Kunming Biodiversity Fund - A Tool for a Sustainable World
iasparliament
November 03, 2025
Mains: GS III – Environment
Why in News?
Recently, 7 countries have secured $5.8 million from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund to enhance nature-friendly agriculture.
What is Kunming biodiversity fund (KBF)?
KBF – It was created by China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment together with the UN Environment Programme and other partners.
Launched – In 2021 during Part 1 of the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention of Biological Diveristy, with an initial pledge of 1.5 billion yuan (about $200 million) from China to help developing countries protect diodiversity and implement KMGBF.
Aim – This is a part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), aims to bridge the finance gap in global conservation efforts.
In a move underscoring the growing link between food systems and nature, several new funding mechanisms have been created to bridge the persistent finance gap that hinders global conservation goals.
One such initiative is the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF) from which the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has helped seven countries secure $5.8 million in grants.
Beneficiary countries – This fund will support projects in Cook Islands, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Uganda.
Aim of the projects – The projects aim to make farming systems more nature-friendly and help countries meet global biodiversity targets.
These efforts are part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
What is Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework?
Adoption – It was adopted during the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) following a four year consultation and negotiation process.
It is a global plan adopted by 196 countries in 2022 to stop and reverse biodiversity loss.
This historic Framework, which supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and builds on the Convention’s previous Strategic Plans, sets out an ambitious pathway to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050.
Goals – There are 4 goals for 2050
Targets – It has 23 targets for 2030.
Implementation – The implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework will be guided and supported through a comprehensive package of decisions also adopted at COP 15.
Monitoring framework – This package includes a monitoring framework for the GBF
An enhanced mechanism for planning, monitoring, reporting and reviewing implementation.
The necessary financial resources for implementation.
Strategic frameworks for capacity development and technical and scientific cooperation.
An agreement on digital sequence information on genetic resources.
Commitment of the countries – In adopting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, all Parties committed to setting national targets to implement it.
All other actors have been invited to develop and communicate their own commitments.
Target 19 – One key finance target (target 19) calls for mobilising at least $200 billion per year by 2030.
The sources includes public, private, domestic and international.
At least $30 billion per year by 2030 in international finance to developing countries.
Closing the biodiversity gap – The biodiversity finance gap is estimated to be around $700 billion per year.
To close this gap, countries and organisations have introduced several new biodiversity funds over the past few years.
Cali fund – It is one of the biodiversity funds launched in 2025, which channels resources from companies that use digital sequencing information on genetic resources.
At least half of its proceeds are directed to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, recognising their key role in conserving and sustainably using biodiversity.
The fund marked a major step toward fair benefit-sharing from the commercial use of genetic resources and associated data.
What will the new funding do?
Mainstreaming biodiversity into agrifood systems (Madagascar, Uganda, Mexico) – Aligning national biodiversity strategies and action plans with agriculture, building institutional capacity, improving incentives for biodiversity-friendly farming and ramping up knowledge sharing.
Empowering communities (Cook Islands) – Strengthening data systems (ecosystem classification, biodiversity database), promoting sustainable agroecology practices rooted in traditional knowledge, with special focus on women and youth.
Managing invasive alien species (Nepal) – Community-based and participatory approaches to tackle invasive species that harm biodiversity and local livelihoods.
Preventing & controlling invasive species (Sri Lanka) – Enhancing border biosecurity, training frontline teams, raising public awareness, and engaging local communities in removal and prevention efforts.
Strengthening ecosystem resilience around Lake Eğirdir (Turkey) – Promoting water-efficient agriculture, biodiversity-friendly practices, and sustainable livelihoods and raising public awareness for ecosystem protection.
What lies ahead?
At the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties, the world will take stock of the targets and commitments that have been set.
The funding will help developing countries achieve biodiversity goals through sustainable agriculture, strengthen food diversity and support climate solutions.
