Mainstreaming biodiversity in development is a broad category of strategies that supports the alignment of diverse interests towards multiple sustainable development objectives. The division of various initiatives into silos of separate priorities, institutions, and programs results in high levels of inefficiency in government budgeting, development finance and many other aspects of development. Strategies that improve alignment of diverse actors in the development space can lead to large cost savings and greater efficiency of spending. Some examples for conservation include prioritizing nature based solutions to climate change, integrating watershed management with urban development, integrated planning for SDG targets at the national level, etc. Development of policies that require biodiversity to be protected or compensated are also examples of such mainstreaming (see Compensation and Offsets).
One of the best documented cases of effectively mainstreaming biodiversity is the Working for Water program in South Africa. This project was initiated in response to harmful impacts of invasive plants on water resources and related ecosystems. It worked to mainstream considerations of invasive species into national strategies, policies, and legislation, as well as with local governments and stakeholders. The initiative resulted in tens of thousands of jobs being created to address invasive plants, and millions of hectares of invasive plants being removed (Redford et al., 2015).
Debt-for-Nature Swaps
Through debt restructuring agreements, governments are able to write off a proportion of their foreign held debt. The savings accrued will be channeled into domestic conservation initiatives and climate adaptation programs. This often entails the establishment of a Conservation Trust Fund to channel the funds. Debt-for-nature swaps can target both official and commercial lending, with the former being the most common scheme.
Aid Coordination Strategies
Aid coordination strategies (and/or institutions) can help to improve and guide strategic proposals as well as deliver resources in a more effective manner. Aid coordination strategies are usually established at national and sector levels (e.g. environment).
Increase Biodiversity Component of Climate Aid
Biodiversity related financing within official public assistance provided for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Public climate finance is counted separately from general ODA due to the promise of additionality made by developed countries in climate agreements. Biodiversity may be featured in climate donor strategies more prominently (e.g. Germany or Norway) as clear co-benefits exist with climate adaptation and in many cases with mitigation measures as well. Additional allocations to biodiversity require evidence for climate results out of biodiversity focused interventions (e.g. ecosystem based adaptation) and political lobbying. Climate finance is delivered bilaterally (e.g. German International Climate Initiative-IKI) and multilaterally (e.g. the Green Climate Fund).
Penalties and other compensation for unplanned environmental damage
Compensation paid by a company and/or individual condemned for an environmental crime and/or unintentional damages to the environment. Prevalent environmental crimes include illegal wildlife trade, illegal waste, manmade disasters and spills, etc. Charges can include fixed fines, remediation costs, and economic damages. The compensation is usually determined by the law. The amount of the compensation might be determined by an assessment of economic loss and remediation costs.
Compensation for planned environmental damage
Financial or other compensation paid by companies, private individuals, or governments for planned environmental damage as part of infrastructure or project development. Compensation levels and forms of compensation are usually determined by law and can be fixed amounts, calculated relative to investment or company sizes, or based on remediation costs and economic damages.
Increasing Official Development Assistance (ODA)
Increasing ODA flows through better programming and delivery, training on grant preparations or other targeted efforts. Official agencies, including state and local governments, or their executive agencies channel aid to recipient countries with the objective to address environmental challenges. The donor(s) transfers financial resources to awarded programmes and projects directly or indirectly through accredited agencies, private companies, and civil society organizations (NGOs). Although the most common disbursement is grant financing, funding may come in a variety of forms, including concessional loans, guarantees and equity. For the latter modalities in particular, OECD guidelines can be applied to define the type of aid provided.
Increase biodiversity related bilateral ODA
ODA may be provided bilaterally, from donor to recipient. Biodiversity may be featured in bilateral donor strategies (e.g. Germany or Norway) but priorities vary greatly and change frequently among donors. Additional allocation usually requires the provision of evidence for results and political lobbying. Priorities can be negotiated both nationally and internationally.
Multilateral ODA
Biodiversity related financing in ODA channeled through a multilateral development agency such as the United Nations or the World Bank. Biodiversity may be featured in multilateral donor strategies. Additional allocation requires the provision of evidence for clear results and political lobbying. Priorities are negotiated both nationally and internationally. The Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund are among the largest multilateral providers.