4Nature (Conservation Finance Alliance & Conservation Strategy Fund)

In this week's episode, David and Kim chat with Stacy Jupiter, WCS Wildlife Conservation Society’s Melanesia Regional Director and MacArthur Fellow on how she works directly with indigenous and local communities to facilitate better land management practices that benefit wildlife, marine ecosystems, and human health outcomes. They chat about her landmark Watershed Interventions for Systems Health in Fiji (WISH Fiji) program in Fiji and her landscape-level thinking that links health and nature in ways that could bring more financing to the important work of watershed management around the world.

“They’re talking about “ridge to reef” - let’s talk about integrated watershed management for multiple co-benefits; for public health, for ecosystems, and for all the climate benefits that you get along with it!”  - Stacy Jupiter 

In this episode, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), connects with 4Nature Co-host David Meyers, on the importance of including agriculture and conservation in conversations together, the power of public and private divesting from industries and activities that are harmful to the environment, his legacy of transformational environmental leadership in Costa Rica, and his mission to promote policy coherence in GEF’s work around the world.   

“All development policies from the central government or from the different sectors should be aligned and aimed to the same goals. We need to create the right incentives so all public and private investments are aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement” 

- Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO of the Global Environment Facility on policy coherence 

In this episode of 4Nature, Kim speaks with Mariana Bellot, Technical Advisor at The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) providing support to Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Cuba, Chile, Peru and Mexico. Mariana and Kim discuss the importance of joining private and public sectors together under the goal of investing in conservation and restoration efforts, and Mariana shares a few financing strategies gaining traction, such as impact investing, blended finance and thematic bonds (rhino bonds, green bonds etc.) Mariana explains how “conservation without resources is only conversation” and how her work with BIOFIN helps secure those resources to build a sustainable future for people and the planet.

“We can turn the economy into a nature-positive economy… Not only conserving what we have but restoring what we’ve lost.”  - Mariana Bellot 

A new episode of 4Nature featuring Laure Katz, Vice President of Blue Nature & Co-Lead Implementation Blue Nature Alliance at Conservation International, is now available on all streaming platforms. In discussion with 4Nature Co-host David Meyers, Laure describes how her early love of marine life has powered her career of protecting the ocean. They discuss her work with Indigenous Papuan communities to protect the global epicenter of marine diversity, the Bird's Head Peninsula (BHP), and how integral it was in the first phase of the project to listen to the needs of the communities with strong ancestral and practical relationships with the Marine Protected Areas. Laure expands on the visionary Blue Nature Alliance and their mission to protect 5% of the global ocean by 2025; practically doubling the marine conservation efforts around the world. 

Listen for insights into Laure’s crucial work to help design and fund community-driven, community-led marine protected areas at the scale of a seascape. 

In this episode, 4Nature travels to Kuruwitu, Kenya for a conversation with Des Bowden of Oceans Alive about their work to preserve the coastal and marine ecosystems in Kenya.

After a morning watching a migrating pod of humpback whales and snorkeling in one of the protected and restored coastal areas, David and Des discuss what began as a conversation with the community elders about native and sustainable fishing traditions and turned into Karutu - a collective which established the first locally-managed marine area in the Western Indian Ocean (LMMA, or Tengefu in Swahili). Des shares details about the conservation efforts of Oceans Alive to empower and enable local communities to protect their marine resources and how establishing the first LMMA has proven that a locally-led approach is a successful conservation strategy, inspiring the establishment of 30 other LMMAs along the coast of Kenya. 
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The Kuruwitu Community - Our story 

The Kenyan coast where we live looked like paradise. Green palms, silver sand, coral reef and blue, blue sea. 

But in truth not all was well.

Our people were hungry, the reef was dying. The picture postcard scene was falling apart. The pressures of the outside world - international fishing pirates, the lure of the big markets, the greedy aquarium trade - had led to fatal over-fishing. The fish got smaller and smaller. The shoals got smaller and smaller too. The coral began to die. The reef, the nursery of the deep sea fish, was bare and grey. Our families started to get hungry. The harder we fished, the worse it got.

That’s how it used to be. 20 years ago we started trying to change. Our idea was to work together as a community to heal the reef, to bring back the fish and to begin to control the size, weight, quality and price of what we could take to market. We also looked forward to feeding our families with fish that we could afford to eat ourselves. It hasn’t been easy but we have come a long way. Our success has caught the attention of the other communities along our coast who have suffered like we have. They want to learn how they too can protect their blue-water fishing and bring their dying reefs back to health.

Of course we still need help. We have years of mistakes to put right. We need protection from the large and powerful commercial predators who are attacking our stocks. We need investment and training to set up our own marketing channels. We need help to build a life that doesn’t need help.

But we have already shown that working together can change our lives.

It’s only a very small start in a very small corner of Africa but we believe that the lessons we have learned could make a really big difference to coastal communities all over the world. We would like them too, to find, once again, pride and confidence in being able to feed their families and to see their reefs and seas, safe and unthreatened, full of colour and life.

It’s only a small ripple now, but it could turn out to be a really big wave.

Learn more at https://www.oceansalivekenya.org/

Episode 10 of 4Nature Podcast, features Edwin Wayonyi, Director of Partnership and Enterprise at the Kenya Wildlife Service.

In this episode, Edwin Wayonyi connects with David Meyers about his work engaging with many different stakeholders to find solutions for financing conservation in Kenya. Edwin speaks to the often overlooked importance of domestic tourism as a sustainable source of income to support the parks system and his work to engage the private sector in building up tourism surrounding the parks. David and Ediwn discuss some of the challenges to conservation that are arising with the climate crisis, and Edwin shares success stories of protecting livestock and lions across Kenya, from education campaigns to reduce human-wildlife conflicts to private sector partnerships such as Lion Lights, to protect livestock and lions across Kenya.  

“Wildlife doesn’t wait for you to get money. Wildlife and our habitats need our protection now and today. Because the challenges are many.” - Edwin Wayonyi

In this episode, Kim and David sit down with Andrew Bovarnick, the United Nations Development Programme Global Head, Food and Agricultural Commodity Systems (FACS). In this engaging discussion, Andrew shares highlights of his professional journey from researching in the Ecuadorian tropics, to his environmental economics and policy training and now his current priority to bring economic instruments and market-based incentives into the conservation work supported by UNDP. With his focus on collaboration, Andrew is leading UNDP’s commodities platforms approach to establish  long-term stakeholder engagement around the world. As successfully piloted in the cattle ranching community of Paraguay, these platforms bring relevant parties together to debate, discuss, disagree, and ultimately  formulate collective actions to positively transform their sectors to the benefit of all; nature included.   

“We sometimes assume…that there are a lot of opposing agendas. But… it may just be about bringing the stakeholders to the table and facilitating conversations to find those common areas of interest”

- Andrew Bovarnick

In our first episode of the year, David speaks with Sue Stolton and Nigel Dudley, proponents of the protected area movement for more than 20 years and the partners behind Equilibrium Research, a conservation consultancy offering practical solutions to conservation challenges, from concept, to implementation, to evaluation of impact. Sue and Nigel discuss the social origins of protected areas, the evolution of protected areas conservation as a force for climate change mitigation, their Protected Areas Benefit Assessment Tool and discuss their hopes for the future of protected areas in light of the Global Biodiversity Framework's "30x30" Target. 

Sue and Nigel speak about the importance of empowering local and indigenous communities in OECM and PA management and integrating input from local communities in the policies surrounding these areas. They share with David their hope that more work can go into discovering what the wider social values and benefits of PA’s are for local communities, beyond the economic impact of protecting and restoring nature. 

Learn more about Sue Stolton and Nigel Dudley’s work and the critical role of area-based conservation in their new book, “Leaving Space for Nature”. 

This week, we're joined by Torsten Thiele, the trailblazer in blue infrastructure financing. From the depths of the ocean to the frontlines of urban development, we dive deep into how investing in the sea could be a game-changer. Learn how nature-positive projects, from preserving mangroves to enlarging wetlands, promise resilience and financial rewards.

Our discussion takes us to who's catching this wave—from city mayors to development banks. We also tackle the obstacles, like the shortage of ecologists in engineering projects and municipal resistance to novel solutions. All this while shedding light on opportunities for scaling up awareness and action. Intrigued? Cast your net and reel in this episode for a deep dive into a future where finance, ecology, and urban planning coalesce.

Today we talk with Slav Gatchev from The Nature Conservancy to unravel the complexities and triumphs of sustainable debt and conservation finance. Gatchev, leading the sustainable debt team, brings a unique perspective shaped by his background in investment banking and emerging market development. He shares his transition from renewable energy and infrastructure financing to his pivotal role at The Nature Conservancy, highlighting the innovative ways in which financial instruments are employed to tackle conservation and biodiversity challenges. Delving into the evolution of debt-for-nature swaps, he explains their journey from small-scale initiatives to groundbreaking transactions like the Belize Blue Bonds, illustrating their significant impact in reducing national debt and bolstering conservation efforts.

We also examine the future potential of blue bonds and sovereign debt issuances in mitigating the triple crisis of debt sustainability, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Gatchev emphasizes the importance of these financial tools in the conservation community and their role in forging sustainable solutions for both governments and the environment. The conversation shifts to explore the innovative work of Gatchev's team, the broader implications of debt in environmental conservation, and the necessity of recognizing the economic and financial returns from investing in nature. This episode is a deep dive into the world of conservation finance, where debt transforms into a powerful agent for ecological preservation and economic resilience.

Today we explore the groundbreaking intersection of finance and conservation with Douglas Eger, Chairman and CEO of the Intrinsic Exchange Group. Learn how the innovative concept of Natural Asset Companies (NACs) proposes a new way to value nature, transforming it into a recognized economic asset that benefits both the environment and communities. Through Eger's journey from conserving acres to conceptualizing financial mechanisms for nature, we examine how integrating nature’s value into capital markets can drive ecological and economic prosperity. We also discuss the challenges and future visions for NACs, including pilot projects that aim to redefine our approach to conservation. Join us as we navigate the evolving landscape of conservation finance, where the preservation of nature meets economic innovation.

In this episode, we explore the cutting-edge of conservation finance with Kevin Webb and Tom Quigley, co-founders of Superorganism - a trailblazing venture capital firm on a mission to catalyze the nature tech revolution. We dive into their unique approach to funding startups that are harnessing the power of technology to tackle the biodiversity crisis head-on. From harnessing mycorrhizal fungi networks to boost timber growth to turning invasive species into sustainable leather, the innovations in Superorganism's portfolio will give you a glimpse into the future of nature-positive business. Tune in for an inspiring and eye-opening discussion on the role of venture capital in saving Earth's precious biodiversity. For more insights on the growing nature tech ecosystem, be sure to sign up for Superorganism's monthly substack newsletter.

Sinclair Vincent currently serves as the Senior Director of Sustainable Development, Program Development, and Innovation at Verra, a leading organization driving global investment in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. In her role, Sinclair oversees the strategy, direction, and evolution of Verra's suite of programs, including the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard, the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards, and the Plastic Waste Reduction Standard. She is also spearheading the development of Verra's SD VISta Nature Framework, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at scaling investment in biodiversity conservation on a global scale. With a strong focus on market development, Sinclair engages with corporate, commercial, and government stakeholders to ensure Verra's programs empower users to set and achieve increasingly ambitious environmental and social goals.

Discussed in this Episode:

• The crucial role of standardized measurement in scaling biodiversity credit markets
• Strategies for engaging Indigenous peoples and local communities in nature conservation
• The future of biodiversity credits and their potential to drive investment in nature
• Navigating the complex landscape of emerging biodiversity credit methodologies
• Insights on building trust, transparency, and capacity in nascent nature markets

Today we dive into the remarkable story of Mozambique's BIOFUND, a trailblazing conservation trust fund that has revolutionized biodiversity protection in the country. Join our conversation with BIOFUND's visionary leaders, Dr. Narciso Matos and Sean Nazerali, as they share insights on the fund's innovative approach to engaging local communities, fostering public-private partnerships, and achieving impressive financial growth.

Discussed in this Episode:

• BIOFUND's unique membership model for engaging conservation stakeholders
• Strategies for efficiently disbursing funds to support protected areas
• The critical role of conservation trust funds during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic  
• Approaches for aligning community development with conservation goals
• Innovative finance mechanisms being explored, such as biodiversity offsets and a conservation credit card
• Vision for BIOFUND's future growth and impact in Mozambique and beyond

Meet your hosts, David Meyers and Kim Bonine, as they share their inspiration for creating the 4Nature podcast series. David and Kim chat about what nature means to them and discuss the major themes of their new 4Nature podcast. 

"[Humans] have evolved to live in nature and function in nature and losing that nature has had a profound psychological impact on us as individuals and communities." - David Meyers 

"Part of the problem might not be that we don't care. Part of the problem is somewhat how we count things and measure things and what we include when we're making decisions, and considering trade-offs, and it's about really embracing a new way of thinking about well-being and thinking about our lives and making sure that Nature is include. Imperfectly, but included....it's essential to how we live as people"  - Kim Bonine 

David and Kim talk to David Johnson, Senior Lecturer in the Economics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about the management of public goods in the global economy and how we find a balance between individual needs and group success when it comes to nature and the climate crisis.

"A reason to be hopeful: we came together to stop a global pandemic..what's stopping us from having the same global response to climate change? ... it may be a moment to be seized." - David Johnson 

David and Nik Sekhran, Chief Conservation Officer at WWF,  speak about what's working in nature finance right now, the importance of including infrastructure into ecosystem services conversations, and the inherent risk mitigation in financing nature. 

"Nature-based risks are enormous, we focus predominantly on climate change risks - and they're gargantuan - but nature-based risks are equally so and they can impact economies even faster than climate risks and they can affect all sectors. We need to look at carbon and the carbonization of the world economy but we can't ignore nature in that process or we will be left with a huge bill from nature."  - Nik Sekhran 

In a conversation recorded before COP26 in Glasgow 2021, David and Jen Morris, the CEO of The Nature Conservancy, discuss the interconnectedness of nature in public health, economics, and wellbeing, and aligning incentives to bring nature to the forefront of climate change conversations. 

"Until we can make that systemic change from it being a environment over here and economic development over here and never the two shall meet when it comes to policies and incentives, we're never going to mainstream nature into the economic frame it needs to be for us to see real change" - Jen Morris