Legacy Landscapes Fund promoted by Germany’s Chancellor during the One Planet Summit

“I can only encourage others to step up to the plate and contribute (to the Fund) as well” says Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Yesterday, January 11th 2021, during the One Planet Summit, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel stated that Germany will be contributing to protecting 30% of the planet’s land and sea using the ‘Legacy Landscapes Fund’, a joint initiative that includes FZS as one of the partner organizations.

“If we really care about our health” says Chancellor Merkel “then we need to resolutely protect nature and biodiversity… humans increase the risk of infections from pathogens when forests are destroyed, natural habitats carved out and pristine habitats are used”. To protect natural areas financing is needed, which is where the Legacy Landscapes Fund comes in.

The Fund, launched in December 2020 by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), will use both public and private investments to provide base funding to protected areas and outstanding wild places, even in challenging times. To garner more support for the Fund, Chancellor Merkel stated: “I can only encourage others to step up to the plate and contribute (to the Fund) as well”.

Spearheaded by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, as well as the United Nations and the World Bank, the One Planet Summit is part of a movement that brings together political leaders and private sector decision-makers with the aim to develop tangible solutions to mitigate climate change and protect biodiversity.

Watch Chancellor Merkel’s speech on the One Planet Summit website in the second video titled ‘One Planet Summit Biodiversity’, from 3:13:36 to 3:17:28. Read more about the Legacy Landscapes Fund on this dedicated website.

Header photo is of the Uluguru Mountains in Tanzania. Taken by Daniel Rosengren.
Teaser image of Chancellor Merkel taken by Bundesregierung /Bergmann, Guido