National and sub‑national governments have collectively pledged US$60 million to the [Global Biodiversity Framework Fund](https://www.thegef.org/what-we- do/topics/global-biodiversity-framework-fund) (GBFF) to strengthen biodiversity conservation and restoration worldwide, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity announced on Monday in Yerevan, Armenia.
The pledges were disclosed during a finance‑day session of the ongoing CBD COP17. The UN said the new commitments will support countries and communities that are working to protect wild species and ecosystems while ensuring their long‑term sustainability.
**What other contributions were announced?**
Spain and Uzbekistan declared contributions of €50 million and US$4.5 million respectively to the ninth replenishment of the [Global Environment Facility](https://www.thegef.org/) Trust Fund (GEF‑9). The United Kingdom also reaffirmed its £330 million pledge, pushing total GEF‑9 pledges close to US$4.4 billion for the July 2026 – June 2030 funding period.
Representatives of Armenia – the COP17 presidency – joined officials from Germany, Iceland and Monaco, as well as delegates from the Canadian province of Québec and the city of Berlin, in announcing fresh contributions during the same session.
The gathering brought together beneficiaries from developing nations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, implementing‑agency partners, philanthropic bodies and private‑sector actors.
**Who highlighted the significance of the pledges?**
Diego Mesa Puyo, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility, said the pledges signal a readiness to move from ambition to concrete action for nature. “Today’s pledges send a powerful signal: our partnership is ready to move from ambition to action for nature,” he remarked, adding that the funds will help align environmental work with development priorities, attract further financing and speed up conservation projects.
Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, described the GBFF as a crucial mechanism for mobilising resources to implement the [Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunming%E2%80%93Montreal_Global_Biodiversity_Framework). She noted that the new pledges – including multi‑year commitments and the fund’s first city contribution – demonstrate growing support for biodiversity finance.
COP17 President and Armenia’s Minister of Environment, Hambardzum Matevosyan, said the financial commitments illustrate the potential of multilateral cooperation to advance biodiversity conservation and mentioned that Armenia is beginning internal discussions on a possible future contribution.
How is the GBFF being used?
Since its launch in August 2023, the GBFF has attracted US$446 million in commitments from 14 sovereign governments and two sub‑national entities. Within three years, it has programmed US$362.1 million for 82 projects across 87 countries, including 47 Small Island Developing States and Least‑Developed Countries. The fund assists nations in strengthening biodiversity management, policy, governance and resource mobilisation, and promotes blended‑finance mechanisms to draw private‑sector investment.
According to the fund’s data, 32 % of programmed resources support actions by Indigenous Peoples and local communities, 39 % target Small Island Developing States and Least‑Developed Countries, and another 30 % flow through international financial institutions – all exceeding the fund’s original targets for these groups.
What does the GEF‑9 replenishment mean?
The UN said the latest pledges bring total GEF‑9 commitments to roughly US$4.4 billion for the 2026‑2030 period, with about 70 % earmarked for objectives under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Spain’s €50 million contribution marks a 60 % increase over its GEF‑8 input, while Uzbekistan’s US$4.5 million pledge marks its debut as a GEF donor.
Maria Rodriguez de Sancho, Spain’s Director‑General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification, said the contribution reaffirms Spain’s support for multilateral action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Aziz Abdukhakimov, adviser to Uzbekistan’s president on environmental issues, said the pledge aims to protect global nature and create opportunities for local communities.
Germany also signalled an intention to add another €50 million to the GBFF before the end of 2026. Federal Minister for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Carsten Schneider said the fund is already delivering results by supporting vulnerable nations and enabling participation of Indigenous Peoples and the scientific community, urging further contributions from governments, businesses and NGOs.
During the GEF‑8 period (July 2022 – June 2026), the GEF approved US$4.64 billion for 649 projects in 144 countries, many of which advanced the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework alongside broader efforts to combat environmental degradation, climate change and pollution.
The fresh pledges arrive as COP17 delegates continue negotiations on financing and implementing the global biodiversity framework, facing pressure to turn agreed‑upon conservation targets into measurable actions before the 2030 deadline.