Nature Bonds Program: Unlocking Funds for Conservation and Climate Action
TNC’s Nature Bonds Program combines debt refinancing, science, planning and policy to help countries protect ecosystems and support communities.
Ecosystems and natural resources around the world are under threat. The climate crisis and other pressures are accelerating biodiversity loss, worsening food and water insecurity, and leading to loss of lives and livelihoods. For many indebted countries, it’s a struggle to access the finances needed to protect communities and natural resources and address climate change, even when there is the ambition to do so.
As part of last year’s agreement on a Global Biodiversity Framework, governments have pledged to protect 30% of the world’s land, freshwater and oceans by 2030. It’s a landmark agreement that together with the Paris Climate Accord sets vital goals for people and nature. The more we protect and effectively manage nature, the more we can safeguard ecosystems that are critical to supporting the well-being of communities through benefits like increased climate resilience and improved food and water security. But that’s not all. Protecting nature at scale also helps the world in its battle to reduce carbon emissions and stem global warming. Forests and oceans soak up an estimated 11 gigatons of carbon each year—about a third of emissions from industry and fossil fuels annually.
Yet for many developing countries, debt burdens and lack of access to international capital means reaching these critical biodiversity and climate targets is a severe challenge. That’s where the Nature Bonds Program comes in.
Report
Belize Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation Impact Report
Learn more about The Nature Conservancy's Belize sovereign debt conversion in the latest annual Impact Report.
Closing the Nature Finance Gap
For over 70 years, The Nature Conservancy has been pioneering initiatives to protect nature, with sustainable financing a core element of our work. Piloted in Seychelles in 2016, our approach—dubbed Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation—has proven highly effective. There are now four projects underway, including supporting Belize, in conserving 30% of its oceans by 2026, and the Gabon Blue Bonds project, which is expected to generate more than $160 million for conservation over the next 15 years.
The effectiveness of these projects present a huge opportunity for countries to leverage this financial and conservation innovation across wider conservation goals, so in 2023, we launched our Nature Bonds Program - a long-term plan to help indebted countries bridge the financing gap, address climate change, and preserve the wellbeing of ecosystems at sea, in fresh water and on land.
What is the Nature Bonds Program?
The Nature Bonds Program is a holistic approach to leverage debt refinancing for effective, durable conservation and climate action. We work with governments to help them refinance debt and generate new funding to invest in conservation, and in climate mitigation and adaptation measures. Once the transaction closes, we partner with national governments to make direct conservation investments and implement robust conservation plans, which often span 15 to 20 years. For each Nature Bonds project TNC acts as a long-term partner, providing guidance and support to countries throughout.
Quote: Jennifer Morris
With strong partnerships and collaboration between governments, funders, and multilateral development banks, the Nature Bonds Program is helping countries refinance debt and re-invest the savings in nature conservation and climate action.
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Nature Bonds projects combine debt refinancing, science, policy and planning to support national governments and communities in their efforts to protect biodiversity and advance climate adaptation and mitigation.
To make Nature Bonds projects possible, TNC engages with governments, financial institutions, NGO partners and community stakeholders to ensure that the project outcomes are a win for both nature protection and sound fiscal management.
The Nature Bonds Program builds on our experience with Blue Bonds projects in Seychelles, Belize, Barbados and Gabon. Our project in Barbados is one example of the deep collaboration behind our holistic approach to leveraging debt refinancing for action on conservation and climate priorities. We worked with the Barbadian government under Prime Minister Mia Mottley, partners from the financial and conservation spheres, and communities to develop a set of commitments for durable conservation that is tailored to Barbados.
TNC will be working in Barbados with stakeholders like fishers, the tourism sector and with communities and local NGOs on marine spatial planning to design marine protections and management plans that balance conservation and the development of a sustainable Blue Economy. Launching the project in 2022, we worked with the InterAmerican Development Bank, Credit Suisse and CIBC First Caribbean Bank to secure new funds through a $150-million debt refinancing that is expected to channel $50 million to marine conservation over a period of 15 years and help achieve lasting benefits to nature and the local economy. By replicating projects like this, the Nature Bonds Program is committed to ensuring financing for conservation and climate adaptation and mitigation not just in the immediate future but over the long term.
Such innovative approaches require financial resources to get off the ground, and all our work is made possible by philanthropic support that enables us to develop new debt transaction projects and offer countries tailored science, policy and planning support to deliver effective and durable conservation outcomes.
Communities – Communities have a vital role to play in the development and implementation of Nature Bonds projects. In the Seychelles, more than 100 stakeholders were consulted during the preparation of the country’s Marine Spatial Plan, which supports the sustainable development of the Seychelles Blue Economy through activities such as fishing, tourism and more while ensuring that marine environments and ecosystems and community livelihoods are protected.
Country leaders and policymakers – Political leaders around the world are making important new commitments on funding, conservation and addressing the climate crisis. Nature Bonds projects rely on their leadership and ambition to deliver on pledges. The government of Belize is essential to the success of a Blue Bond project that will protect 30% of the country's oceans. Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño said that “Blue Bonds will help us support the vibrant marine life that reside here, and maintain the rich biodiversity that is crucial for the health of our ecosystem and the planet. We are proud to be pioneers in this work, and to lead the way for other countries to join us as we conserve our oceans for Belize and beyond.”
Philanthropic partners – Support from our philanthropic partners and the involvement of other funders helps us provide the expert advice and convening power that underpins Blue Bonds and Nature Bonds projects. Funders also support TNC’s in-country staff, who play a key role in seeing our rigorous conservation projects through from start to finish.
Financial partners – Nature Bonds projects are made possible by the support of multilateral development banks as well as other financial partners who provide credit enhancements that allow countries to access the best outcomes and offer expert advice. In Gabon, we collaborated with the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to develop a debt refinancing and conservation program that met Gabon’s needs and ambitions. DFC CEO Scott Nathan explained, “DFC’s political risk insurance provided critical support for this historic transaction, helping to mobilize capital from institutional investors and catalyze additional investment in Gabon’s marine conservation efforts.”
Now is the Time for Action
We must act now to preserve nature, accelerate action on climate adaptation and mitigation and biodiversity conservation pledges at the national and international level, and support the well-being of communities and ecosystems around the world. Global movements such as the Nairobi Declaration are also adding their voices to the call for urgent climate finance action, and Nature Bonds projects will work in cooperation alongside these types of initiatives as a part of the growing global movement for urgent action on the biodiversity loss and climate crises.
Nature Bonds projects are an exciting path to support countries in financing and accelerating projects that move the world toward reaching global biodiversity and climate commitments – but more ambition, funding and partnerships are needed to help them achieve maximum impact.
Debt refinancing is a key tool for unlocking new funds and addressing the nature and climate finance gaps, and we hope new partners will join efforts to accelerate action on climate adaptation and mitigation and conservation.
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