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Today in Pyeongchang, South Korea, a group of high level representatives, including GEF CEO Naoko Ishii, gathered to discuss and present the current state and outlook of Biodiversity for Sustainable Development

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From L to R: Ibrahim Thiaw (UNEP), Naoko Ishii (GEF), Yoon Seong-kyu (Minister of Environment of ROK), Chung Hong-won (Prime Minister of ROK), Helen Clark (UNDP) Choi Moon-soon (Governor of Gangwon Province), Braulio F. de Souza Dias (CBD)

The message from all speakers at the opening of the high level segment of the CBD COP 12 was that Biodiversity is key for Sustainable Development and essential for everyone.

From the fish that we eat, to lands that we cultivate, and the flowers we grow for medicine, the forests we use for living, biodiversity conservation and restoration are inextricably linked to human prosperity. 

Ms. Ishii recognized the success of the GEF-6 replenishment of $4.4billion towards programming in GEF-6 and the $1.3 billion that was allocated to the biodiversity focal area, which now makes the biodiversity focal area the largest single focal area in the GEF. Beyond these investments of the GEF Focal areas also support the realization of the Aichi targets. 

Helen Clark (UNDP) and Ibrahim Thiaw (UNEP) both highlighted the necessity of including Biodiversity in the post-2015 development agenda.​

Read Naoko Ishii's full statement here

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