We share five ways we contributed to supporting people and nature in 2025. 

During 2025 we generated real world impact, from fostering public and private sector collaboration to deliver for nature, to advancing progress against the full range of ambitions of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and key elements of the Sustainable Development Goals. Below, we share five ways we contributed to reducing biodiversity loss to benefit people and planet. 

1. We supported the discovery and protection of new species 

2025 saw progress for marine conservation, with our experts contributing to the discovery of new marine species, and protection of existing species vulnerable to overexploitation. New species were discovered as part of the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, an effort to accelerate the discovery of ocean life. For these discoveries to be accessible, it is vital that they are recorded – this is where UNEP-WCMC stepped in to create the Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform that went live in March this year to document all of the new species identified across the world’s vast ocean. 

Our efforts did not only focus on newly discovered species – they extended to advancing protections for existing species across aquatic ecosystems. UNEP-WCMC contributed scientific expertise that underpinned a series of proposals to strengthen international trade protections for species, which were considered at CITES COP20 in late November and early December. Of these, proposals to increase regulation on international trade linked to the golden sandfish, perennial shrub guggul and four different species of water frogs were agreed. This will lead to measures being put in place to prevent overharvesting of these vulnerable species for international trade. 

2. We contributed to major international biodiversity agreements and helped track progress towards global area-based conservation targets 

This year, our experts contributed to a range of international conferences aiming to strengthen action for biodiversity, including the 16^th Conference of the Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD COP16), the 3^rd UN Oceans Conference, and most recently the 7^th United Nations Environment Assembly. These meetings of UN bodies resulted in several major decisions and commitments for nature, collectively and by individual countries and organizations. 

For example, French Polynesia announced their new marine protected area at the UN Ocean Conference in June. This area protects swathes of marine species across 4.5 million square kilometres of ocean and is a pivotal moment for ocean conservation. Moreover, we recognized increased focus on the links between biodiversity and climate change at the 30^th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP30), with these discussions reflecting a move towards recognizing how different parts of the triple planetary crises connect, and more comprehensive and coherent solutions. 

3. We promoted inclusive sustainable development for all  

Sustainable development must be inclusive of those most affected by biodiversity loss. This includes Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who are the custodians of so much of the world’s biodiversity. Indigenous knowledge takes many forms, representing rich and varied ways of understanding and managing the natural world. This year, we continued to contribute to the Transformative Pathways initiative through developing traditional knowledge indicators to ensure biodiversity action led by Indigenous Peoples and local communities is recognized across the world. 

We also strive towards ensuring conservation science is an inclusive and supportive space for all. This year, on the International Day for Women and Girls in Science, we heard from women across UNEP-WCMC, understanding their challenges, hopes and dreams for the future of conservation. 

4. We fostered public and private sector collaboration for nature 

Reaching global goals and targets for nature, as set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, requires action from all sectors of society. This year, we further fostered strong collaboration with private sector partners to deliver this action. In March, we hosted our second Nature Action Dialogues, bringing together over 250 professionals from across business and finance sectors to advance on private sector contributions to address the nature crisis.  

We also saw the greatest uptake of ENCORE and IBAT, tools that provide businesses and financial institutions with access to the latest scientific biodiversity data to inform their sustainability decision making. This data will continue to support companies in their efforts to scale up biodiversity action, bringing the best in conservation science and data to inform action across the private sector. 

5. We supported governments to deliver on their nature ambitions  

During the year we developed new and strengthened partnerships with governments around the world. For example, our National Ecosystem Assessment Initiative, in partnership with the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net), continued to support Botswana, the Dominican Republic, Malawi and Thailand to deliver on their national ecosystem assessments. These assessments also incorporate Indigenous and local knowledge to ensure a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem services as a basis for national decision making. 

We also formed a collaborative effort across civil society, public and private sectors to support the government of Kazakhstan, which resulted in their setting ambitious targets to increase the protected area system by over three million hectares by 2035, alongside setting targets to close the country’s biodiversity finance gap. Such partnerships highlight the progress possible when sectors come together to advance a whole-of-society approach to conservation. 

Main image: freebird7977, Adobe Stock #444733648