Ecosystems and Biodiversity

UNDP is committed to building the capacities of developing countries and economies in transition to manage their biodiversity in line with their own priorities and needs. Through the provision of sound policy advice, and the development and implementation of programmes that help demonstrate sound biodiversity management practices on-the-ground and build capacity to sustain them, UNDP helps more than 140 countries to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity, and to secure ecosystem services that are vital to human welfare and their development efforts.

The objective of UNDP’s biodiversity work is maintaining and enhancing the beneficial services provided by natural ecosystems in order to secure livelihoods, food, water and health security, reduce vulnerability to climate change, sequester carbon, and avoid greenhouse gas emissions.

UNDP’s biodiversity portfolio includes projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), the Equator Initiative, and the International Climate Initiative amongst others. A number of other UNDP environment programmes also contribute towards biodiversity management, including the Poverty Environment Initiative, the UN-REDD Programme, and initiatives of the Nairobi-based Drylands Development Centre.

UNDP is assisting programme countries to improve biodiversity management over a surface area greater than that of India.