UN agencies pledge $43 mn to aid species conservation in developing countries

Developing countries will benefit from new funding totaling 43 million from the Global Environment Facility GEF to enable them to implement projects that reverse species loss UN agencies said in a statement released in Nairobi the Kenyan capitalThe funding which was announced on Friday ahead of the International Day for Biological Diversity to be marked on Sunday will benefit 139 developing countries already grappling with mounting threats to natural habitats Xinhua news agency reportedEach beneficiary country will be eligible for grants totaling 300000 dollars to enable them to analyse and align their policies targets finance and monitoring system as a means of revitalising action on threats to biodiversityThe UN Environment Programme UNEP and UN Development Programme UNDP will provide technical expertise to these developing countries to enable them to utilise the funds optimally and advance species protectionInger Andersen UNEPs Executive Director said the new funding will enable developing countries to seize benefits linked to the establishment of a Post2020 Global Biodiversity Framework Action plans that will be implemented using the new GEF funding will enable developing countries to place species conservation at the heart of national development plansCarlos Manuel Rodriguez the Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of GEF said the new funding will change the trajectory of biodiversity conservation in developing countries already grappling with massive loss of rare speciesWe stand ready to continue to help stewards of globallyimportant biodiversity elevate nature in their planning and quickly scale up efforts that together can turn international goals into realityUNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said investing in nature protection will benefit national economies besides enhancing climate resilience in the global southSteiner added that nature underpins half the worlds jobs and livelihoods adding that it remained the bedrock for sustaining food water and energy security across the globeElizabeth Mrema the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity hailed the new funding for species conservation in developing countries adding that all sectors of the society will benefit profoundlyMrema added that as the international community prepared to come up with a 10year plan to halt the extinction of species adequate funding was critical