I have just spent the last 2 weeks in the Pacific and Asia and I am filled with optimism despite all the signs and signals being received via the daily news. I am honored to have been able to participate in the Pacific Ocean Finance Week held in Suva Fiji two weeks ago. Some Pacific countries are facing high challenges due to climate change, plastic pollution (from other countries), fishing pressure, and increasing storm activity, yet the commitment and passion of the people in government, civil society, and the diverse international organizations is inspiring and gives me hope that we can accomplish great things for people and nature when we work together and raise our ambitions.
This past week I have been speaking with diverse colleagues and participating in an Asian Development Bank workshop on finance and insurance for coral reefs. It's amazing to see how the coral reef parametric insurance model is being replicated across the globe from its start in Quintana Roo Mexico with TNC. It’s still a work in progress but at least a step in the direction of seeing ecosystems as the natural infrastructure they are - and worthy of being insured and nurtured. It was great to share information on the Coral Triangle Conservation Fund and Conservation Trust Funds in general. I’m excited to be developing a support program for marine 30x30 finance in the Philippines and very encouraged by the commitment the country is making to expanding and increasing the effective management of their marine protected and conserved areas.
Please stay safe and strong,
David Meyers
Executive Director david@cfalliance.org
Join us for the next edition of our Finance 4Nature course this May!
Co-hosted by Conservation Strategy Fund and Conservation Finance Alliance, you will learn from lead instructor David Meyers and a suite of guest speakers implementing projects to safeguard and sustainably finance nature all over the world.
You will gain an understanding of protected and conserved area finance, blended finance, conservation trust funds, public finance, economic instruments, conservation enterprises, nature investing, and much more. No previous economics or finance experience is necessary. Participants must be comfortable reading and speaking in English.
📍 Location: Conservation International Headquarters, Arlington, VA (Washington D.C. Area) 📅 Date: May 5-8, 2026 🎓 Tuition: $1200 USD (includes 4 days of live instruction, lunches, training materials, and 6-months access to CSF’s online learning platform)
Don't wait! Registration closes April 20, 2026, and space is limited to 35 participants.
Meet the Technical Selection Committee for Cohort 4!
We are thrilled to announce the Technical Selection Committee for the 4th Cohort of the CFA Incubator! This outstanding group of experts will evaluate and guide the next wave of innovative conservation finance projects, driving impactful solutions for nature and communities worldwide.
The Technical Selection Committee uses a set of criteria to assess each project, including: strength of concept, alignment with the incubator, financial/economic and nature impact, degree of innovation, scalability and replicability, stakeholder and community engagement, and team capacity.
With the support of Milkywire’s Nature Transformation Fund, in collaboration with Klarna, the CFA Incubator supports early-stage projects that use finance and economic tools to create lasting conservation outcomes. This year, 16 projects will be selected, with up to USD 25,000 in grant funding available for eight of them. Selected projects will join a global network, receive expert mentorship, and access targeted training to strengthen their impact; thanks to additional support from BNP Paribas, Conservation International Ventures LLC, the Conservation Strategy Fund, Outrigger Impact, andMorrison Foerster.
Stay tuned for more updates as we move closer to announcing the new cohort soon!
Watch the recording of the last 2 Incubator Cohort 3 webinars series co-hosted with OCTO
Showcase #4: Trust Funds as Engines for Nature Finance: A Conservation Trust Fund in Cuba and a Biodiversity and Climate Fund in Madagascar and Africa.
🔹 A Conservation Trust Fund in Cuba A pioneering effort to develop Cuba’s first debt conversion for nature and Conservation Trust Fund (CTF).
🔹 Mitsiry Biodiversity and Climate Technical Assistance Facility A key part of a blended finance vehicle designed to support biodiversity-positive enterprises in Madagascar and Eastern and Southern Africa.
Showcase #5: Making Conservation Enterprises Investable: Low-Impact Scallop Harvesting and Improving Biodiversity Outcome Tracking
🐚 Finance Solutions for Sustainable Scallop Fisheries An innovative, low-impact method for harvesting scallops using pots as an alternative to damaging dredging.
🦜 The BirdsPlus Index A science-based tool to measure, report, and validate biodiversity outcomes for conservation finance, impact investing, and nature-positive action.
The Webinar series, co-hosted with OCTO, is part of the CFA Incubator, supported by Milkywire’s Nature Transformation Fund, in collaboration with Klarna.
Join the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders Working in Africa
This July, join Conservation Strategy Fund for this in-person intensive course designed to give African conservationists the economic tools to make sound arguments in a language policy-makers understand and find solutions to help finance nature now and far into the future. CFA Executive Director David Meyers will be leading the Conservation Finance module for this course.
📍 Southern African Wildlife College, Kempiana Nature Reserve - Greater Kruger National Park, Hoedspruit, South Africa
📅 July 19 to August 1, 2026 ⏹️ Tuition: USD 2,200
Apply by March 24 to secure the Early Bird offer and save 20%.
NEW REPORT: Lessons Learned from the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence - Coast Funds
This publication will be a key tool in sharing the overall PFP model with others. The Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) is a leading global initiative that provides for the creation of a Marine Protected Area Network and delivers long-term funding for Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship, and sustainable economic development on the Great Bear Coast. The Lessons Learned report documents shared learning and practical insights from the development and early implementation of the Great Bear Sea PFP initiative. This independent report was prepared by ESSA Technologies, with support from Coast Funds, and in collaboration with participating First Nations, the governments of Canada and British Columbia, and philanthropic partners.
NEW REPORT: Conservation is a cost-effective way to grow the U.S. economy, protect public safety and reduce healthcare costs
This report synthesizes findings from more than 1,000 articles and studies, including hundreds of peer-reviewed papers as well as analyses from industry and public agencies. Together, this body of research highlights a clear message: nature is the foundation of thriving economies and healthy, safe communities. Investing in the protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural systems delivers cost-effective and irreplaceable benefits. From helping shield communities from floods and wildfires to improving physical and mental well-being, nature supports people and economies in countless ways. The evidence compiled here underscores a critical point: safeguarding and strengthening nature is essential to building resilient communities and sustainable economic prosperity in the United States.
A new job opening here at the Conservation Finance Network. The Network Engagement Director will play a critical role in helping the CFN achieve its mission of advancing efficient and innovative funding and financing solutions for the conservation field. This role will have latitude to shape our network engagement strategy, and is a unique opportunity to make a difference at an exciting point in CFN’s evolution.
Reduce your AI Footprint and Contribute to Ecological Regeneration
Every time you use ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or any AI tool, there's an ecological cost — energy, water, hardware. Most of us don't think about it. Now there's an easy way to do something about it. The first step is always to reduce your use of AI, including submitting only well constructed prompts and and only using AI for value-added tasks. For when you choose to use AI, the Regen Network is offering a new way to balance your impact with positive contributions to nature. Regenerative Compute is a new tool that channels a small monthly subscription into verified ecological credit retirements on Regen Network's public blockchain. These are not carbon offsets — they are regenerative contributions that fund real projects protecting biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and supporting indigenous land stewardship.
This month's highlighted project: Biocultural Jaguar Credits in the Sharamentsa community of Ecuador's Amazon headwaters. The Achuar Nation is stewarding 10,200 hectares of critical jaguar habitat — integrating ecological conservation with indigenous knowledge and economic development in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.
Plans start at $1.25/month — that's literally pennies per AI session. Every credit retirement is permanently recorded on-chain, and you get a public portfolio page showing your verified impact. Built by Regen Network co-founder Christian Shearer and backed by the most trusted team in Web3 ecological assets.
The priority application deadline is March 25, 2026, after which applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The program will run from July 2026 to May 2027.
New MOOC: Sustainable Finance for Protected Areas hosted by IUCN-PAPACO
In collaboration with Conservation Strategy Fund and and IUCN-PAPACO, we designed a new free self-paced introductory-level tutorial that guides protected area managers through diverse sustainable finance solutions available to support Protected and Conserved Areas (PCAs). Using practice guidance from IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, learners will gain a foundation in PCA finance, examine four Practice Guidelines for PCA finance, and walk through the finance planning process.
New Resource from TNC: Improving Direct Access for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in CTFs
This publication provides a roadmap to strengthen equitable conservation finance by identifying and addressing the barriers that prevent Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs) from accessing CTF funding directly. Drawing on global examples, desk research, and interviews, it outlines practical solutions across the entire grant-making cycle—from governance and strategic planning to application processes, disbursement, and reporting. It also introduces a dedicated CTF-IP and LC Assessment and Planning Tool that helps CTFs self-evaluate their current practices and identify targeted improvements, supported by principles grounded in equity, reciprocity, and rights-based approaches. Explore the tool in Word below.
As part of the UK Government’s Ocean Country Partnership Programme, the Reef Resilience Network in partnership with TNC and the Blue Nature Alliance has translated our MPA Finance Toolkit for use during trainings with MPA managers in Mozambique and Madagascar. This toolkit introduces key concepts in MPA finance, explores a wide range of financing mechanisms for marine protected areas, and provides guidance to help practitioners prioritize and implement sustainable finance solutions.
