The COP16 biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia, concluded on a tentative note as negotiations faltered. Despite commitments from eight governments raising a global biodiversity fund to $400 million, major disagreements prevented the establishment of a new, independent fund demanded by developing nations. A successful highlight was the creation of the ‘Cali Fund’ to ensure fair profit sharing from the genetic resources of plants and animals. The summit also established a permanent group to represent indigenous peoples in biodiversity discussions. However, many goals set for global biodiversity protection remain unmet, raising concerns over the pace of conservation efforts.