{"id":541765,"date":"2026-10-12T15:57:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T14:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/?p=541765"},"modified":"2026-10-12T16:16:36","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T15:16:36","slug":"iucn-nl-at-cop17-in-yerevan-locally-led-conservation-and-trust-based-finance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/event\/iucn-nl-at-cop17-in-yerevan-locally-led-conservation-and-trust-based-finance\/","title":{"rendered":"IUCN NL at COP17 in Yerevan: locally led conservation and trust-based finance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From 19 to 30 October 2026, the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17) takes place in Yerevan, Armenia, under the theme <\/strong>‘Taking action for nature’. IUCN NL travels to Yerevan with an essential question for the success of the Global Biodiversity Framework: how do we get funding to the people who protect nature every day? Together with our partners, we host and co-host six events. Find out what we will share and where to meet us.<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Header photo: Armenia \u00a9 akoppo from Getty Images<\/a> via Canva<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Why funding doesn\u2019t reach the frontline<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Grassroots groups, Indigenous Peoples\u2019 organisations, community enterprises, and (women) environmental defenders are usually the first to act when a forest is cleared, a river is polluted or a species starts to disappear. They experience firsthand how the crises of biodiversity loss, water, climate change and livelihoods connect in their landscape. Long before and long after international politicians put these topics on the agenda. Yet for a long time, only a small share of funding has reached the organisations working in the world\u2019s most biodiverse landscapes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Often, the people who are closest to the fire are brought in at the end of a conservation plan instead of at the start. Funding arrives with short project timelines, fixed budget lines, and reporting demands that can cost a small organisation more time than the work itself. In some cases, it even buries an organisation. If we want lasting results in biodiversity-rich landscapes, this needs to change.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) itself calls for the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women included, in decisions about biodiversity (Target 22). Getting there requires locally-led conservation and trust-based funding.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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25 years of trust-based funding in practice<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Although the term trust-based funding is gaining traction over these last few years, for IUCN NL, trust-based funding is not a new trend. It is how we have worked for over 25 years.
Our starting point is simple: the people closest to nature are best placed to decide what it needs. Our role is to make sure resources reach them quickly, with flexibility and as few strings attached as possible. We stand by our partners when things get difficul
A few examples of current programs:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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