3 March 2025 – As the world marks World Wildlife Day 2025, this year’s theme, “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet”, resonates strongly with the historic agreements reached at the resumed CBD CoP16.2 in Rome. Last week, negotiators from over 150 governments finalized key commitments left unresolved since CoP16 in Cali, Colombia, four months ago.
Key Outcomes from CBD CoP16.2:
- Resource Mobilization Strategy Adopted
A comprehensive plan to bridge the $700 billion annual biodiversity funding gap by 2030, ensuring that financial flows align with biodiversity goals. This strategy promotes sustainable investments, including those supporting sustainable use and wildlife management. - Monitoring Framework Finalized
Governments agreed on a standardized approach to tracking biodiversity progress, ensuring transparency and accountability in meeting the 23 targets set under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Sustainable use contributions to biodiversity conservation will be actively monitored. - Strengthening Synergies
The agreement underscores the connection between biodiversity conservation, climate action, and sustainable development, emphasizing the role of community-based conservation and sustainable use in tackling global environmental challenges.
Attending CBD CoP16.2 in Rome, CIC Director General Sebastian Winkler welcomed the adoption of the Resource Mobilization Strategy, stating:
“As we look toward CoP17 in Armenia next year, governments must now demonstrate real progress in funding conservation.”
Earlier in February, CIC also joined its 12 global partner organisations that form the Collaborative Partnership for Sustainable Wildlife (CPW) in a Strategic Retreat, to discuss joint fundraising in support of strengthening collaborative initiatives that ensure funding reaches Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs)—key stewards of biodiversity and to advance the Global Wildlife Economy. The joint CPW statement for World Wildlife Day can be found here.
CIC remains committed to ensuring that sustainable use principles remain at the heart of global conservation finance solutions.
Media Contact:
Tristan Breijer MBA FRGS FRSA MCIJ
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
CIC – International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +44 781 408 7423
Website: www.cic-wildlife.org
