Cali Fund Launched to Support Global Biodiversity Conservation

Why in the News?

At COP16 in Rome, the Cali Fund was launched to mobilize financial contributions from industries using genetic data. Managed by UNDP and UNEP, it aims to fund biodiversity projects, especially benefiting indigenous communities and conservation efforts worldwide.

Cali Fund Launched to Support Global Biodiversity Conservation

Launch and Purpose:

  • Announced at COP16 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Rome.
  • Aims to mobilize financial resources from private companies benefiting from genetic data.
  • Encourages industries to contribute revenue towards biodiversity conservation.

Industries and Management

  • Key contributors include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, and biotechnology
  • Focuses on Digital Sequence Information (DSI), genetic data from plants, animals, and microorganisms.
  • Managed by UNDP and UNEP, ensuring effective fund allocation.

Impact and Future Goals

  • Funds biodiversity conservation projects and assists developing countries in biodiversity action plans.
  • Supports scientific research on genetic data management.
  • 50% of resources dedicated to indigenous peoples and local communities.
  • Aligns with Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

Key Objectives of the Cali Fund:

Support for Biodiversity

  • Aims to achieve three main goals of the CBD:
  • Conservation of Biological Diversity
  • Sustainable Use of Biodiversity
  • Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits

Private Sector Contributions

  • Companies benefiting from Digital Sequence Information (DSI) in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture & biotechnology must contribute a portion of their revenues.
  • Creates a new financial source for biodiversity conservation.

Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities

  • 50% of funds will support indigenous peoples and local communities.
  •  Focus on empowering women & youth in conservation efforts.

Implementation of KMGBF

  • Supports Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and National Biodiversity Strategies & Action Plans (NBSAPs).
  • Enhances biodiversity research and action in developing countries.

Institutional Arrangements:

  • Managed by: UNDP & UNEP
  • Administered by: Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO)
  • Secretariat hosted by: CBD Secretariat

Background on the Cali Fund:

  • Adopted at COP15 (2022) under the Multilateral Mechanism.
  • Ensures fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
  • Supports KMGBF’s 23 targets (2030) and 4 goals (2050).

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):

  • Established: 1992
  • Parties: 196 countries
  • Key Focus Areas:
  • Conservation
  • Sustainable Use
  • Fair Benefit Sharing
  • Nagoya Protocol (2014):
  • Ensures fair & equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
  • Parties: 141 countries
  • Creates a transparent framework for benefit-sharing.
  • Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF):
  • Adopted at COP15 (2022) after four years of negotiations.
  • Goals:
  • 4 long-term goals (2050) for living in harmony with nature.
  • 23 targets (2030) to halt biodiversity loss.