However, the situation may be more complex than numbers suggest. Regarding the problem, we do not lose biodiversity and ecosystems primarily for lack of adequate conservation funding. And regarding response options, we must also ask: How should the limited available re-sources be used? For directly tackling biodiversity threats, for addressing the underlying drivers, or rather for strengthening the financial management and fundraising capacity of implementing organisations? As country con-texts differ, so do the likely answers.

We propose the following key messages for discussion. They are based on a short review of experiences with financing biodiversity conservation in protected areas (PA) and their surrounding landscapes. For this, the lessons from Ger-man development cooperation in eight partner countries have been examined1. These findings are not meant to be representative of any group of countries or financing in-struments. They nonetheless propose a shift in perspective in the international biodiversity financing debate: We may need to move from a focus on reducing the funding gap by means of innovative financing mechanisms towards thinking ‘innovation’ more broadly.

1. Financial resource mobilisation needs to go hand in hand with efforts to slow the drivers of con-servation costs and to improve effective spending capacity. Rather than the total additional amounts made avail-able, it is the capacity for overcoming various constraints which shapes the degree to which funds meet needs and

Key messages:• Financial resource mobilisation needs to go hand in

hand with efforts to slow the drivers of conservation costs and to improve effective spending capacity.

• Constraints to financial sustainability of biodiversity conservation are highly diverse and need to be better understood at country level.

• Innovative financing mechanisms can deliver multiple ben-efits, but only if their design is carefully fitted to context.

• Landscape approaches to conservation broaden the funding base and/or narrow the funding gap and make clear that investing in healthy ecosystems is critical for livelihoods and development.

The financial resources needed for globally implementing the Aichi Biodiversity Targets have been estimated at US$ 150–440 billion per year (CBD COP11, 2012) – of which perhaps 10% are currently available. Significant efforts have been undertaken in many countries to increase funding for biodiversity conservation. Nonetheless, this funding shortage remains immense, acute and chronic.

1 The full study and a more comprehensive list of conclusions and recommendations can be made available upon request.

Authors: Berghöfer A., Emerton L., Moreno A., Rode J., Schröter-Schlaack C., Wittmer H., van Zyl H.

Discussion Brief

Enhancing the financial sustainability of biodiversity conservationConclusions from a review of experience in German development cooperation

In cooperation with

November 2016

InnovatIng for BIodIversIty ConservatIon In afrICan ProteCted areas: fundIng and InCentIves Insights from Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and South Africa

Study summary

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Directorate-General for Global Affairs, Culture, Education and International Development

2016

Innovative financial mechanisms for long-term biodiversity conservation: Insights from international cooperation experience

WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER 2016 @ 13:15 (ID # 2227)SIDE-EVENT 2 ROOM, UNIVERSAL BUILDING

Food and drinks will be served

The CBD Strategy for Resource Mobilization called on parties to explore new and inno-vative financial mechanisms at all levels in order to complement public investment and better engage with the private sector.

Experience has been gained on how these in-novative financial mechanisms really work on the ground, especially for funding and in-

centivizing biodiversity conservation in and around protected areas. We can thus draw lessons on what are the needed pre-con-ditions, success factors and risks of such mechanisms as well as on how they can be combined synergistically to leverage finan-cial resources and foster efficient management.

This side event invites Parties and other stakeholders to share lessons learnt on innovative financial mechanisms and their role in sustainable financing strategies for protected areas at nation-al and site-level. It will showcase practical examples and present highlights of a review of experiences from international cooper-ation (including French and German).

Results on impacts, critical conditions, limitations and recom-mendations for scaling-up will be commented by country repre-sentatives and thoroughly discussed with those attending.

Facilitation:

Ms. Marianne Alker (GIZ) and Mr Renaud Lapeyre (IDDRI)

Speakers:

Mr. Yann Laurans, IDDRI: Innovating for biodiversity conservation in African protected areas: funding and incentives. Insights from 3 countries.

Mr. Augustin Berghöfer, UFZ: Enhancing the financial sustainability of biodiversity conservation Conclusions from a review of experience in German development cooperation.

Ms. Katia Karousakis, OECD: Sustainable financing of marine protected areas

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