UN joins Guyana-led Global Biodiversity Alliance

…Pres Ali pushes urgent global action to reduce nature loss

The Government of Guyana and the United Nations in Guyana have signed a Declaration of Intent (DOI) to formalize the United Nations’ participation in the Global Biodiversity Alliance, strengthening cooperation on biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, climate resilience, and global knowledge exchange.
The DOI is a formal agreement between the Government of Guyana and the United Nations that officially brings the UN into the Guyana-led Global Biodiversity Alliance. It serves as a framework to integrate biodiversity into national planning, enhance global data-sharing, and protect ecosystems.
Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira and UN Resident Coordinator, Jean Kamau signed the agreement on Monday at a ceremony, hosted by President Dr Irfaan Ali at the Office of the President.
Expressing satisfaction with the growing number of nations joining the alliance, President Ali said he foresees even greater participation at the next summit.
“We are very pleased that some of the very large nations are joining, and also that some of the smallest nations are embracing this initiative. We hope that by the time we get to the second summit in the third quarter of this year in Guyana, we will have at least 150 members joining the Global Biodiversity Alliance,” he stated.
During his address, the Head of State referenced remarks made by António Guterres, who warned that biodiversity is collapsing at a rate unprecedented in human history.
“With up to one million species now at risk of extinction, the rapid loss of the world’s biodiversity is a direct threat to food security, water systems, public health, and the global economy. We hope that we will continue to work together with the right data sets and the right priorities in advancing the goals of the United Nations, and of course what we want to achieve as a country together with you. Humanity is waging a war on nature,” the President said.
The Head of State also championed the integration of biodiversity protection into multiple sectors.
“Biodiversity protection must therefore be integrated into agriculture, infrastructure, energy, tourism, urban planning, and national economic policy. This approach aligns directly with the core philosophy of the Global Biodiversity Alliance, which seeks to move biodiversity from the margins of policy into the mainstream of global development decision-making,” he noted.
It was on this basis that President Ali said the participation of the United Nations strengthens the institutional depth of the Global Biodiversity Alliance and affirms that the initiative is not regional or thematic, but part of a broader global movement to reshape humanity’s relationship with nature.
However, while the alliance is continuing to gain significant traction and international endorsement, reflecting growing recognition that biodiversity loss is one of the defining challenges of modern times, equal in urgency to climate change, the president stressed that much more still needs to be done.

“But much more remains to be done. We therefore use this moment to extend a strong invitation to other international organizations, development partners, multilateral institutions, and sovereign states to join the Global Biodiversity Alliance,” he urged.
President Ali posited that the biodiversity crisis is too large, complex, and interconnected for any single country or institution to tackle alone, emphasizing the need for collective action on an unprecedented scale.
“We need to bring together governments, international organizations, civil society, indigenous peoples, the private sector, and the scientific community in a unified effort. The Global Biodiversity Alliance offers precisely such a platform — one that is inclusive, action-oriented, and grounded in the principle that protecting nature is not only an environmental duty, but an economic and moral imperative,” he stated.
“We invite all who are committed to safeguarding the planet’s biological heritage to become part of this growing movement. With the United Nations now on board, we take a significant step forward. But we also recognize that this is only the beginning,” the president added.
He also conveyed that the partnership reflects Guyana’s long-standing commitment to responsible stewardship of its forests, biodiversity and natural resources. He expressed that the signing by the United Nations on to the Global Biodiversity Alliance, led by Guyana, is a powerful affirmation that biodiversity protection and the sustainable management of natural resources must remain central to global development. He underscored that Guyana’s leadership in climate and biodiversity, has shown that innovative partnerships can support environmental stewardship, and Guyana remains committed to sharing experiences and lessons with the international community.
“The United Nations is pleased to join this important initiative, which closely aligns with the world’s shared objectives of sustainable development goals (SDGs) while championing South-South cooperation,” the UN Resident Coordinator said.
Through the Declaration of Intent, the Government of Guyana and the United Nations reaffirmed their shared commitments to integrating biodiversity considerations into national development planning and sustainable investment frameworks, in line with Guyana’s vision of pursuing development that is inclusive, low-carbon, and climate-resilient. The Declaration further underscores the importance of inclusive participation and the meaningful engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose knowledge, stewardship and lived experience are essential to biodiversity conservation.
The Partnership is expected to contribute to stronger coordination, data-sharing and information exchange on biodiversity action within the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, while supporting Guyana’s ongoing leadership in climate and biodiversity diplomacy.