Ted Turner, who helped establish the United Nations Foundation two years ago, announced that the group is giving $50 million in grants to 48 UN-approved projects around the world.

Nearly 40 percent of the grants will go to African groups, while the remaining grants will fund projects in South and Southeast Asia and Central and South America.

The foundation -- which got its start in 1997 when Turner pledged $1 billion over 10 years -- gives grants to environmental groups, population efforts and women's and child health initiatives. The foundation already has given about $140 million to such groups.

Turner, head of the UN Foundation's board of governors, announced the latest grants at the group's first international meeting, held near Cape Town, South Africa. Joining him were his wife, Jane Fonda, and board member Graca Machel, wife of Nelson Mandela.

Turner said a "token" grant of $43,900 was allocated for the 29,000-acre Cape Peninsular National Park. The South African government applied to the UN for the grant so the park could be declared a World Heritage site, according to a UN Foundation news release.

Ted Turner is founder of the CNN 24-hour cable news station.

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