Guyana and the Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change has signed a major agreement that will among other things see the design of a world-class International Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity Research right here in Guyana.
The Memorandum of Understanding was inked today at the opening of the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.
The two-day summit marks the beginning of a global movement that provides a key space for countries and organisations to demonstrate their commitment to biodiversity, discuss collaboration strategies, and structure a common roadmap that includes robust mechanisms.
Speaking at the opening, President Dr Irfaan Ali hailed the forum as a call to action to work together to protect the ecosystems that sustain life on earth, with measurable outcomes and indicators that ensure transparency and effectiveness.
“The MoU marks the beginning of a strategic, long-term collaboration focused on
biodiversity science, data, and technology. Under this agreement, Yale—through Map of Life, their global biodiversity intelligence platform, will work with Guyana to support our leadership in the Global Biodiversity Alliance; help us design a world-class International Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity Research right here in Guyana; build a national biodiversity information system; and guide the application of cutting-edge biodiversity science to decision-making, including for our 30×30 commitment,” he continued.
The President noted that this is a monumental step forward—not just for Guyana, but for South-South and North-South collaboration in biodiversity science, adding that leaders are building the global biodiversity knowledge infrastructure from the ground up.
He boasted that Yale not only brings its world-class expertise, but a network of partners including the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, Map of Life, and the broader community.
Biodiversity is under siege across the globe, with an estimated 10 million hectares of forest lost each year, while one million species face extinction, and wetlands vanishing three times faster than forests.
According to the President, the planet is approaching irreversible tipping points in key ecosystems—from coral reefs to savannahs and rainforests.
He emphasised that Guyana is not simply launching an initiative, but igniting a global movement to protect the living fabric of the planet, as he stressed the need to build strong, resilient, sustainable partnerships to overcome related challenges.
The five pillars of the alliance are advancing the global goal of conserving at least 30 per cent of land and oceans by 2030; embedding biodiversity in national and corporate planning through measurable indicators; unlocking innovative finance, including biodiversity credits, green bonds, and debt-for-nature swaps; empowering Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and to institutionalise monitoring and transparency through the Global Biodiversity Product and the Gross Biodiversity Power Index.
President Ali contended that despite efforts, today, biodiversity remains grossly underfunded, with just US$200 billion invested annually in nature, as he stressed that in order to meet the Global Biodiversity Framework targets, at least US$700 billion is needed annually.
The Global Biodiversity Alliance, he explained, will prioritise this effort. Hence, he extended an invitation to development banks, asset managers, impact investors, and sovereign wealth funds to join, highlighting that financing nature is not charity, but insurance and resilience.
