Georgetown, Guyana — President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has challenged biodiversity-rich countries within the Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA) to develop at least one investment-ready biodiversity project each before the alliance’s next meeting in 2027.
The President outlined the challenge on Friday during the opening of the Second Global Biodiversity Alliance Conference and Financing Forum at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal.
He identified the initiative as one of three major priorities for the alliance over the next 12 months, urging member countries to work closely with the GBA Secretariat to prepare projects that can attract financing and deliver measurable benefits.
President Ali said the objective is to move beyond international commitments and ensure that biodiversity conservation creates practical economic and development opportunities.
Three Priorities Set for Global Biodiversity Alliance
President Ali outlined three key areas of focus for the alliance over the coming year:
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Bringing together leading scientific knowledge, research and innovation to develop new solutions for biodiversity protection.
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Unlocking financing and investment to support conservation initiatives.
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Demonstrating that protecting biodiversity can create employment, attract investment and strengthen national economies.
He encouraged biodiversity-rich countries to identify suitable projects and prepare proposals that can be presented to potential investors and financing institutions.
The President said every participating country should aim to bring at least one project to an investment-ready stage before the next gathering.
Guyana’s Low Carbon Strategy Demonstrates Financing Potential
Highlighting Guyana’s experience, President Ali pointed to the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which has mobilised more than US$500 million through its partnership with Norway and international carbon markets.
He noted that more than 250 villages and communities are benefiting from over 3,000 projects covering livelihoods, infrastructure and essential services.
The President said this experience demonstrates how environmental protection can be connected to economic opportunities and improvements in people’s lives.
He encouraged other countries to explore similar approaches that recognise the economic value of natural resources while ensuring that local communities benefit from conservation investments.
Global Biodiversity Financing Gap Remains a Major Concern
President Ali highlighted the significant shortage of funding available for global biodiversity protection.
He referred to figures reported by the COP17 presidency in Armenia, which indicated that more than US$1.8 billion had been mobilised from governments, philanthropic organisations and investors.
However, this remains far below the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework target of at least US$200 billion in annual biodiversity financing.
The overall annual financing gap is estimated at approximately US$700 billion.
The President argued that new investment approaches are needed to close this gap and address the economic incentives that continue to contribute to environmental destruction.
Private Sector Encouraged to Invest in Biodiversity Resorts
President Ali also proposed that private-sector stakeholders across GBA member countries explore the creation of a joint investment vehicle for developing biodiversity resorts.
Under the proposed concept, participating destinations could be promoted through a common international brand, supported by shared values, regulations and a coordinated marketing platform.
He described the proposal as an opportunity to attract private investment while creating economic benefits for villages, Indigenous communities and national economies.
The initiative could help biodiversity-rich countries develop nature-based tourism and other economic activities that support conservation.
Turning Conservation Commitments Into Practical Results
The Second Global Biodiversity Alliance Conference and Financing Forum is being held under the theme “Investing in Nature: Accelerating Biodiversity Finance for Sustainable Development.”
The gathering brings together governments, financial institutions, researchers, private-sector representatives and other stakeholders to discuss ways of increasing investment in biodiversity protection.
President Ali’s challenge places greater emphasis on preparing practical projects that can attract funding, generate employment and deliver measurable conservation outcomes.
The proposed one-project-per-country target is intended to help the alliance move from international commitments towards tangible investment opportunities ahead of its next meeting.