Conservation Finance: A Framework
Definition, Theory and Taxonomy
The CFA is pleased to announce the release of “Conservation Finance: A Framework”.
In this white paper, we seek to clarify the definition and role of conservation finance to show how important its mechanisms and strategies are for addressing the underlying causes of nature loss as well as contributing to increasing sustainable funding flows to nature conservation. This white paper is intended to improve understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by the field of conservation finance. The paper emphasizes a holistic approach to conservation finance and seeks to support a more harmonized comprehension going forward. Secondly, the white paper provides several conceptual frameworks to facilitate an understanding of the various concepts associated with conservation finance. Finally, the white paper presents a taxonomy of conservation finance strategies and mechanisms.
The white paper defines conservation finance as “mechanisms and strategies that generate, manage, and deploy financial resources and align incentives to achieve nature conservation outcomes.”
To download the white paper, click “Download”
The CFA hosted two webinars featuring authors from the white paper on March 31st, 2020. In case you missed them, you can view the webinars by clicking here for the first webinar, and here for the second webinar.
The Powerpoint presentation that accompanied the webinar can be downloaded by clicking here.
conservation Finance mechanisms presented
The paper proposes a taxonomy of conservation finance mechanisms and strategies under which all known mechanisms can be categorized.
The new taxonomy consists of 7 major classes of finance mechanisms, listed below. For a quick overview, click here.
Public Financial Management
Risk Management
Financial Efficiency
Return Based Investments
Economic Instruments
Grants and Other Transfers
Business and Markets
The taxonomic classes outlined in the white paper will form the basis of the Conservation Finance Guide which is currently under development and will be launched in Spring of 2020.
Contributing Authors:
David Meyers, Conservation Finance Alliance; John Bohorquez, Stony Brook University, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Institute for Ocean Conservation Science; Tracey Cumming, Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), UNDP; Lucy Emerton, Environment Management Group; Onno van den Heuvel, Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), UNDP; Massimiliano Riva, UN Joint SDG Fund; and Ray Victurine, Wildlife Conservation Society.
Funding for the project was provided by:
Fonds Français pour L’Environnement Mondial and MAVA Fondation pour la Nature