CAF pumps $US300m into biodiversity conservation

At the opening of the Latin America and Caribbean Pavilion at COP16 in Cali, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – announced a USD 300 million program to conserve and restore the region’s key strategic ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean. The project will also mobilse additional financial resources and enhance collaboration between local governments, the private sector, and civil society.

The program’s launch, attended by Colombia’s Vice President Francia Márquez, Brazil’s Minister of Racial Equality Anielle Franco, and CAF’s Executive President Sergio Díaz-Granados, took place at the Latin America and Caribbean Pavilion at COP16, titled #BiodiversityUnitesUs. This space is open to governments, private sector representatives, scientific institutions, NGOs, local communities, and Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples from across the region.

“The eyes of the region and the world are on Cali. The agreements we reach, the partnerships we build, and the actions we take will shape the future. This USD 300 million is just the beginning, as we will offer a tool for identifying high-quality projects to channel grant and financing resources, encouraging new investments to protect biodiversity in our countries,” said CAF’s Executive President, Sergio Díaz-Granados.

In her remarks, Francia Márquez said, “From here, we send a message of peace, that long-desired peace. We, the people from this Pacific region, are honoured to welcome you. And it’s not just about the species; it’s also about the people—people who, despite having been on their knees, rise up and walk. This is also a region that has suffered from armed conflict and disproportionate violence.”

Anielle Franco, in turn, highlighted the Afro-descendant Peoples of the Americas program, a partnership built with Afro-rural communities to implement concrete actions to improve the quality of life for our peoples, acknowledging the historical challenges and socio-environmental vulnerabilities faced by Afro-descendant communities.

“Many people often don’t understand the purpose of the documents we sign, such as protocols of intent and memorandums of understanding. But those were seeds we were planting, and today, we see them flourishing. Brazil and Colombia are implementing this regional program to tackle racial and socio-environmental inequalities affecting these historically excluded and marginalised communities,” Franco said.

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