China has joined the Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA), strengthening the Guyana-led initiative’s international reach and bringing its member countries’ combined representation to more than two-thirds of the world’s population, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced.
The announcement came on the second day of the Alliance’s Second Conference and Financing Forum, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where President Ali highlighted the rapid expansion of the initiative since its launch in July 2025.
Launched with 17 founding members, the GBA has now grown to 148 countries, reflecting increasing international recognition of the need for collective action to protect forests, conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable development.
China’s admission follows the inclusion of India and five other countries at the opening ceremony, bringing two of the world’s most populous nations into the Alliance alongside countries of varying sizes and economic capacities.
President Ali said the growing membership demonstrates that countries, regardless of their size, can contribute meaningfully to global environmental protection. He emphasised that the Alliance’s strength lies in bringing together diverse perspectives, expertise and resources to develop solutions to shared environmental challenges.
The President also pointed to the practical benefits of expanding membership, noting that countries joining the initiative could contribute valuable knowledge and technical capabilities. India, he explained, has significant experience in technology and geomapping that could support biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts across participating countries.
Guyana is also seeking to expand the Alliance’s regional participation, with President Ali expressing the hope that Brazil would join before the end of the year. He stressed the importance of securing the participation of countries whose environmental resources and expertise could make a substantial contribution to the initiative.
The President further highlighted the importance of European Union countries being represented within the GBA, particularly as the bloc reviews policies concerning standing forests. He warned that changes to these policies could undermine years of progress in forest conservation, making international cooperation and engagement increasingly important.
Guyana has positioned biodiversity conservation as a central element of its approach to sustainable development, advocating for mechanisms that recognise the global value of forests and encourage countries to protect their natural resources while pursuing economic growth.
President Ali is expected to carry the Alliance’s message to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where he will place biodiversity on the agenda during discussions with leaders from across the Commonwealth.
China’s entry marks another significant development for the GBA, as Guyana continues efforts to build a broad international coalition committed to protecting the planet’s biodiversity and advancing long-term environmental sustainability.