France, Feb. 28 -- The world's nations have salvaged a vast funding plan at UN talks in Rome to protect biodiversity and reverse the decline of nature.

Representatives of 196 rich and developing countries hammered out a compromise on Thursday to raise and deliver the billions of dollars needed to protect species in some of the world's poorest countries.

After three days of tense discussions, countries were able to overcome deep divisions which had led to the collapse of negotiations at last year's UN biodiversity summit (COP16) in Cali, Colombia.

COP16 President Susana Muhamad of Colombia had earlier urged delegates to work together for something that is "probably the most important purpose of humanity in the 21st century - our collect...