Sustainable Conservation Finance Retreat February 12-13, 2002 Observations from the GEF biodiversity portfolio Claudio Volonte GEF Secretariat

Sustainable Conservation Finance Retreat February 12-13, 2002 GEF biodiversity portfolio US$1.3 billion to 446 projects in 123 countries (as of June 2001) Funding through ecosystem based OPs Support for Global 200 ecoregions, World Heritage Sites, Ramsar sites, migratory waterbirds, biosphere reserves Support for demonstration projects linked to alternative livelihoods for local and indigenous communities.

Sustainable Conservation Finance Retreat February 12-13, 2002 GEF biodiversity program study Findings and recommendations on sustainability: Much more needs to be done to secure sustainability of project gains and activities Funding patterns during the project must be compatible with the economic realities of the host institution/country: cost effectiveness. For most governments to have the political will to conserve biodiversity, its conservation must be seen as contributing to economic growth and security. Only activities that have a realistic chance of tackling immediate and proximate underlying causes should be considered. Conservation initiatives should be linked to commercial interests

Sustainable Conservation Finance Retreat February 12-13, 2002 Financial Arrangements: lessons from GEF experiences Means but not ends Linkage to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use Operational schemes (not “concepts”) Dynamic, flexible and responsive Include monitoring Financial arrangements vs. economic arrangements Market vs. non-market Should meet recurring cost of project outcomes and should have benefits on the ground

Sustainable Conservation Finance Retreat February 12-13, 2002 Direct funding to grants, trust funds, concessional funding (barrier removal), loans (with IFC/private sector) or Funding to support projects and programs for development of financial arrangements GEF funding and financial arrangements

Sustainable Conservation Finance Retreat February 12-13, 2002 Examples of recently approved projects (FY00/01)

Sustainable Conservation Finance Retreat February 12-13, 2002 GEFM&E Study Financial Arrangements in Biodiversity Communication Strategy Final Report Portfolio Review Literature Review Database Case Studies Assessment, Guidance, Lessons Learned Assessment, Guidance, Lessons Learned