Sri Lanka has been endorsed for a project under the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF), positioning the country among the first globally to move into the large-scale implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This marks a step in translating global biodiversity commitments into coordinated national action.

The KBF project proposal was formally signed by the Environment Ministry’s Secretary, K.R. Uduwawala, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Representative for Sri Lanka, Vimlendra Sharan at the said Ministry.

 Invasive alien species represent a critical and growing threat to biodiversity, ecosystems, agriculture and livelihoods. The KBF-supported project responds directly to this need, marking a transformative shift from fragmented, project-based interventions to a unified national biosecurity system. The initiative will institutionalise prevention, early detection, rapid response and the long-term management of invasive species across the country. Through the project, Sri Lanka will strengthen policies, legislation and institutional coordination related to invasive species management. Key interventions include updating the national priority invasive species list for the first time since 2015, establishing a national digital monitoring system, and enhancing border controls through improved tools and enforcement capacity. Community-based ecosystem restoration and inclusive livelihoods are central to the project’s approach. Activities will include site-specific eradication efforts, post-eradication monitoring, and innovative ‘eradication-through-utilisation’ models that generate economic opportunities for women, youth and vulnerable groups while restoring ecosystems.