First Payment for Environmental Services Scheme in Cuba: Promoting carbon removal through sustainable forest management

Cuba’s geological evolution, climate, and insular geography led to highly diverse ecosystems with various endemic species. Nonetheless, declining forest cover and climate change hazards have threatened the country’s rich biodiversity. Moreover, CO2 emissions accelerate the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, in addition to harming human well-being.

To address these challenges, the Cuban government, with support from the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ecovalor project, established a payment for environmental services scheme that rewards carbon removal through sustainable forest management.

By March 2025, the scheme disbursed USD 238,000 (CUP 5,709,066) in payment for environmental services, associated with the removal of 999,473 tons of carbon across 12,646 hectares of forest. This initiative contributes to climate mitigation, ecosystem conservation, and the responsible use of natural resources in Cuba.

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Cross-Sectoral Exchange For Improved Management Of Natural Resources In Rwanda

The Cross-Sector Taskforce (CSTF) was established in 2015 to coordinate Rwanda’s response to the Bonn Challenge and enhance Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) efforts. Comprising 35 member organizations, including government bodies, NGOs, private sector actors, and research institutions, the CSTF fosters collaboration, shares technical knowledge, and harmonizes FLR monitoring systems. It provides a platform for addressing deforestation, land degradation, and biodiversity loss while aligning restoration efforts with national and international strategies like the Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (GGCRS), AFR100, and the Paris Agreement. Recent meetings have focused on integrating FLR with sustainable food systems, improving monitoring tools, and incentivizing local farmers. By facilitating knowledge exchange and improving governance, the CSTF enhances restoration efforts and strengthens Rwanda’s ability to meet its target of restoring 2 million hectares of land by 2030.

Increasing funding for protected areas in Kazakhstan: Strengthening management plans, offering paid services, and enhancing the skills of current and future generations

Protected areas in Kazakhstan expanded yearly, reaching 25 million hectares in 2018. However, public funding did not increase accordingly. As a result, the amount of financing per hectare of protected area declined. Challenges in planning and law implementation aggravated this situation.

The Government of Kazakhstan, supported by the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), promoted legal reforms and capacity building to enhance the management and financial sustainability of protected areas. This support was jointly provided with the project “Conservation and sustainable management of key globally important ecosystems for multiple benefits” funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

This initiative catalysed additional public funding for protected areas, which rose from USD 22.5 million in 2018 to USD 60 million in 2024. Moreover, the revenue from paid services in protected areas grew from USD 620 thousand to USD 2.6 million, supporting biodiversity conservation.

Using Green Sukuk Funds to Construct the Maluku Conservation Center in Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, with exceptionally rich fauna and flora. However, illegal wildlife trade has risen in the Maluku province, threatening endemic species. While this situation demonstrates the need to strengthen species conservation efforts, mobilizing funds for such activities is a challenge.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia, with support from the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), accessed USD 2.7 million in green sukuk funds for the construction of the Maluku Conservation Center, dedicated to wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release into natural habitats. Green sukuks are sovereign bond-like Islamic finance instruments, and their application to biodiversity-related projects was previously limited.

In 2023-2024, 955 birds, 323 reptiles, and 319 other animals were treated and rehabilitated in the Maluku Conservation Center, contributing to the conservation of species and ecosystems.

Scalable Model for Sustainable Coffee Farming in Panama

In Panama’s western highlands, small coffee farmers face growing pressures from pests, plant diseases and climate change. Heavy reliance on chemical pesticides has harmed biodiversity, degraded soils and threatened pollinators. This solution shows how endophytic fungi, microorganisms that live naturally inside plants, can serve as effective biological pest control adapted to local conditions. Fungal strains were identified and transformed into low-cost formulations that were tested on coffee farms, where they significantly reduced the need for chemical inputs. The initiative brings together scientists, government institutions and local communities, with a strong focus on training and empowering women farmers. By addressing biodiversity loss, land degradation and gaps in technical capacity, the project strengthens sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience. Farmers benefit through higher yields, lower costs and healthier ecosystems, creating a scalable model for sustainable coffee production in Panama and beyond.

Journey of community building: Creating globally adaptable blueprint model for fibre pad manufacturing

This solution is part of the Sparsa Solution, a Nepali non-profit company that locally produces and distributes compostable menstrual pads featuring an absorbent core made from banana fibre.

To strengthen global replication of fibre-based pad manufacturing, a community-building approach was developed to connect practitioners, innovators, small manufacturers and researchers working with natural fibres. The process began with continuous ecosystem mapping and grew through honest, trust-based relationship building supported by regular interactions, especially on LinkedIn. Co-creation spaces—online workshops, stakeholder meetings, technical calls and real-time learning loops—allowed actors to exchange practical insights and refine approaches together. A flexible, distributed infrastructure combining PANORAMA with informal communication channels helps sustain the community and keeps the production model adaptive, accessible, and grounded in real-world experience.

2025

IUCN Pakistan annual report 2023

2025

IUCN Pakistan annual report 2022

COLLABORATING FOR THE MARINE FAUNA IN PLAYAS DE VILLAMIL

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, different local actors in the province of Guayas the canton of Playas Villamil, including citizens, volunteers, officials of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition, and the Fundacion Juvimar “Juntos por la vida marina” joined forces to rescue the marine fauna that was stranded in the National Recreation Area Playas de Villamil and did not receive help due to the confinement that stopped all activities. Since then, the initiative has continued and strengthened its work in favor of the conservation of marine-coastal species.

Environmentally Sensitive Areas: A Story of Conservation, Development and Resilience

Sri Lanka, though small in size, is part of a global Biodiversity Hotspot due to its rich biodiversity and increasing threats from habitat encroachment, unsustainable resource use, pollution, and invasive species. While 28% of the country is covered by Protected Areas (PAs), many critical ecosystems exist outside these zones. Recognizing this, the Ministry of Environment and UNDP, with funding from the GEF, implemented a co-management approach in Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) landscapes with high biodiversity and ecosystem service value outside formal PAs. The approach engaged public and private sectors, along with local communities, to conserve biodiversity while sustaining the ecological and socio-economic benefits essential to surrounding populations. It promoted inclusive and sustainable management practices, balancing conservation with responsible resource use, and enabling collaborative agreements between communities and the government. This approach is vital to safeguard Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity.

Twenty-Year Collaborative Construction Journey of Cycad Yam

“Cycad Yam” derives its name from the villagers living around the Sichuan Panzhihua Cycad National Nature Reserve, who collected high-quality yam seeds growing in the reserve as germplasm resources for artificial propagation under the guidance of staff from the Protection Center. Traditional digging activities by villagers around the reserve are restricted by the reserve’s relevant laws and regulations, leading to conflicts between ecological conservation efforts and villagers’ livelihoods. Through introduction and cultivation, technical support, and industrial upgrading, a “reserve + community” joint construction model has been established. This initiative provides both ecological and economic benefits, achieving a win-win outcome for ecological conservation and rural revitalization, boosting income for approximately 300 households, and establishing Cycad Yam as a characteristic industry promoting common prosperity in the local area.

Empowering Children as Community Conservation and Climate Action Champions in Cameroon

Cameroon’s ecosystems face threats from deforestation, species loss, habitat degradation and climate change. Children and youth, among the most affected, are rarely included in conservation and climate initiatives. Voice of Nature (VoNat) empowers children aged 10–18 across four regions to become community conservation and climate action champions. The program integrates environmental education, storytelling, citizen science, and traditional knowledge, enabling children to conduct ecological studies, monitor biodiversity, document climate impacts, and lead awareness campaigns using arts, media, and community outreach. Over 10,000 children have been trained, fostering community-wide behavioral change, reviving traditional storytelling, strengthening partnerships with schools, families, and local leaders, and reducing destructive practices such as bush burning, hunting, deforestation, and waste dumping. This participatory approach transforms youth into active conservationists and climate leaders while promoting sustainability.

Promoting hygiene and quality for fishery and aquaculture value chains

The Global Programme “Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture,” implemented by GIZ, aims to enhance sustainable fisheries in multiple countries. Key challenges addressed include food spoilage, overfishing, lack of infrastructure, and inadequate quality assurance. The program provides targeted training on hygiene practices, thorough value chain analysis, and develops guidelines to ensure knowledge application. Partnerships with local authorities enhance compliance, introducing first sale certificates for improved traceability. Hygiene and quality control plans guide systematic checks across the value chain, from production to distribution, reducing post-harvest losses and increasing value chain actors’ incomes. The program promotes sustainable fisheries management, ensuring fish products meet hygiene standards and increasing consumer trust.