Japan has set the pace for conservation by creating a $2 billion fund for the key ‘Aichi Target’ of halving the rate of biodiversity loss. But much more funding will be necessary to encourage developing countries to stop the degradation and unsustainable exploitation of forests, wetlands, and coastlines. It must be borne in mind that the CBD has admitted to failing in its original goal, which was to reduce loss of biodiversity significantly by 2010. The lack of progress is not surprising, because not enough funding was provided by rich nations. For instance, the members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development have been donating much more for climate change mitigation projects than for biodiversity conservation. This pattern makes it clear that the two environmental priorities have to be aligned more closely to make progress with the ten-year strategic plan finalised in Nagoya. In the Indian context, biodiversity concerns have been generally relegated to the background during the Environmental Impact Assessment process for land use change. This is particularly the case when the projects are small. Moreover, the EIA is often conducted by agencies that collect no original data on biological diversity to back their reports. India’s performance in this area will be under the spotlight when the CBD meets in New Delhi in 2012.