The Ministry of Environment and Forestry, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), officially launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) in Lesotho.
BIOFIN is a global programme that supports countries in identifying, mobilising, and sustainably managing the financial resources required to protect biodiversity and strengthen ecosystem resilience. In Lesotho, the initiative will play a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan III (NBSAP III) by helping to close the country’s biodiversity finance gap.
The launch will introduce the objectives, key activities and expected outcomes of the BIOFIN Lesotho Project (2024–2028). These include policy and institutional assessments, biodiversity expenditure reviews, financial needs analysis, and the development of a National Biodiversity Finance Plan. The event will also highlight how the initiative will enhance national capacity to integrate biodiversity considerations into planning and budgeting across key sectors.
The Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Mr Letsema Adontši, opened the launch by noting that today marks an important milestone in our collective journey to secure sustainable privacy for biodiversity conservation and to position biodiversity as a core pillar of national development.
In his opening remarks, the Deputy Director Representative of the UNDP Institute, Mr Taye Amsalu, today emphasized the critical link between biodiversity, sustainable development and the well-being of the Kingdom of Lesotho. He highlighted that our daily lives, development pathways and resilience to climate shocks all depend on how we treat our natural environment.
“As discussions continue, the message is clear: if we take care of our nature, it will take care of us. Our biodiversity is our life and the foundation of sustainable development for present and future generations,” he said.
In conclusion, he noted that Lesotho continues to lead in ratifying international environmental treaties; the focus now is on domesticating these commitments and ensuring they deliver real impact at the local level. Central to this effort is strengthening biodiversity financing—understanding existing resources, identifying gaps, and building a coordinated national approach led by the government, with support from UNDP, civil society and the private sector.
Source: Department of Information, PR Unit, 17/12/2025
