Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund

Grantees of CEPF are making a difference in protecting biodiversity hotspots around the world and helping communities thrive. You can learn all about it in the 2023 CEPF Impact Report. The publication shares results data and stories that celebrate our grantees’ amazing achievements over 22 years in some of the world’s most threatened ecosystems. A few key figures from this year’s report: ▪ US$294 million in grants awarded. ▪ 2,735 grantees supported in 112 countries and territories. ▪ 55 million hectares of Key Biodiversity Areas with improved management. ▪ Over 1,200 species benefiting from conservation action. ▪ More than 5,700 communities benefiting from CEPF-funded projects. ▪ 1,727 projects focused on nature-based solutions to climate change. You can read more and find a link to the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eapgxU_h

Hosted by the CEPF Mediterranean Basin Hotspot Program, this upcoming webinar is a great opportunity to learn from leaders in sea turtle conservation in the Mediterranean about how collective action is driving conservation efforts and shaping the future of these iconic species!🐢 There will be time for discussion after the presentations. Date: November 28, 2024 Time: 12PM - 1:30PM CET More details can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eNuHB7z9

With support from IUCN Asia , CEPF grantee Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) has been working to protect and rehabilitate native Cambodian wildlife for over 20 years, including the Critically Endangered Bengal Florican. Read more about ACCB’s incredible efforts to reestablish a population of this species and prevent its extinction.

Le gouvernement du Canada a annoncé un nouveau financement de 20 millions de dollars canadiens (14,4 millions de dollars américains) pour le CEPF afin de soutenir la conservation de la biodiversité et l'équité entre les sexes. L’investissement ira aux organisations de la société civile dans trois hotspots de la biodiversité : les Andes tropicales, le Cerrado et l’Indo-Birmanie – des écosystèmes biologiquement riches, essentiels à l’humanité, mais hautement menacés. « Le CEPF remercie le gouvernement du Canada pour son rôle de chef de file sur les questions cruciales de conservation de la biodiversité et d’égalité des sexes », a déclaré Olivier Langrand, directeur exécutif du CEPF. « Ce financement va permettre aux communautés et aux organisations de la société civile de mettre en œuvre des stratégies de conservation pour des sites parmi les plus importants de la planète pour la diversité biologique – les points chauds de la biodiversité. Il est essentiel pour le bien-être humain et environnemental que nous conservions ces ressources vitales tout en veillant à ce que l’utilisation durable de la biodiversité profite équitablement aux femmes et aux hommes. Ces actions se traduiront par des contributions importantes à la réalisation des objectifs du Cadre mondial pour la biodiversité. »

The Government of Canada has announced $20 million Canadian (US$14.4 million) in new funding for CEPF to support biodiversity conservation and gender equity. The investment will go to civil society organizations in the Tropical Andes, Cerrado and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots—biologically rich ecosystems that are essential to humanity, yet highly threatened. "CEPF is grateful to the Government of Canada for its leadership on the critical issues of biodiversity conservation and gender equity," said Olivier Langrand, CEPF's executive director. "This investment supports communities and civil society organizations to put into action conservation strategies for some of the world’s most important sites for biological diversity—biodiversity hotspots. It is essential for lasting human and environmental well-being that we conserve these vital resources while ensuring that the sustainable use of biodiversity benefits women and men equitably. These actions will result in important contributions toward the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework." #cop16colombia #biodiversity Photo credits: (Top) Peach-fronted parakeet, Cerrado, Brazil. © Olivier Langrand; (Left) Woman and sarus crane in rice field, Cambodia. © Jonathan C Eames; (Right) Kosñipata Valley, Peru. © Michelle Léon / Pronaturaleza.

As delegates from around the world traveled to Cali, Colombia for #cop16colombia on October 20, staff from CEPF and partners gathered to share updates on their conservation efforts, forge new partnerships, and develop plans for the future. At the official negotiation venue, known as the Blue Zone, CEPF and partners participated in a series of side events related to achieving the targets established in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In the Green Zone, dedicated to events sponsored by civil society, Tropical Andes Grant Director Michele Zador and CEPF RIT Country Coordinator Martha Silva of Fondo Patrimonio Natural participated in a series of seminars, exhibits, and meetings sponsored by Colombian grantees: Corporación para la Gestión Ambiental Biodiversa (Biodiversa), Maestros del Agua, Corporación Ambiental y Forestal del Pacífico (Corpopal), Fundación Calima, Corporación Serraniagua, Fundación Con Vida, Fundación Ecológica Fenicia Defensa Natural (FEDENA), Fundación Ecovivero, and Fundacion Ecologica los Colibries (FELCA). Representatives from local communities and environmental NGOs benefitting directly by CEPF grants proudly described how they are working through alliances with local governments to protect their biodiversity. They said after many years of habitat protection and restoration, they are seeing exciting results: Andean bears, pumas, and other wildlife that have not been seen for years are returning to areas that were once highly degraded. Local herpetologists were thrilled to report that populations of some Endangered and elusive amphibians are surprisingly on the upswing. The aspirations of the thousands of delegates from around the globe at Cali underscore the imperative to reach agreement in the week ahead on ambitious commitments to address the biodiversity crisis.

With #COP16Colombia underway, we're taking a moment to celebrate how CEPF grantees' work in the world’s biodiversity hotspots is helping to establish long-term, locally led conservation initiatives that guide sustainable use and equitable sharing of the benefits of #biodiversity. To date, CEPF has supported more than 2,500 civil society grantee partners in more than 112 countries and territories for projects that not only implement CEPF’s conservation strategies, but also are already making significant contributions to the Global Biodiversity Framework targets. Check out the video below to learn more! Many thanks to our global donors: Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, Fondation Hans Wilsdorf, Global Environment Facility, Japan - The Government of Japan and The World Bank.

The recently released Annual Report of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Programme showcases the significant progress made in identifying and conserving globally important sites for biodiversity. Led by 13 conservation organizations, the KBA Programme aims to support countries in their efforts to protect these crucial areas. 🦎 🌿 Download the report here 🌐 https://bit.ly/3Ba4mjy BirdLife International IUCN American Bird Conservancy Amphibian Survival Alliance Conservation International Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Global Environment Facility NatureServe Rainforest Trust Re:wild RSPB Wildlife Conservation Society WWF

The Mandela Washington Fellowship provides opportunities for young African professionals to gain specific transferable skills and knowledge for future application in their countries.    Faniry Ramtariharisoa and Mohamed Mroivili are both Fellows of the program and recently spent a month at Conservation International with the Oceans program. Faniry is a community organizer dedicated to fighting climate change, working with rural households to implement improved cook stove projects in Madagascar. She is working with the Global Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Center, researching climate justice and CI’s niche in this area for potential future programming. Mohamed, from the Comoros, is also a climate change activist working with schools and networks of organizations to increase awareness and promote improved policies. He is working with the Center for Oceans team on research this month. Olivier Langrand and Peggy Poncelet of the CEPF Secretariat recently attended the debriefing of the Fellows (pictured below).

Last week, members of the CEPF Secretariat met with Sean Southey—CEO of the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Chair of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication—to talk about the incredible work CEPF grantee Dahari is doing in the Comoros! Sean and Peggy are pointing at the Comoro Islands on the wall map at the Conservation International Arlington office 😊