainable financing for protected areas management, climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation into perpetuity. Initially designed as part of the Caribbean Challenge Initiative, today the CBF is a regional umbrella environmental fund that uses a flexible structure to implement innovative solutions and consolidate resource mobilization in the Caribbean through a range of financial instruments. TNC collaborated with regional governments and partners to launch the Caribbean Challenge Initiative, which supported the expansion of the Bahamas Protected Areas Network to help The Bahamas meet its 20 per cent nearshore marine area protection goal. Learn more about the TNC’s work: https://lnkd.in/e9KJJtcw #BiodiversityConservation #SustainableDevelopment #SustainableFinancing #marineconservation #bluecaribbean #ClimateResilience #Environment #environmentalfunds 

"In Fiji, over 80% of the land is registered under the management of indigenous landowning clans – Mataqali, around 90% of our endemic species are found in our terrestrial ecosystems, and 44.1% of our over 900,000 population is rural based. We are still heavily reliant on nature for our daily sustenance. This means that the most obvious way to ensure a whole of society approach to achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework Targets is to co-create the financial systems and conservation strategies and action with local communities through dialogue, trust and common values. The triple planetary crisis brings novel challenges to our resource custodians and users, local biodiversity and ecosystems – and our traditional ecological knowledge is based on a system where we did not have this triple planetary crisis. Communities need continuity to build their resilience, and nature takes time to heal and repair itself." Nunia Thomas-Moko, the Director of NatureFiji-MareqetiViti shared this at a panel discussion on 'Expanding local and global action through radical collaboration and lasting partnerships' at the first-ever Global Nature Positive Summit happening in Gadigal Country, Sydney, Australia 8 - 10 October. Other associated events include the Ocean Dialogue on 10 October and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People workshop on 10-11 October. The Pacific region is represented by Ministers from Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu as well as delegations from Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Solomon Islands, Tonga, as well as the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Pacific Islands Forum, and the Special Envoy for Climate and Environment from Government of Vanuatu. Also in attendance are the Pacific Islands Forum, the Pacific Community, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and fellow members and partners of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation. #ResilientPacific #PacificBiodiversity #Fiji

The profound connection Caribbean people share with the oceans and our natural surroundings is evident in our unwavering commitment to conservation and sustainable development. Back in 2008, the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI) showcased our nations surpassing the global target, protecting more than 20% of marine areas by 2020. This momentum not only advanced marine management but also gave rise to the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), channeling over US$175 million into conservation and sustainable development throughout the Caribbean. As global efforts converge on the goal to protect 30% of all natural areas by 2030, Caribbean leaders were quick to endorse this "30 by 30 goal." This initiative presents a unique opportunity for the region to build on the successes of the CCI and collaboratively pursue new conservation targets. Explore more in the latest issue of Caribbean Beat: https://lnkd.in/ewFUD8wa #CircularEconomies #SustainableDevelopment #BlueCaribbean #30x30 #MarineConservation #ACEFacility #CaribbeanSustainability