Mobilizing Private Finance for National Biodiversity Strategies

In a significant move to address the urgent challenges of biodiversity loss, the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) has released a report highlighting the critical role that financial institutions play in implementing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). This report comes in the wake of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which sets ambitious global targets aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity decline on a global scale.

The KMGBF emphasizes the necessity for countries to translate these global commitments into actionable national strategies through NBSAPs. According to a 2025 report by UNEP-WCMC, achieving these ambitious biodiversity targets requires a substantial increase in financial resources—estimated at a staggering USD 700 billion annually—some of which must come from the private finance sector. The landmark decision on resource mobilization at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) highlighted the need for systemic shifts in financial flows to meet these pressing demands.

Rodrigo Cassola, Principal Specialist in Nature and Finance at UNEP-WCMC, states, "Governments alone cannot meet this challenge; the private finance sector, including banks, asset managers, insurers, and impact investors, must play a pivotal role in mobilizing and aligning financial resources with biodiversity goals."

Despite the recognized importance of private finance, the mechanisms to leverage these resources for effective NBSAP implementation remain limited. To address this gap, UNEP-WCMC engaged with members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) Financial Services Task Force to explore how private finance could be effectively integrated into national biodiversity strategies. The report outlines various pathways for private sector involvement, emphasizing the need for an enabling policy environment and stronger collaboration between government entities and financial institutions.

The report also includes detailed country-specific outlooks for Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, offering insights into how these nations can engage the financial sector in their biodiversity strategies. For instance, in Brazil, the Ecological Transformation Plan led by the Ministry of Finance opens new avenues for private sector investment in ecosystem restoration. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, existing instruments like Ecosystem Restoration Concessions could be enhanced with innovative financing mechanisms.

The Brazilian government is currently evolving its policy and legal frameworks to attract private biodiversity finance. In contrast, the Democratic Republic of Congo faces challenges in mobilizing resources, where development finance institutions can play a vital role by promoting innovative financial instruments, such as de-risking mechanisms. In Mexico, the emphasis is on blended finance mechanisms, with private financial institutions encouraged to explore subnational opportunities that align with local priorities.

The UK government is also actively engaging with the private sector to develop nature market codes and frameworks, which could bolster investment confidence in biodiversity initiatives. These findings indicate that there is no universal solution; each country must tailor its approach to align with its unique political, economic, and cultural contexts.

As biodiversity loss accelerates, the mobilization of private finance is essential not only for fulfilling international commitments but also for promoting the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources at the national level. The UNEP-WCMC report aims to foster collaboration between policymakers and private financial institutions, ultimately seeking to scale up financial resources dedicated to biodiversity and ensure that financial flows support environmental sustainability.

With this report and its accompanying country outlooks, UNEP-WCMC hopes to inspire innovative partnerships that drive forward the shared goal of halting biodiversity loss through collaborative financial strategies. The full report and insights can be accessed through UNEP-WCMC’s website, detailing the essential steps needed to mobilize private finance effectively for national biodiversity commitments.