BIODIVERSITY FINANCE
Finance Initiative for Biodiversity
‘Biodiversity Finance Solutions Exhibition – 5th BIOFIN Global Conference’ This poster is part of an series of all BIOFIN countries…
Brazil
Brazil is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, home to globally important ecosystems including the Amazon, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Pantanal and extensive coastal and marine areas. This natural capital underpins livelihoods and economic activity across the country, from agriculture and fisheries to forestry, tourism and an expanding bioeconomy. At the same time, deforestation, land-use change, ecosystem degradation and other pressures continue to threaten biodiversity and the ecosystem services on which communities and businesses depend.
Closing the biodiversity finance gap requires not only greater investment in conservation, but also aligning public and private financial flows with nature-positive development. Brazil's growing bioeconomy offers an important opportunity to connect biodiversity conservation with economic development by increasing the value of standing forests and sustainably managed ecosystems, supporting biodiversity-based businesses and creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
UNDP BIOFIN has worked in Brazil since 2017, supporting the Government and national partners to better understand biodiversity expenditures and financing needs and identify practical solutions for mobilizing finance for nature. Following the development of the Policy and Institutional Review, Biodiversity Expenditure Review, Financial Needs Assessment and Biodiversity Finance Plan, the programme has increasingly focused on implementing finance solutions and strengthening the enabling environment for biodiversity investment.
Today, UNDP BIOFIN is working with public and private partners to improve access to finance for the bioeconomy, strengthen investment-ready biodiversity businesses and connect enterprises with appropriate financial mechanisms. This work has contributed to the mobilization of approximately US$15 million for the bioeconomy and is helping build the financial architecture needed to scale investment in biodiversity-positive economic activities.
Finance solutions
1. Strengthening Capacity and Knowledge for Bioeconomy Finance
UNDP BIOFIN works with government, financial institutions, businesses, entrepreneurs and local stakeholders to strengthen knowledge and capacity for financing Brazil’s bioeconomy. The solution supports analysis of financing barriers and opportunities, capacity development and dialogue between investors and biodiversity-positive businesses, particularly in the Amazon. It also promotes investment opportunities and strengthens the ability of public and private actors to mobilize finance for sustainable bioeconomy activities.
2. Unlocking Public and Private Finance for the Bioeconomy
UNDP BIOFIN supports the development of a stronger financing environment for biodiversity-positive businesses by identifying and addressing barriers to public and private investment. This includes mapping available financial mechanisms, assessing financing gaps across bioeconomy value chains and developing recommendations to improve access to finance for businesses and entrepreneurs.
The solution has also supported the development of tools that connect bioeconomy enterprises with appropriate sources of finance and collaboration with financial institutions to expand investment in nature-positive businesses. Working with Brazil’s national development bank BNDES, UNDP BIOFIN has helped identify and prioritize financing opportunities that contributed to the mobilization of approximately US$15 million for the bioeconomy.
Key results
Mobilizing US$15 Million for the Bioeconomy
In partnership with Brazil’s national development bank BNDES, UNDP BIOFIN helped identify and prioritize financing opportunities for the bioeconomy, contributing to the mobilization of approximately US$15 million. The investment supports the development of sustainable economic activities that increase the value of biodiversity and standing forests while creating alternatives to deforestation and ecosystem degradation.
Mapping Finance for Brazil’s Bioeconomy
UNDP BIOFIN conducted a comprehensive assessment of the financing landscape for Brazil’s bioeconomy, with particular attention to the Amazon. The analysis identified important financing gaps across the innovation and value-chain cycle, including limited access to finance for research and development and for higher-value biodiversity-based products and services. The findings are helping identify opportunities to improve existing financial mechanisms and mobilize greater public and private investment for the bioeconomy.
Improving Access to Bioeconomy Finance
Building on its finance mapping, UNDP BIOFIN developed a digital platform for identifying available financing mechanisms for the bioeconomy. The tool allows businesses, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to search financing opportunities according to factors such as stage of innovation, value-chain stage and type of financial resource, helping connect biodiversity-positive enterprises with appropriate sources of finance.
Strengthening Finance for Community Forest Enterprises
UNDP BIOFIN has supported the Brazilian Forest Service in developing a financing mechanism for community forest enterprises linked to the Federal Programme for Community and Family Forest Management. The initiative aims to improve access to finance for sustainable forest-based businesses, strengthen local livelihoods and increase the economic value of maintaining native vegetation and forests.
Advancing Payments for Environmental Services
UNDP BIOFIN has supported the development of the financial architecture for Brazil’s Federal Payments for Environmental Services Programme. The work focuses on identifying sustainable sources of finance and strengthening the financial mechanisms needed to reward the conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems and their services.
Integrating Biodiversity into National Finance Planning
UNDP BIOFIN is supporting Brazil in aligning biodiversity finance with the country’s updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and wider green transformation priorities. This work is helping develop a more comprehensive Biodiversity Finance Plan that can improve the alignment of public and private financial flows with national biodiversity priorities and identify opportunities to mobilize additional resources for nature.
Key documents
Latest Publications
SEE ALL
