Biodiversity
Supporting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
OUR APPROACH TO BIODIVERSITY
But over the past few decades, development pressures have driven significant biodiversity loss. This decline now threatens the ecosystems and natural capital on which economies, livelihoods, and human well-being depend. Nature serves as a vital source of employment and income, including for the most vulnerable communities. In fisheries alone, 60 million jobs depend directly on fishing and aquaculture. Each of these jobs supports 2.5 more along the value chain—amounting to 200 million jobs globally, 60 percent in developing countries. Similar patterns exist in forestry and nature-based tourism.
Yet nature is disappearing at an unprecedented pace. Low-income economies face the greatest risks, as biodiversity loss undermines poverty reduction and growth prospects. World Bank modeling shows that even a partial collapse would cost 2.3 percent of global GDP ($2.7 trillion) in 2030 and some of the poorest countries would be hit hardest.
Biodiversity loss stems from market, policy, and institutional failures. Harmful subsidies in sectors like agriculture and fisheries outweigh biodiversity funding by a factor of five or six, locking economies into unsustainable paths.
Investing in nature offers opportunities for high-quality, and high-value growth. Realigning markets and value chains to conserve and restore natural capital can generate quality jobs and long-term prosperity. Investment in protected areas supports income diversification and strengthens local economies. Integrating nature into rural and urban planning is essential for building resilience and securing a sustainable development trajectory.
In response to biodiversity’s pivotal role in sustainable development and growing demand for action from client countries, the World Bank Group (WBG) is scaling up its support for biodiversity conservation and restoration and the improved management of natural capital. It works with client countries to:
- Develop economies that are built on the sustainable use of natural resources;
- Implement nature-based solutions (NBS) that contribute to building resilience and improving livelihoods;
- Promote the conservation, restoration, and enhanced management of ecosystems; and
- Address the drivers of biodiversity loss through policy reforms, sustainable land- and seascape management, pollution control, and improved governance.
In addition, through the Environmental and Social Framework, the World Bank screens its investment projects to avoid, reduce and if necessary-compensate, impacts that can affect biodiversity.
Through its financing, knowledge and data, technical expertise and convening power, the WBG is supporting countries in their implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted in 2022 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2050. These efforts also aim to scale private sector action that contributes to GBF goals. Together, this approach reflects the Bank’s commitment to ending poverty on a livable planet—where biodiversity conservation, sustainable production and the equitable sharing of benefits underpin long-term social and economic development.
The WBG also works with countries to embed nature into economic strategies, infrastructure design, and policy frameworks, redirecting harmful subsidies, and re-orienting sectors to more sustainable practices ensuring that biodiversity is not treated as an isolated issue but as a driver of inclusive growth.
Through initiatives like PROGREEN(forests landscapes), PROBLUE(costal and marine ecosystems), NBS Invest, the Global Wildlife Program, the Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous People and Local Communities, Amazonia Viva, and the Global Program on Sustainability, the WBG helps countries and communities access public and private financial resources and technical assistance, increase knowledge, strengthen governance, and increase conservation of their natural capital.
PROGRAMS & PROJECTS ON BIODIVERSITY
The Global Wildlife Program (GWP)
The GWP, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the World Bank, is one of the largest global partnerships addressing wildlife poaching, trafficking, and demand.
With $352 million in GEF financing and over $2 billion in co-financing, the GWP supports national efforts in 38 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Its projects, along with a global grant, create a collaborative platform for on-the-ground action, cross-border cooperation, and the sharing of lessons and best practices.
The GWP tackles illegal wildlife trade, unsustainable wildlife trade, human-wildlife conflict, and zoonotic spillover risk while promoting wildlife-based economies and nature-based tourism.
- feature story
Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program (ASL)
The ASL is a regional effort for conservation and sustainable development in the Amazon, aiming to connect people and institutions to connect conserved and managed landscapes. The ASL integrates both national projects with interventions in participant Amazon countries and a regional coordination project.
NBS Invest is an eight-year, US$20 million Global Knowledge Platform (2023–2031), funded by the Global Environment Facility’s Least Developed Countries Fund and implemented by the World Bank.
NBS Invest aims to increase financing for nature-based solutions and mainstream nature into development agendas across Least Developed Countries.
To create the enabling environment for the scaling up of nature-based solutions, NBS Invest develops tools and analysis, shares knowledge, and provides technical assistance to integrate NBS into World Bank investments and make a business case for further NBS uptake by the World Bank and its development partners.
RESULTS & IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY
92.7 Million
$150 million bond
$1
- results
- feature story
- report
RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
- report
- report
- report
MORE ON BIODIVERSITY
- feature story
- video
- feature story
OUR PARTNERS IN BIODIVERSITY
Environment
Investments in nature, renewable natural resources, pollution management, and the circular economy create jobs and reduce poverty.