The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) has been participating in the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) since December 7th, in Montreal, Canada.
Considered the largest meeting of governments across the world, held once every 10 years, this is where several countries come together to discuss biodiversity and the role it plays in protecting our planet.

The event, organized by Canada and China, is attended by over 1800 people from various countries. Mozambique attended the conference through a delegation led by the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA), that includes the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), Oceanographic Institute of Mozambique (INOM), Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (MCTES), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MINEC), Institute of Agricultural Research of Mozambique (IIAM), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), United Nations Development Program (PNUD) and the National Federation of Agrarian Associations of Mozambique (FENAGRI).

The opening ceremony was marked by a speech by António Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, where he enhanced the mandatory need of halting the loss of biodiversity and restoring our natural ecosystems: “Without nature, we are nothing. Nature is our system of life support; however, humanity seems to be engaged on its destruction”. Urgent action and deep collaboration are needed. This is a unique opportunity for the global community to come together to reverse biodiversity loss and protect life on Earth.“

One of the main highlights of the agenda is the “Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)”, which sets the global goals to be achieved by 2030. Experts hope that the new GBF will set ambitious goals to respond to the current biodiversity crisis.

Through the new GBF, it is intended to reach 30% of protected areas across the planet by 2030, both in land and sea areas. Countries are also expected to commit to eliminating public financial subsidies for sectors and companies that damage the environment and reallocating these subsidies to actions that are positive for the nature.

The group of African countries present at COP15 put forward a proposal to create a new global fund for biodiversity, which can pass-through financial resources in amounts enough to respond to the new challenges of the conservation sector.

BIOFUND participated in the formulation of Mozambique’s position at COP15, and the attendance of some team members was made possible with financial support from UNDP/BIOSFAC Project.

From this conference, it is expected to reach a historic agreement to halt and reverse the loss of nature, at the same level as the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate. What will be adopted in Montreal will essentially be a global plan to save the planet’s declining biodiversity!

Click here to learn more about COP15