Countries have committed more funds to help restore nature as biodiversity negotiations hit a stalemate over funding.
Leaders are meeting in Montreal to try to agree on a strategy for reversing environmental degradation.
Progress has slowed due to disagreements over how to pay conservation activities in developing countries.
It is believed that the additional promises will generate impetus for an accord to safeguard one-third of the earth for wildlife.
However, environmental groups have stressed that if the discussions are to succeed, political will must be translated into tangible agreement.
The announcements came on the first day of ministerial high-level negotiations at the UN biodiversity summit, COP 15.
The conference is now in its second week, but progress has been slow, with disagreements over funding and little evidence of compromise. The UK government has pledged roughly £30 million to assist developing countries in meeting the objective of reserving one-third of the earth for wildlife.
It is also donating £5 million to ecological projects in British overseas territories.
“A healthy and vibrant natural environment underpins the social and economic prosperity of our livelihoods, which is why it is critical for the international community to put nature on the path to recovery,” said Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey.
why it is critical for the international community to get nature back on track.”
The conservation projects range from returning imperiled species to the Falkland Islands to helping endangered sea turtles on the Cayman Islands.
Biodiversity hotspots are found in the global south.
On Thursday, a number of countries, including Spain, the Netherlands, France, and Canada, announced plans to expand funding for conservation efforts worldwide, with a focus on the most vulnerable countries.
It is hoped that philanthropic organisations and international banks will follow suit.
The announcements followed concerns that the pace of negotiations in Montreal has stalled amid disagreements over finance.
On Wednesday some countries walked out of a meeting in protest at the lack of progress on how to fill a multi-billion dollar funding gap.
“This week has been challenging as expected around issues of resource mobilisation, with walk-outs and late-night impasses,” said a spokesperson from The Nature Conservancy.
“That said, the train feels like it’s back on track and conversations are moving again. ”
On Saturday marches were held in Montreal over ensuring rights for indigenous peoples
The COP 15 UN biodiversity summit in Montreal is regarded as a “last chance” to save the nature upon which the world depends.
Ministers arrived on Thursday for high-level talks aimed at resolving outstanding issues.
Claire Blanchard, head of global advocacy at WWF International said the new announcements were a good signal of much-needed political will in Montreal.
“This political will must now be translated into concrete agreements and convergence in the negotiation room over the next couple of days, to rescue a desperately needed deal for nature to save our life support systems,” she said.
Biodiversity refers to all living things, from polar bears to plankton, and the way they fit together in an intricate web of life, supplying food, clean air and water.
