Initiatives
Mexico celebrates the launch of three key biodiversity conservation projects toward 2030
- The MEx30x30, ACCIÓN, and ORIGEN projects will support Mexico’s environmental and climate commitments;
- The initiatives are backed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the Government of Germany (KfW), and will be implemented in partnership with Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (FMCN, acronym in Spanish);
- MEx30x30 lays the foundation for a historic effort to ensure the conservation of 30% of Mexico’s territory by 2030, under the leadership of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp, acronym in Spanish);
- ORIGEN is a joint effort between Conanp and the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRICULTURA in Spanish) that supports the goals of the National Environmental Restoration Program and promotes the transition toward resilient and sustainable production systems;
- ACCIÓN will contribute to the sustainable financing of 20 coastal Protected Areas (PAs) and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities in the Yucatán Peninsula, coordinated by Conanp and the state governments of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022 by 196 countries, set global targets to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems and to effectively conserve and manage 30% of the planet by 2030. As a megadiverse country, Mexico has taken a leadership role in implementing these goals, recognizing that conserving and restoring its forests, jungles, wetlands, coasts, and seas is essential to ensuring water, food, oxygen, and protection from natural disasters.
In line with this 30x30 target, Mexico has committed to strengthening its PAs and, through the National Environmental Restoration Program, to restoring 4 million hectares by 2030. Within the framework of the 2025 Conservation Knowledge Exchange Week (SICC, acronym in Spanish) and with the participation of representatives from the Government of Mexico, the German Embassy, KfW, the Conservation International–GEF Project Agency (CI-GEF), and FMCN, the launch of three strategic projects was celebrated: MEx30x30, ACCIÓN, and ORIGEN.
These three projects build upon efforts that began in 1997 through the partnership between the Government of Mexico, through the Conanp, and FMCN. With the support of 25 donors, including GEF and the Government of Germany, this collaboration now benefits 95 of Mexico’s 232 federal PAs, as well as producers contributing to restoration through sustainable practices. During the event, national and international representatives highlighted the importance of this new phase in achieving Mexico’s Kunming-Montreal 30x30 target, restoring the country’s forests, and strengthening the resilience of ecosystems and communities.
Henry González, Director of Investments at GCF, stated: “The project focuses on areas facing high climate risk in Mexico. GCF’s investment will strengthen ecosystem resilience, and the project will enhance community resilience.”
José Feliciano González Jiménez, General Director for Institutional Strengthening and International Affairs at Conanp, said: “At FMCN we have found a strong ally for the management of environmental projects. These three projects represent an important step toward achieving national and international goals; these are not only Conanp’s goals, but the goals of all of us in Mexico.”
Laura Aguirre Téllez, General Director of Green Financing under the General Coordination for Sustainability and Climate Resilience at AGRICULTURA, praised the initiative, noting that the projects foster transformative changes in agricultural production systems to move toward greater sustainability while improving the well-being of producer communities: “By rehabilitating degraded production areas, we will strengthen watershed-level ecosystem services, which are essential for food production.”
Daniela Carrión, Senior Director, Project Design and Oversight at the CI-GEF Project Agency, emphasized: “For 30 years, Conservation International has proudly supported environmental protection in Mexico, working to conserve biodiversity, coastal habitats, and promote sustainable economies that harmonize with Mexico’s rich culture. In collaboration with the Global Environment Facility, the MEx30x30 and ORIGEN projects continue our commitment to investing in nature protection, recognizing Indigenous knowledge, and supporting initiatives that restore critical ecosystems for generations to come.”
Silke Silva Meléndez, First Secretary for Cooperation on Environment, Dual Education, and Social Cohesion at the German Embassy in Mexico, reaffirmed that German Cooperation remains committed to supporting Mexico in achieving its climate change and biodiversity goals.
Renée González Montagut, Chief Executive Officer of FMCN, concluded: “With the launch of MEx30x30, ACCIÓN, and ORIGEN, Mexico reaffirms its commitment to protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable development for future generations. These projects establish the financial and institutional foundations for achieving the Kunming-Montreal 30x30 target and ensuring that 30% of the country is effectively managed under conservation. With the leadership of the Government of Mexico, donors, and on-the-ground partners, our country’s alliance ecosystem grows stronger to sustain our natural treasure.”
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For more information:
MEx30x30, Conserving Mexico’s Biodiversity Through Communities and Their Protected Areas, led by the Conanp, with CI-GEF as the implementing agency and FMCN as the executing agency, aims to ensure the effective institutional and financial management of 30% of Mexico’s territory under conservation—the Kunming-Montreal 30x30 target—while strengthening the operation and management of all existing Protected Areas. Backed by the public–private collaboration framework of the Protected Areas Fund (FANP) and built on 28 years of experience, MEx30x30 is the platform to close the 30x30 financial gap, providing a clear roadmap and sustainable resources for Mexico to meet its international biodiversity and conservation commitments and protect its invaluable natural wealth.
ACCIÓN, Sustainable Communities for Climate Action in the Yucatán Peninsula, is a strategic response to the severe climate risks facing Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán, where coasts, marine ecosystems, and coastal communities are on the front line of vulnerability. The project aims to strengthen climate resilience through ecosystem-based adaptation, supporting sustainable livelihoods, local populations —especially fishers and coastal communities— and local networks already committed to conserving and restoring their environments. Accompanied by the environmental secretariats of the three states, this effort seeks not only to mitigate the impacts of climate change but also to place community well-being, local economies, and local voices at the heart of Mexico’s collective response.
ORIGEN, Restoring Watersheds for Ecosystems and Communities, is the result of a CI-GEF partnership with the Conanp and AGRICULTURA, serving as a comprehensive strategy to promote resilient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable production models. With work in coastal watersheds across Chiapas, Jalisco, and Veracruz, and pilot programs in Guerrero, Nayarit, and Oaxaca, ORIGEN will restore degraded landscapes through agroforestry and silvopastoral systems while strengthening value chains for native species such as cacao and vanilla. Building on lessons from projects like CONECTA, C6, and RÍOS, the initiative will ensure that watershed-based restoration planning, long-term sustainable financing, effective local action, and participatory monitoring reinforce both ecosystems and community livelihoods, protecting biodiversity and addressing the challenges of climate change.
