The Nature Conservancy and Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) applaud Chancellor Merkel’s announcement today that Germany will dedicate €500 million between 2009 and 2012 and €500 million annually from 2013 for urgently needed new funding for global forest preservation and national parks and protected areas.

“Nearly half of our planet’s original forest cover is gone and less than one percent of our oceans are protected,” says NABU’s President Olaf Tschimpke. “After years of talk with little action, this new commitment will put the air back in the lungs of conservation funding. Chancellor Merkel and Environment Minister Gabriel have renewed Germany’s leadership in international efforts to protect nature.”

Chancellor Merkel’s commitment for additional funding, will support new protected areas, help to reduce deforestation and prevent the destruction of peatlands for biofuels. Today’s announcement builds on Environment Minister Gabriel’s Life Web initiative for a voluntary network of protected areas in the world’s most critical conservation regions, an initiative that enjoys the full support of the Conservancy and NABU.

“Protected areas are the cornerstone of the world’s biodiversity conservation strategy – but this strategy won’t work without funding.” says Rebecca Patton, the Conservancy’s chief conservation strategies officer and senior spokesperson at the UN biodiversity conference in Bonn. “We welcome Germany’s innovative role in scaling up funding for international conservation to a level that will really make a difference.”

“International conservation NGOs such as the Conservancy, have taken the lead in supporting conservation projects that share the goals encapsulated within Life Web,” says Roberto Troya, the Conservancy’s director of international government relations and head of delegation. “Our integrated conservation programs in the Caribbean, the Pacific and Latin America show the way towards sustainable development in peace with nature and local communities.”

Both NABU and the Conservancy can show a vast experience in implementing conservation projects both in the U.S. and Germany, as well as in developing countries, where conservation, climate protection and economic benefits have been combined. The inclusion of local and indigenous communities, civil society and non government organizations will be critical to ensure the successful implementation of Germany’s new financial commitment.

“It will only be with the full involvement of all stakeholders that we can achieve a truly sustainable ‘web of life’,” says Tschimpke.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Greg Miller/TNC (San Rafael Falls in the Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve);  Photo © European Community (European Union flag)..