LocationsUNDP Supported Belarus in Aligning National Biodiversity Strategy with Global Goals
February 19, 2026
Tarpan horses in the Naliboksky Nature Reserve in the Minsk Region.
Belarus has taken an important step toward a nature-positive future with the official approval of its revised National Strategy and a new National Plan on Biodiversity Conservation for 2026–2030. Developed with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the strategy strategically aligns the country’s environmental priorities with the ambitious targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
This is not just a policy update. Finalized in late 2024 and approved by the Government in February 2026, the strategy represents a shift in how Belarus protects its natural heritage. It ensures that national actions contribute directly to the global goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.
Bridging Global Ambition with National Action
Lady's slipper orchid is listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus.
The new strategy integrates the core objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — a landmark international agreement adopted in 2022 — into a comprehensive national roadmap. By addressing interconnected challenges like habitat degradation and climate change, the document positions Belarus as an active contributor to the global "30 by 30" target, which aims to conserve 30% of the planet’s land and waters by 2030.
UNDP’s role went beyond technical drafting. The agency leveraged its global expertise to work alongside national experts, ensuring the strategy and the plan are both scientifically sound and tailored to local needs. The goal was clear: to foster a green transformation where economic progress and environmental health are mutually reinforcing goals.
Inside the National Strategy: A Blueprint for a Greener Future
A gray crane in the Sporovsky Nature Reserve in the Brest Region.
The strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity turns vision into practice through a multi-faceted approach focused on preservation, protection, and sustainable use of nature resources. At its core is a commitment to expand the country’s specially protected natural territories to 9.4% of the total land area, and the area of territories subject to special protection to 22%. This expansion is paired with a major restoration effort: the strategy targets the rehabilitation of at least 30% of degraded ecosystems, boosting ecological resilience across the landscape.
Protecting nature territories is only part of the action. The new national action plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity for 2026-2030 zooms in on the biodiversity within those landscapes. It introduces focused actions to safeguard rare species, control invasive populations, and preserve wildlife’s genetic diversity.
To make these measures effective, the plan prioritizes the strengthening of governance. It calls for updated legal regulations and robust monitoring systems. These tools will allow better enforcement and adaptive management.
The Eurasian hoopoe.
Finally, the plan recognizes that conservation does not happen in isolation. It commits to improving information systems and deepening international partnerships, ensuring Belarus stays connected to global networks and knowledge sharing.
Implemented together, these measures create a powerful tool of protection and restoration. This integrated approach directly advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Climate Action (SDG 13) and Life on Land (SDG 15).
Through this partnership and forward-looking strategy and plan, Belarus and UNDP are demonstrating that achieving global biodiversity targets depends on strong, tangible national action. It's a critical step toward building a future where people live in harmony with nature.
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