June 5, 2026
SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan (June 5, 2026) – The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council has approved $18 million USD for Conservation International to lead a new initiative through the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) that will strengthen civil society leadership in biodiversity conservation across some of the world’s most threatened ecosystems. The decision was issued on June 1 during the 8th GEF Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
“Local civil society organizations, who understand their local realities and stakeholders, are often the first to respond to environmental threats and are among the most trusted actors in the communities they serve,” said Patricia Zurita, Executive Director and Chief External Affairs Officer of Conservation International. “Unfortunately, these organizations too often remain underfunded and under-supported despite their critical role in protecting biodiversity and supporting livelihoods. This new investment will help ensure that conservation leadership is rooted where it matters most.”
The five-year initiative, Consolidating the CEPF’s achievements in fostering CSO leadership in biodiversity conservation in global biodiversity hotspots , will provide grant funding, technical assistance and long-term organizational development support to Indigenous peoples, local communities, non-governmental organizations and other civil society partners. The initiative will focus on biodiversity hotspots selected from four regions: Latin America and the Caribbean; Sub-Saharan Africa; the Mediterranean; and East Asia and the Pacific.
The new project builds upon 25 years of conservation results through the CEPF model, which pairs grantmaking with capacity strengthening to make a highly effective mechanism for supporting locally led biodiversity conservation. Since its launch in 2001, CEPF has awarded $345 million in grants to more than 2,800 civil society organizations across 112 countries and territories, helping to strengthen management across 60 million hectares of Key Biodiversity Areas, creating17.3 million hectares of protected areas, and supporting thousands of local communities through biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.
CEPF is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, Fondation Franklinia, Fondation Hans Wilsdorf, the GEF , the Government of Canada, the Government of Japan, Hempel Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and the World Bank.
"The GEF's long-term commitment and engaged partnership has been essential to the conservation impact delivered by CEPF's grantees over the past 25 years," said Olivier Langrand, CEPF executive director. "We look forward to the positive change we can continue to build together and the contributions CEPF grantees will be able to make to global biodiversity and sustainable development goals under this new initiative."
A core feature of the new project will be strengthening regional implementation teams, locally rooted organizations that help translate global conservation priorities into context-specific support, technical guidance and grantmaking in each hotspot. The project will also foster peer learning, mentoring and knowledge exchange across participating organizations, helping replicate successful approaches and scale impact.
The initiative is expected to mobilize an additional $24.1 million in co-financing, amplifying support for grassroots conservation action and contributing to implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Find the fully approved GEF work program from the 71st Council, here.
###
About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube
About GEF: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the world’s largest multilateral fund for the environment. Its family of funds work together to address the planet's most pressing challenges in an integrated way. Its financing helps developing countries address complex challenges and work towards meeting international environmental goals. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $27 billion in financing, primarily as grants, and mobilized another $155 billion for country-driven priority projects.
About CEPF: CEPF is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, Fondation Franklinia, Fondation Hans Wilsdorf, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Canada, the Government of Japan, Hempel Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation. Since 2001, CEPF has catalyzed enduring, locally led biodiversity conservation through over US$345 million in grants to more than 2,800 organizations in 112 developing and transitional countries. Results include more than 17 million hectares of formal protected areas established, more than 1,300 globally threatened species supported, and more than 6,700 communities benefiting.