US$202 Million Nature Initiative Launched in Antigua and Barbuda

A new Commonwealth conservation initiative backed by US$202.2 million in initial pledges was launched in Antigua and Barbuda on Monday, bringing together governments, philanthropic foundations and conservation organisations to accelerate the protection of land and oceans.

The Commonwealth Nature Initiative was unveiled aboard the Fortescue Green Pioneer during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). It will support efforts to protect at least 30 per cent of the world’s land and oceans by 2030, a global commitment known as the 30x30 target.

King Charles III joined high-level participants and supporters for a reception aboard the vessel following the launch.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne welcomed Antigua and Barbuda’s role in establishing the initiative, stressing the importance of directing conservation funding towards national and regional programmes.

“I am very proud that Antigua and Barbuda was the birthplace of the Commonwealth Nature Initiative in the presence of His Majesty The King,” Browne said.

He said the initiative’s approach would help ensure that resources reach communities and produce tangible results.

The founding supporters are the Minderoo Foundation, Rob Walton Foundation, Rainforest Trust, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Waitt Foundation and National Geographic Pristine Seas.

Their initial commitments will support the creation, expansion and effective management of protected areas across Commonwealth countries. Funding will also support Indigenous Peoples’ rights and strengthen local communities’ role in conservation.

The initiative aims to attract a further US$1 billion from donor countries and philanthropic sources by 2030.

For the Eastern Caribbean, an early priority is the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States’ 30x30 Transformation Program. Other areas of focus include the Africa Keystone Protected Area Partnership, which seeks sustainable financing for 162 important protected areas, and the Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity initiative, which supports long-term marine and coastal conservation.

At the launch, Antigua and Barbuda joined Australia, Fiji, Guyana, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Uganda, the United Kingdom and Zambia in presenting conservation plans, including proposals for new protected areas.

Minderoo Foundation founder Dr Andrew Forrest said the foundation’s US$10 million contribution would be available immediately to help projects begin and attract additional philanthropic investment.

Rainforest Trust announced a US$50 million pledge, with chief executive James Deutsch emphasising the need to connect international conservation ambitions with funding and local leadership.

The Waitt Foundation said its support would help countries including Bermuda, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu strengthen ocean management through monitoring, enforcement and public outreach.

The launch comes as countries work towards the 30x30 target adopted under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022.

According to the release, Commonwealth members account for almost a quarter of the world’s land area and more than 40 per cent of global ocean Exclusive Economic Zones, giving the grouping a significant role in international conservation efforts.

The initiative will connect investment with country-led priorities and help secure long-term financing for protected areas. It will operate through a small secretariat responsible for bringing partners together, mobilising investment and communicating progress, rather than holding funds or making grants itself.

Developed by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda alongside the Commonwealth Secretariat and conservation partners, the initiative is expected to expand its network of programmes across the Commonwealth in the coming years.