Five big ideas we’re excited to explore at the LAC Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Finance

In the first week of November, the Latin America and Caribbean region will see the largest ever gathering of Biodiversity Finance experts from the region, coming together in Mexico for the 11th Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Finance for Latin America and the Caribbean  

The event, organized by UNDP BIOFIN, will bring together more than 100 policymakers, government leaders, and finance experts from 28 countries across the region.  

Here are five key themes that will be explored during the dialogue: 

1) Jaguar-protection insurance: a payout that saves predators and livelihoods 

What it is: An insurance scheme that compensates farmers for livestock lost to jaguar predation, removing the economic incentive to kill jaguars and creating incentives for coexistence. 
Why it matters: Human–wildlife conflict is a major threat to iconic species; compensating verified losses reduces retaliation and builds trust with rural communities. Argentina’s Misiones pilot is the world’s first example and shows how public, private, and NGO partners can design practical, locally adapted insurance.  
What to watch for at the dialogue: verification mechanisms, how premiums/claims are funded (public subsidy vs blended finance), and links to habitat restoration or eco-tourism to create long-term incentives. 

2) Tackling harmful subsidies: redirecting public money away from biodiversity loss 

What it is: Systematic identification, assessment and reform of subsidies and incentives that harm biodiversity (e.g., certain agricultural, energy or water subsidies), plus repurposing them for positive outcomes. 
Why it matters: Subsidies that encourage over-extraction or intensive land conversion are a root cause of biodiversity loss; reform frees fiscal space and avoids perverse outcomes. BIOFIN’s work in Colombia has mapped drivers and is advancing a concrete reform pathway to redirect harmful incentives in key productive sectors.  
What to watch for at the dialogue: political economy approaches that make reform feasible, sequencing (pilot reforms first), and ways to measure both fiscal and biodiversity impacts. 

3) Crowdfunding as a nimble route to community and on-the-ground action (Cuba, Costa Rica, Ecuador) 

What it is: Small-donor campaigns and platforms that raise rapid funds for specific community projects, from monitoring endangered species to reforestation and supporting local livelihoods. 
Why it matters: Crowdfunding can finance grassroots conservation, create stakeholder ownership and provide rapid, visible wins that complement larger funding instruments. BIOFIN-supported campaigns (e.g., Costa Rica’s reforestation campaign) show how crowdfunding can generate meaningful sums and social momentum.  
What to watch for at the dialogue: how to design campaigns that protect rights and benefit-sharing (especially with Indigenous and women-led groups), integrate crowdfunding into national finance plans, and scale small successes without losing local control. 

4) 10 years of BIOFIN in Mexico:  lessons, traction and next steps 

What it is: A decade of BIOFIN support has helped countries design biodiversity finance plans, pilot solutions and build institutional capacity; Mexico is one of the countries where this work has deep roots. 
Why it matters: Ten years of practice gives us evidence on what works: how finance plans translate policy into projects, how to mobilize blended finance, and how to track biodiversity expenditures. The 10-year milestone is a chance to reflect on impact and accelerate scale-up.

What to watch for at the dialogue: which BIOFIN solutions have been most durable in Mexico, lessons on national ownership, and opportunities to replicate successful instruments regionally. 

5) Triple-win finance: instruments that benefit nature, public budgets and gender equality 

What it is: “Triple-win” solutions intentionally design finance to deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity, fiscal/financial resilience, and gender equity (for example, women-led green enterprise finance or funds that tie women’s livelihoods to restoration). 
Why it matters: Integrating social and gender objectives increases legitimacy, effectiveness and reach, and often uncovers co-benefits for climate and poverty reduction. BIOFIN and UNDP country plans show how “triple-win” thinking moves finance from single-issue projects to inclusive systems change.  
What to watch for at the dialogue: metrics for measuring gender outcomes alongside ecological and fiscal impacts, and financial vehicles (grants + concessional finance + technical assistance) that center women and other marginalized groups.