Practice guidance for protected and conserved area finance

Conservation Finance Alliance, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), and the Sustainable Finance Specialist Group hosted a special webinar to launch the new Practice Guidance for Protected and Conserved Area Finance. This resource provides practical tools, case studies, and insights to help conservation professionals develop sustainable finance strategies across public, private, Indigenous, and philanthropic sectors.

The event featured the authors of the guide, who presented key content—including 16 factsheets on major conservation finance mechanisms—and discussed how well-designed financial planning can lead to more durable, equitable, and effective outcomes for protected and conserved areas.

Speakers

• David Meyers, Executive Director, Conservation Finance Alliance

• Kathleen Fitzgerald, The Pew Charitable Trusts

• Madhu Rao, Chair WCPA

• Jessica Smith, UNEP Finance Initiative

• Ross Dixon, Coast Funds

• Hugo Van Zyl, Conservation Finance and Economics Expert

• Lucy Emerton, Conservation Finance and Economics Expert

• Thierry Lefebvre, Acting Head Protected and Conserved Areas Team, IUCN

Leveraging Economics & Finance for Nature

This webinar offered valuable insights into the critical role of economics in conservation and the innovative financial tools shaping the future of sustainable land and water management. The event brought together experts from Conservation Strategy Fund and the Conservation Finance Alliance—now working in collaboration—to share practical strategies for addressing climate change and biodiversity loss through effective conservation finance. Together, they highlighted how economics, finance, and conservation can work hand in hand to protect our planet.

Speakers

• Pedro Gasparinetti, CSF

• Stefanie Rakela, CSF

• David Meyers, CFA

Moderator

• Scott Edwards, CSF