UNEP-BPSP THEMATIC STUDIES

Mobilizing Funding for Biodiversity Conservation: A Best Practices Training Guide for National Planners and Practitioners

In 2001, the BPSP entered a joint project of Forest Trends, The Nature Conservancy, United Nations Environment Programme, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Conservation Union - IUCN to produce a CD toolkit entitled: Mobilizing Funding for Biodiversity Conservation: A Best Practices Training Guide for National Planners and Practitioners. Since 2001, the toolkit has been further developed by broad alliance of NGOs, multi- and bi-lateral organizations known as the Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA) and an updated and expanded set of resources are now available on a dedicated website http://www.conservationfinance.org The Conservation Finance Guide presents a host of potential financing opportunities for nature conservation in general, but with a special focus on protected area management. Many of these finance mechanisms rely on a "market-based" approach, valuing and marketing the goods and services that a protected area generates in support of local livelihoods and the broader economy. Chapters of the Guide are written to help users (i) understand; (ii) select; (iii) assess; and (iv) implement the most appropriate finance mechanisms for their particular situation. The flexible structure is designed to allow non-experts to get started and make tangible progress on conservation finance initiatives, as well as provide resources and ideas for those with more experience. Potential audience members include: government officials; protected area managers; conservation NGOs; technical consultants; and donor agencies. These tools are designed to help users organize their thoughts, begin to ask and answer questions about the viability of implementing a particular mechanism, make financial projections under varying assumptions, and take action to implement Patrick Maguire Project Coordinator, Training Guide to Conservation Finance Mechanisms Phone: +1-703-841-8440; Fax: +1-703-841-4880; Email: pmaguire@tnc.org