Vancouver, Aug 25 : Amid a record wildfires in British Columbia, a good news for nature in a challenging moment came, with representatives of 185 countries agreed at the Global Environment Facility's Seventh Assembly here to launch an innovative new fund for biodiversity that will attract funding from governments, philanthropy and the private sector.
The new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) has been designed to mobilise and accelerate investment in the conservation and sustainability of wild species and ecosystems, whose health is under threat from wildfires, flooding, extreme weather and human activity, including urban sprawl.

The new fund was ratified and launched at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly in Vancouver, where two countries announced initial contributions to start its capitalisation. This included 200 million Canadian dollars from Canada and 10 million pounds from the UK.  The GEF Assembly has brought together 1,500 people from around the world, including environmental leaders and managers from government, business, academia and civil society, including Indigenpeople, women and young people. 

The once-every-four-year gathering is taking place during a record wildfire season in British Columbia and at the start of what is expected to be a record hurricane season in North America, fuelled by record Pacific and Atlantic ocean temperatures. 

"Countries have come together in Vancouver to turn things around for the health of the pland its people. This is a hugely positive moment that will be remembered far into the future. We have shown at the Seventh GEF Assembly that even in difficult conditions -- with wildfire smoke as our backdrop -- we can move forward to build a more biodiverse plfor everyone's benefit," said Carlos Manuel Rodri?guez, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF.