Investing in Nature: How Cities and Regions Can Make It Happen

Hey there, let’s talk about investing in nature and how cities and regions can make it happen. Dr Eszter Mogyorosy and Barbara Riedemann from the World Secretariat of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability have some cool insights on biodiversity financing. They’ve put together a guide to help local authorities fund urban biodiversity projects. It’s like a one-stop shop for finding the right money to unlock the connection between ecology and economy.

Uganda is doing some awesome stuff to protect its biodiversity. They’re dealing with deforestation, which is a big deal because it messes with the climate and the homes of animals like chimpanzees. But Uganda’s got a plan – they’re paying private forest owners to keep their trees standing. It’s called Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), and it’s working to reduce deforestation and protect the forests where chimpanzees live.

Other places, like Brazil and Peru, have their own ways of financing biodiversity projects. Brazil’s got this cool programme that compensates local governments for protecting natural areas, and Peru does these swaps to invest in environmental conservation. Colombia’s got its own thing going on with Conservation Trust Funds. It’s all about finding creative ways to fund projects that help nature thrive.

But here’s the thing – it’s not always easy for local and regional governments to find the money for these projects. That’s where the Guide to Biodiversity Financing for Cities and Regions comes in. It’s part of the INTERACT-Bio project, and it’s all about helping governments figure out how to finance biodiversity projects. The guide breaks down the steps for project development and introduces different ways to get the money flowing.

And it doesn’t stop there – there’s also a Biodiversity Finance Decision-making Tree to help governments make smart choices about financing. It’s like a roadmap for figuring out the best way to fund projects, whether it’s through loans, partnerships, or other financial solutions.

The bottom line is, we all need to step up for nature. As cities grow, it’s important to make sure we’re investing in nature too. That’s where these innovative financing tools come in, and they need everyone – from the public to the private sector – to make it happen. So, let’s keep the momentum going and make sure we’re investing in nature for the long haul.