In this conversation recorded alongside the Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Finance for Africa and the Arab States in Nairobi, four UNDP leaders explore how countries are redesigning financial systems to value nature better.

Featuring:

• Maxwell Gomera, UNDP Resident Representative in South Africa
• Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda
• Christine Mwangi, Programme Manager, UNDP BIOFIN Kenya
• Moderator: Onno van den Heuvel, Global Lead for Nature Finance, UNDP BIOFIN

The discussion explores:

• Why biodiversity is economic infrastructure—not just an environmental issue
• How countries are integrating biodiversity into budgets and financial planning
• Innovative finance solutions from across Africa, including green bonds, biodiversity budgeting and Rwanda's IremboPay
• Why finance ministries are becoming key players in protecting nature
• How investing in biodiversity also supports livelihoods, resilience and sustainable development
• As countries implement their Biodiversity Finance Plans, Africa is demonstrating that investing in nature is one of the smartest investments economies can make.

Read the article and summary of the interview: here

A new guidebook from the Revenues for Nature (R4N) initiative explores how Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) can help bridge Sri Lanka's biodiversity finance gap by rewarding those who protect nature.

The guidebook moves beyond theory, showcasing real-world examples where businesses, communities, and government institutions are already investing in the ecosystems they depend on:

• Tea estates protecting watersheds that secure clean water and hydropower
• Tourism businesses investing in healthier landscapes along the Pekoe Trail
• Hotels and private companies supporting cleaner beaches that benefit both biodiversity and local economies

These case studies demonstrate a simple but powerful principle: those who benefit from ecosystem services can help finance their protection.

Among the key insights:

• PES works best when conservation creates clear economic value for those who invest in it—not as a donation, but as a long-term business decision.
• Strong governance, monitoring and trusted intermediaries are essential to build confidence between buyers and providers of ecosystem services.
• Hybrid models that combine traditional stewardship with modern financial incentives can make conservation both socially inclusive and financially sustainable.
• Even before a national PES policy is in place, countries can begin building practical, scalable models through partnerships between the private sector, communities and government.

As countries implement their Biodiversity Finance Plans under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, practical examples like these can help transform biodiversity from a public cost into an investment opportunity.

Explore the new guidebook to learn how Payments for Ecosystem Services can mobilize private finance while supporting biodiversity, livelihoods and climate resilience

Рабочее руководство БИОФИН 2024 содержит подробные рекомендации по разработке и реализации национальных планов финансирования биоразнообразия (Biodiversity Finance Plans, BFP). Это не просто планы - они представляют собой долгосрочный процесс, направленный на объединение широкой коалиции заинтересованных сторон вокруг вопросов финансирования биоразнообразия. В его основе лежит активное участие финансового сектора, включая министерства финансов, центральные банки, органы финансового регулирования и банки развития. Ключевым элементом этого процесса является развитие потенциала данной группы участников в каждой стране.

С момента создания БИОФИН в 2012 году национальные планы финансирования биоразнообразия превратились в признанный во всем мире инструмент мобилизации и переориентации финансовых потоков в интересах сохранения природы. Основываясь на опыте первых 41 страны, внедривших методологию БИОФИН, доноры БИОФИН и Глобальный экологический фонд (ГЭФ) обязались поддержать разработку и реализацию BFP в 132 странах-участницах в рамках достижения амбициозных целей Глобальной рамочной программы по биоразнообразию к 2030 году.

Первая группа стран БИОФИН, приступивших к реализации своих планов финансирования биоразнообразия, уже добилась результатов. В частности, финансирование особо охраняемых природных территорий было увеличено на 86 млн долларов США на Филиппинах и на 70 млн долларов США в Казахстане. В Эквадоре было мобилизовано 108 млн долларов США в виде «зелёных» кредитов, в Малайзии через механизм экологических фискальных трансфертов (Ecological Fiscal Transfers) было направлено 120 млн долларов США, а в Замбии был выпущен первый в истории страны «зелёный» облигационный заем на сумму 200 млн долларов США. В Ботсване ежегодные доходы от особо охраняемых природных территорий выросли на 3,6 млн долларов США, местные органы власти Монголии обеспечили ежегодное увеличение доходов более чем на 10 млн долларов США, а на Сейшельских Островах было создано первое специализированное подразделение по финансированию биоразнообразия для институционализации процесса БИОФИН.

Evaluación de necesidades para la financiación de la biodiversidad en Colombia: presupuesto estimado para el Plan de Acción de Biodiversidad de Colombia al 2030.

Este documento presenta la estimación de las necesidades financieras para implementar el Plan de Acción de Biodiversidad de Colombia (PAB) al 2030, elaborada conjuntamente entre el Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible y el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) a través de la Iniciativa BIOFIN, con la participación de las entidades del Sistema Nacional Ambiental.

El análisis se desarrolló siguiendo las recomendaciones de la metodología BIOFIN; la cual incluye la revisión de políticas e instituciones, el análisis del gasto actual en biodiversidad, la estimación de las necesidades financieras y la identificación de soluciones para cerrar la brecha de financiamiento.

Los resultados indican que Colombia requerirá aproximadamente COP 98,95 billones (USD 24.150 millones) entre 2025 y 2030 para cumplir las seis metas nacionales del PAB, lo que equivale a una inversión anual cercana a COP 16,5 billones.

El estudio también evidencia una brecha de financiamiento cercana al 82%, lo que implica que el país deberá incrementar significativamente la movilización de recursos para la biodiversidad.

Estos resultados constituyen un insumo clave para el diseño de la Estrategia de Financiamiento de la Biodiversidad, orientada a movilizar recursos públicos, privados y de cooperación internacional que permitan asegurar la implementación efectiva del PAB y el cumplimiento de los compromisos nacionales e internacionales en biodiversidad.

Biodiversity-related expenditures in the 2024 Philippines General Appropriations Act (GAA) reached approximately PhP 11.77 billion, while 134 programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) in the Public Investment Program (PIP) demonstrated direct or indirect biodiversity benefits.  

The latest Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER) generated these findings through an analysis of national and local government budgets, Official Development Assistance (ODA), and PIP allocations using the updated Global Biodiversity Expenditure (GLOBE) Taxonomy. 

Sectors contributing to biodiversity outcomes include climate resilience, agriculture, infrastructure, research and innovation, and social development among others. 

Agricultural practices in ecologically sensitive hilly and upland areas of the Philippines can generate unintended harmful environmental footprints that adversely affect biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, highlighting the urgent need to adopt more sustainable and biodiversity friendly agricultural practices (BDFAPs), the assessment found. 

Drawing on stakeholder consultations and desk studies conducted under the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) in 2022 and 2023, the study examined three agricultural systems in hilly landscapes: rice systems in heritage areas, yellow corn production, and highland vegetable production, to better understand their environmental and socio-economic impacts and their implications for biodiversity conservation. 

Based on these findings, the assessment recommends repurposing agricultural subsidies, strengthening environmental safeguards, promoting diversified farming systems, and improving coordination and collaboration among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA), local governments, and local communities to support a gradual transition toward sustainable agriculture. 

The Philippines' biodiversity and ecosystems make significant contributions to nation building and human well being, with forests, coastal and marine areas, caves, agricultural landscapes, and urban ecosystems generating substantial economic and social benefits. 

Based on updated valuation studies conducted under the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) in 2021, the study presents estimates of the economic value of ecosystem services and demonstrates the benefits generated by natural capital. It also highlights the environmental and economic costs associated with biodiversity loss and unsustainable resource use. 

It further underscores the importance of natural capital accounting and ecosystem valuation in informing public policy, budgeting, and investment decisions. 

Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Project Overview The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) is a global partnership managed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that supports countries in developing sustainable finance solutions for biodiversity conservation and management. In the Philippines, BIOFIN is implemented by the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (BMB-DENR) from 2018 to 2030.

BIOFIN Philippines aims to address the country’s biodiversity financing gap by strengthening policies, mobilizing investments, and identifying innovative finance solutions that support the implementation of the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP), the country's roadmap to conserving biodiversity. The project promotes sustainable and equitable management, protection, and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems while helping align financial resources with national conservation priorities.

BIOFIN assesses biodiversity expenditures and financing needs, maps existing finance mechanisms, and develops practical finance solutions involving government or public sector, private sector, civil society, and local stakeholders. These solutions include resource mobilization, realignment of existing resources, avoiding future costs, and delivering better through synergies and partnerships that support conservation outcomes.

The project is being implemented across priority biodiversity landscapes and protected areas in the Philippines. Through its Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP), BIOFIN seeks to help secure long-term investments for nature in the Philippines.

How can nature markets and biodiversity credits help close the biodiversity finance gap while ensuring integrity, equity, and real conservation outcomes?

In this webinar, experts from the public, private, and Indigenous sectors explore the rapidly evolving landscape of biodiversity credits and nature markets. Through case studies from Colombia, New Zealand, and global market analyses, speakers examine how compliance and voluntary markets are being designed, governed, and implemented in practice.

Key topics include:

• The role of biodiversity credits in achieving global biodiversity targets
• Lessons from Colombia’s Habitat Banking System and compliance-based biodiversity markets
• Trends and opportunities in voluntary biodiversity credit markets
• Governance, integrity, and enabling policy frameworks for nature markets
• Indigenous-led approaches to biodiversity credits and data sovereignty
• Practical insights on mobilizing private finance for conservation and restoration

The discussion highlights both the opportunities and challenges of scaling nature markets, emphasizing the importance of strong governance, benefit-sharing, and community participation to deliver lasting biodiversity outcomes.

This joint report by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the World Bank, and United Nations Development Programme’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (UNDP BIOFIN) provides a guide for financial institutions and firms to assess and disclose nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities (DIROs). It aims to: 1) Assess the current state of nature-related risk assessments and disclosures among Malaysian financial institutions and firms; 2) Identify key gaps and challenges in these practices; and 3) Provide practical guidance and recommendations to accelerate progress across the financial ecosystem. The findings of this report are substantiated by several analytical components: an updated ENCORE analysis of nature-related dependencies and impacts within Malaysian banks’ commercial lending portfolios; two nationwide readiness surveys conducted with financial institutions and publicly listed companies; and five pilot LEAP assessments with three financial institutions and two firms.

How can states, provinces, and municipalities mobilize resources to protect biodiversity?

In this webinar, experts from Malaysia, Mongolia, UNDP BIOFIN, Panorama, and Regions4 explore innovative approaches to financing biodiversity at the subnational level. Learn how ecological fiscal transfers, natural resource use fees, and local finance mechanisms are helping governments channel resources where conservation happens.

Key topics include:

• Malaysia's Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) model
• Mongolia's Natural Resource Use Fees Law • Accessing funding through the FIRE platform
• Practical lessons for subnational governments implementing biodiversity finance solutions.

Watch the recording to discover real-world examples, lessons learned, and practical approaches for strengthening biodiversity finance at the local and regional levels.

This webinar is jointly organized by the UNDP BIOFIN GEF Umbrella Programme and the GEF-8 Umbrella Programme to Support NBSAP Update and the 7th National Reports, bringing together global, regional, and country teams engaged in the implementation of these two projects.

The session focuses on the practical application of UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and Biodiversity Finance Plans (BFPs), highlighting how safeguards can strengthen project design, implementation, and accountability across multi-country programmes. Drawing on country experiences, speakers will share practical lessons on stakeholder engagement, grievance redress mechanisms, and safeguards implementation throughout the project cycle.

Particular attention will be given to the importance of meaningful and inclusive engagement, especially with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and women, to ensure that concerns are identified and addressed early. The discussion will also highlight how weak stakeholder engagement can contribute to grievances, underscoring the need for robust and inclusive processes from the outset.

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