Mechanisms for Implementation

From Cali to Yerevan: mobilizing nature finance for a biodiversity-positive future

This webinar was part of the Communities of Practice Webinar Series, hosted by the CBD Secretariat to support the implementation of of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the mainstreaming of biodiversity within and across sectors.

With a focus on finance, this webinar convened partners, experts, practitioners, and representatives of key institutions to draw on the outcomes and lessons from COP16 in Cali, Colombia, and translate them into concrete priorities for COP17. It also served as an early engagement platform, fostering alignment on expectations, identifying partnership opportunities, and laying the groundwork for coordinated action in the lead-up to Yerevan.

The webinar was held on June 2 2026, between 8:00 - 9:30AM EDT. It's recording can be found at the CBD YouTube channel, here.

• Participants gained a shared understanding of key lessons from COP16 and their implications for advancing biodiversity finance and mainstreaming efforts ahead of COP17;
• Initial mapping of potential partnerships (such as communities of practice and collective actions to which interested stakeholders may belong), actions, knowledge resources, and complementarities to scale up Finance Day agenda discussions at COP17;
• Clearer expectations for stakeholder contributions toward COP17, enabling different actors to play a defined role in advancing biodiversity finance agendas.

Speakers:

• Angelica Mayolo, former Minister of Culture, Government of Colombia
• Jessica Smith, Head of Nature, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI)
• ⁠Vanessa Calau, Biodiversity and Nature Capital Sector Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
• Natacha Boric, Head of Policy and Positive Impact, Finance for Biodiversity Foundation (FFB)
• Irina Likhachova, Nature Finance Global Lead, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group
• Tracey Cumming, Senior Technical Advisor and Eurasia Regional Lead, United Nations Development Programme, Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)
• Martin McKee, Head of Environmental and Social Policy, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
• Jeremy Eppel, Senior Advisor, NatureFinance
• Eva Mayerhofer, Lead Biodiversity Specialist, European Investment Bank (EIB)
• Margarita Gasparyan, Head of the Cooperation with Donors Department, Environmental Project Implementation Unit, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia
• Johan Lopez, Financial Sector Engagement Lead, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Background Information

As biodiversity loss accelerates, the global financial system’s role in supporting nature has never been more critical. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat has launched a webinar series to strengthen communities of practice and existing networks that support businesses in transitioning to more sustainable operations. Through structured dialogue among policymakers, international organizations, financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector, the series facilitates the exchange of lessons learned and practical experiences in implementing sustainable practices across productive sectors.

COP17 in Armenia will be a pivotal moment: a stocktake of progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), a call for strengthened implementation, and an opportunity to sharpen the alignment of financial flows with biodiversity goals. Against this backdrop, mobilizing institutional capital toward sovereign nature and adaptation priorities is no longer optional.