Japan has announced a commitment of 117 billion yen, or about 850 million dollars, in financial aid over three years to help conservation initiatives by developing nations and others.

Japan's Environment Minister Nishimura Akihiro made the promise in a speech at the ministerial-level meeting of the UN biodiversity conference COP 15 in Montreal, Canada, on Thursday.

Nishimura said Japan, as the chair of COP 10 in the city of Nagoya, has led the implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets set at the 2010 conference.

He said COP 15 delegates must adopt a new framework, including ambitious targets, with appropriate resource mobilization.

The focus of negotiations at the conference is whether participants can agree on a draft pledge known as "30 by 30" to conserve at least 30 percent of the Earth's land and oceans by 2030.

Sources say negotiators from more than 100 out of the roughly 190 countries and territories participating in the conference have expressed approval of the target.

But developing nations are calling for more financial assistance.