The 4th Cohort of the CFA Incubator is in full swing and I am inspired to see the diversity of approaches and the passion of the project teams seeking to have a powerful positive impact on nature. Sixteen projects - the largest number we have ever taken on in one cohort - are actively engaged and I am incredibly grateful to the CFA Incubator team of Stephanie O’Donnell, Kristine Lister, and Ben Guillon, as well as the broader CFA members and partners contributing as the selection committee, mentors, and experts. I look forward to sharing the progress the teams will make over the course of this year. Great thanks again to our financial sponsors - Milkywire’s Nature Transformation Fund, with support from Klarna - and our diverse technical partners including BNP Paribas, Conservation International (CI) Ventures, Morrison and Foerster, and Outrigger Impact Fund.
I am also excited to start the second iteration of our in-person Finance 4Nature Course next week in Washington DC at the CI Offices. Although general registration is closed, reach out if you are interested and we can squeeze you in. We will be producing an online version of this course later in the year. See the CSF/CFA Economic Tools for Conservation in Africa course planned for this July – an amazing opportunity as well (read more below).
Thanks for all your amazing work,
David Meyers
Executive Director david@cfalliance.org
News and Information
Meet the 2026 CFA Incubator Cohort!
Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA) is thrilled to introduce the sixteen pioneering projects selected for the fourth round of the CFA Incubator — a program designed to accelerate innovative, high-impact solutions to conservation finance challenges around the world.
After a rigorous, multi-stage review process, we are thrilled to welcome 16 projects to our 2026 cohort. Eight projects are receiving grants of $25,000, while all projects are benefitting from mentorship, technical assistance, and global exposure through CFA’s network. This 4th round of the CFA Incubator is being supported by Milkywire’s Nature Transformation Fund, in collaboration with Klarna, and thanks to additional support from BNP Paribas, Conservation International Ventures LLC, the Conservation Strategy Fund, Outrigger Impact, andMorrison Foerster.
🎧 Listen to the New 4Nature Podcast Episode with Nicolas Pascal of Blue Alliance
In the new episode of the 4Nature Podcast, "The New Business Model Saving Coral Reefs" marine ecologist and former investment banker Nicolas Pascal breaks down how his organization, Blue Alliance, is actively regenerating millions of hectares of ocean ecosystems. Tune in to discover how blending long-term government partnerships with sustainable social enterprises can transform underfunded conservation zones into thriving marine sanctuaries while also lifting local fishing communities out of poverty.
Join the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders Working in Africa for CSF's Landmark Course
This July, join Conservation Strategy Fund for this in-person intensive course designed to give African conservationists the economic and finance tools to make powerful arguments in a language policy-makers understand and to implement finance solutions for sutainable nature impacts. David Meyers, CFA Executive Director, will be leading the Conservation Finance module for this course.
📍 Southern African Wildlife College, Kempiana Nature Reserve - Greater Kruger National Park, Hoedspruit, South Africa
New Publication: Turning the Tide: A Financier’s Guide to Investing in Blue Carbon Ecosystems
This guide is for financial institutions seeking to integrate blue carbon ecosystems into their investment strategies. The report outlines four pathways including sustainability credits, supply chains, infrastructure and insurance. It identifies key barriers such as regulatory complexity, high transaction costs and limited project scale, and outlines eight actionable interventions for financial institutions to unlock investment – from blended finance to risk-sharing tools. Grounded in market realities and community needs, this guide shows how blue carbon can evolve into a scalable investment theme with clear commercial and impact potential.
Analysis: 50 Investible Opportunities for a New Nature Economy
While businesses are feeling the adverse impacts of nature loss, they are also beginning to recognise the opportunities a nature-positive economy can offer. From precision agriculture to battery recycling to bio-based materials, new ways of doing business are delivering both long-term resilience and short-term gains. Financial institutions are also realising how the green economy can compete on returns. This report highlights 50+ investible opportunities already generating cost-savings or revenues for businesses across the real economy.
New Publication: Scaling biodiversity markets. A market study
This report explores how voluntary nature finance instruments such as biodiversity certificates can mobilise private capital at scale to support Europe’s nature restoration objectives. Conducted by the European Investment Bank under the InvestEU Advisory Hub and developed in partnership with CDC Biodiversité, the study provides an in-depth market assessment of biodiversity certificates, drawing on surveys and interviews with leading corporates and financial institutions in France, and emerging market for these types of instruments. By combining empirical evidence with actionable recommendations, the study offers practical guidance for policymakers and market participants seeking to accelerate the development of robust biodiversity markets across the European Union.
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