Rwanda wants to mobilize $500 million to fund biodiversity protection projects
• The goal aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022
• The country plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 38% by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050

Rwanda seeks to raise $500 million to support concrete actions for biodiversity protection, Environment Minister Valentine Uwamariya announced at the opening of the Africa-Arab Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Finance, held in Kigali.

The minister explained that this event comes as countries are working to turn the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022, into action.

“Rwanda has updated its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to align with the new global framework. One of our key goals is to mobilize $500 million from public, private, national, and international sources,” Uwamariya stated, as reported by local media.

The funds will help curb biodiversity loss while boosting the economic benefits of using natural resources sustainably. Rwanda has set five main objectives and 19 specific targets to achieve by 2040.

The East African country also plans to become a carbon-neutral, climate-resilient economy by 2050. Its national climate plan includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 38% by 2030, compared to business-as-usual levels. Environmental protection has been a priority in Rwanda’s development agenda for over 20 years.

Among existing initiatives is IremboPay, a digital platform used to collect environmental fines, which are then reinvested transparently in conservation projects through the Rwanda Green Fund. So far, the platform has raised over $122,000 for biodiversity efforts.

In October 2024, Rwanda also launched its Climate and Nature Finance Strategy, which aims to mobilize between $6.2 billion and $6.5 billion from 2024 to 2030 to finance both climate action and biodiversity conservation projects.