The Kunming Biodiversity Fund is one of three existing biodiversity conservation funds, and the only one that is exclusively focused on implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), on Monday stated this during a press briefing held in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, on the sidelines of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the CBD. Schomaker recalled that the Kunming Biodiversity Fund—a mechanism initiated by China—was founded in 2022, during the Chinese presidency of COP15, and is developing very actively.

According to her, the first round of allocations has already been made in Cali by 2024, and now this work is ongoing. Schomaker stressed that new tranches are expected both during the current conference and later this year. It is noteworthy that the fund's activities are fully consistent with the decisions taken by the parties within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and its task is to help developing countries implement these decisions.

This is the first fund that, in addition to state funds—provided by China—has managed to attract private capital. One Chinese company has taken the initiative and joined China as a key donor. Other companies are also considering the possibility of participation, and this is very good news, the UN official added.