FGEF strategy for biodiversity

Biodiversity losses are worsening poverty

The world's biodiversity is under severe threat from human activities. The consequences of biodiversity erosion are becoming catastrophic, with irreversible losses of heritage and ecosystem services that are affecting food and timber supplies, the climate, water resources, genetic resources, and medicinal resources amongst others.

The poorest populations in developing countries are also the worst affected, since their livelihoods are directly dependent on the existence and availability of natural resources.

To preserve and protect biodiversity, the FGEF finances projects that aim to bring the guiding principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity into practice.

  • The conservation of species and habitats 
  • Traditional uses of natural resources by populations, 
  • Sustainable management of natural resources as a driver of economic and social development, 
  • Innovative financing tools for biodiversity conservation.
Convention on Biological Diversity Website

The FGEF acts to curb biodiversity losses

The FGEF focuses on ecosystems where biodiversity is particularly abundant, threatened or includes rare or endemic species: it acts in situations where biodiversity losses raise issues of global concern, over and above their importance for the specific country or region.

In areas with substantial human populations, the FGEF develops spatial planning approaches that foster sustainable management of natural resources and landscapes.

In all of its projects, the FGEF seeks to develop and promote the value of:

  • Ecosystem services ,
  • Alternative livelihoods and eco-certified sectors that add value to biodiversity-derived products,
  • Linking the natural and cultural heritage, 
  • Innovative financing tools for biodiversity conservation.
To achieve these aims, the FGEF gives priority importance to:
  • Involving local populations in biodiversity conservation activities so that they benefit from the resulting social and economic advantages,
  • Integrating biodiversity protection in development approaches , through rational uses of natural resources.

The Small-Scale Initiatives Programme: effective partnerships for environmental protection

The purpose of the SSI programme is to support civil society groups in Africa in implementing practical projects on biodiversity conservation or climate change.

The SSI programme was launched in 2006 to support civil society groups in African countries with grant funding for low-budget projects. The programme enables these groups to take practical action at grassroots level, to build up capacities for setting up, managing and monitoring projects and to strengthen their credibility and potential for influencing environmental policy choices in the countries.

On the strength of the results achieved, the FGEF launched its second SSI programme to cover 2009-2011. 50 new projects will be financed to support other organisations still in need of accompaniment.
Technical monitoring for the SSI programme is carried out by the French IUCN committee.

Last update in April 2011