Nigeria and six different international locations beneath the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People have gained $50,000 seed grants each beneath the Rapid Deployment Mechanism (RDM) to execute projects aimed toward accelerating progress in the direction of their 30×30 conservation targets.
The grants have been introduced and awarded on the sidelines of the continued seventeenth session of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) in Armenia.
The beneficiary international locations are Costa Rica, Mexico, Nigeria, Nepal, Zambia, Rwanda, and Kenya, each receiving a certificates confirming a $50,000 grant for its respective undertaking.
Nigeria obtained the grant for its undertaking proposal titled “Strengthening Nigeria’s 30×30 Progress through Ecological Connectivity, Terrestrial and Marine OECMs, and Protected Area Management Effectiveness”.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the undertaking can be carried out by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).
Costa Rica’s undertaking, titled “From 30×30 Coverage to Effective Conservation: Developing an Acceptable Visitation Load Tool for Cocos Island National Park”, seeks to enhance conservation administration on the nationwide park.
Mexico obtained the grant for its undertaking, “Strengthening Mexico’s Marine 30×30 through Underwater Acoustic Baselines and Evidence-Based Protected Area Management”.
Nepal’s undertaking, “Operationalising Nepal’s National OECM Guideline: Recognising New OECMs to Advance the 30×30 Target”, focuses on recognising different efficient area-based conservation measures (OECMs) to advance its conservation goal.
Zambia’s undertaking is titled “Strengthening Zambia’s 30×30 Progress through the Busanga Swamps Wetland Inventory and Management Effectiveness Assessment”.
Rwanda’s undertaking, “Advancing Rwanda’s 30×30 Commitments through Community-Based Terrestrial OECMs and Ecological Connectivity”, seeks to strengthen community-based conservation and ecological connectivity.
Kenya’s undertaking, “Advancing Kenya’s Marine 30×30 through Community-Led OECMs, Indigenous and Local Knowledge, and Effective Marine Protected Area Management”, focuses on marine conservation.
Nigeria receives award
Nigeria’s award was offered to Sikeade Egbuwalo, the nation’s point of interest to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Representatives of the opposite beneficiary international locations additionally took turns receiving their awards, besides Kenya, whose consultant was unavoidably absent.
In her remarks, Mrs Egbuwalo appreciated the HAC secretariat and the RDM for the popularity and help.
“This support will not only help us to achieve the 30×30 targets but also help us to address the issue of fragmented habitat, which has been a big issue in Nigeria,” she stated.
The RDM is an initiative of the HAC for Nature and People designed to handle funding gaps by offering small-scale financing to catalyse broader conservation impacts.
“By providing fast, flexible seed grants, the RDM bridges the gap between early-stage requirements and larger funding sources, helping countries accelerate actions to achieve their 30×30 goals,” the organisers stated.
During the gala, some recipients of the 2025 RDM grants shared their experiences and highlighted the funding’s significance to biodiversity conservation efforts of their respective international locations.
In his closing remarks, Labaran Ahmed, Nigeria’s Chief Scientific Officer on the Federal Department of Forestry and HAC for Nature and People Co-Chair, expressed the Nigerian authorities’s appreciation to the HAC secretariat for its deliberations.
“We look forward to seeing your projects move forward and contribute to your country’s effort to achieve the 30×30 targets,” he stated.
Significance
In his response to the award, Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Joseph Onoja, stated the award represents a big milestone in Nigeria’s conservation journey and reinforces NCF’s management in advancing biodiversity conservation, ecological connectivity, and sustainable pure useful resource administration.
“Working in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, NCF will provide scientific and technical support to the Federal Government of Nigeria in advancing the country’s commitment to the global 30×30 target of conserving at least 30% of land and sea by 2030,” he stated.
Mr Onoja defined that the undertaking will determine, map, and profile precedence terrestrial and marine Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs); assess protected space administration effectiveness; and develop a nationwide Management Effectiveness Framework.
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These interventions, he stated, will generate essential proof and suggestions to strengthen Nigeria’s protected and conserved space community, enhance conservation governance, and help the implementation of Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
He stated the award underscores the significance of strategic partnerships between authorities and conservation organisations in translating international biodiversity commitments into measurable nationwide outcomes.
“NCF remains committed to working closely with the Federal Ministry of Environment, relevant government agencies, research institutions, conservation partners, and local communities to strengthen ecological connectivity, improve protected area management, and advance Nigeria’s 30×30 ambition,” he stated.
Mr Onoja stated the initiative represents an vital funding in Nigeria’s ecological future, safeguarding biodiversity, strengthening ecosystem resilience, and making certain that nature continues to help the wellbeing and livelihoods of current and future generations.
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