Türkiye sets a roadmap for biodiversity finance

A new initiative supporting Türkiye in closing its biodiversity finance gap was launched today in Ankara, bringing together public institutions, academia, and experts

Ankara, 5 November 2025 - The project for Supporting the Development of National Biodiversity Finance Plans (BIOFIN) was officially launched today at a national workshop in Ankara. The project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Türkiye in cooperation with the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks and supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to increase and better manage financial resources to conserve Türkiye’s biodiversity.

During the launch, the BIOFIN methodology and global experiences were discussed alongside Türkiye’s biodiversity policies. Participants engaged in a technical dialogue on assessing policy and financial needs to meet national biodiversity targets, as well as analyzing nature-related risks and incentives. The roadmap for the project, data requirements, and mechanisms for institutional cooperation was also discussed, including a good practice example from Kazakhstan.

“Today, we are here for BIOFIN launch, which comes in very timely to support planning and financing concrete actions for nature, said Miodrag Dragisic, UNDP Türkiye Deputy Resident Representative. “It promotes innovative finance and stronger policies for biodiversity, through ensuring that nature is better integrated into national budgets and development plans.”

Photo: Miodrag Dragisic, UNDP Türkiye Deputy Resident Representative

BIOFIN is based on a globally tested methodology composed of four core steps: reviewing existing policies and financial frameworks, analyzing biodiversity-related public and private expenditures, identifying financial needs, and developing a National Biodiversity Finance Plan with concrete financing solutions. In Türkiye, this plan will be developed with the involvement of actors from public institutions, the private sector, civil society, and academia, to design sustainable financing solutions tailored to national needs and priorities.

In a video message, Martin Cadena, Global BIOFIN Manager at UNDP, stated: “Today marks a milestone in Türkiye’s journey to close its biodiversity finance gap. Your input, whether you represent government, finance, NGOs, academia, or the private sector, is essential. Together, we will assess the current state of biodiversity finance, identify the most effective solutions, and implement them to protect Türkiye’s extraordinary natural heritage.” 

Ergül Terzioğlu, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, emphasized: “The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity concerns everyone – from central and local governments to farmers, fishers, SMEs, corporations, banks, investors, universities, civil society organizations, and citizens. The BIOFIN Project will move forward with this broad stakeholder base.

The National Biodiversity Finance Plan to be developed under this initiative will strengthen Türkiye’s capacity to manage current and potential funding sources and provide the financial foundation needed for biodiversity-based development policies. Through BIOFIN’s international knowledge-sharing network and global partnerships, Türkiye will also gain opportunities to exchange experiences with other countries and apply innovative financial solutions.

Led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), BIOFIN is a global partnership working with over 130 countries to develop and implement finance solutions for nature. BIOFIN helps governments identify, mobilize, and align public and private financial flows to close the biodiversity finance gap and integrate biodiversity into national planning, budgeting, and economic policy.