Called the ‘Biodiversity Finance Programme in PNG’, its aim is to support Papua New Guinea in developing a biodiversity finance plan for mobilising resources to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). This plan will involve all relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Treasury, Department of Finance, Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM), Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs (DPLGGA), CEPA, the private and finance sectors, and Civil Society Organizations (CSO).

During a workshop held between 15-16 December 2025, these different stakeholders reached a shared understanding of what needs to be done to ensure alignment and to foster ownership and collaboration for project implementation.

Ms. Kay Kalim, CEPA’s Director for Sustainable Environment Programmes, highlighted the importance of a biodiversity finance plan, stating: “The workshop is intended to provide clarity, deepen our understanding, and guide us on how to work together to deliver on what biodiversity finance stands for.”

“BIOFIN has been around since 2012, and through UNDP’s leadership and implementation, it has achieved results beyond initial expectations. For us in the Pacific, this initiative reminds us of the importance of being part of the global biodiversity financing community while working closely with our own communities to sustain their livelihoods,” she added.

Mr. Michael Kumung, the Deputy Secretary of DNPM stated: “We cannot continue to simply say that we have 70 percent of the world’s biodiversity without focusing on how we will sustain it into the future. This is why 2030 is an important timeframe for us to work toward conserving our biodiversity. We are already doing important work in mangrove and ocean conservation, but we must be more intentional and committed in our efforts.”

In December 2022, PNG joined 195 countries that are Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in adopting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which envisions living in harmony with nature by 2050.

Mr. Nicholas Booth, UNDP Papua New Guinea Resident Representative, highlighted that although there have been increases in biodiversity funding in some countries, global assessments reaffirm that financing remains insufficient. 

“Closing the biodiversity finance gap in Papua New Guinea will require a fundamental shift in how resources are mobilised and allocated. Achieving the new biodiversity targets will not only demand additional financial resources, but also greater efficiency in their use and a significant reduction in financial flows that harm biodiversity,” said Mr. Booth.

This event was made possible through UNDP’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN). Since its launch in 2012, BIOFIN has helped countries assess current biodiversity expenditures, identify financing needs, review harmful subsidies, and develop costed and actionable finance plans. To date, 133 countries are now implementing the BIOFIN methodology, resulting in over 150 finance solutions—from green bonds and tax reforms to redesigned protected area fee structures and incentive-based conservation schemes.