Big cat landscapes are among the world's most important ecosystems for biodiversity, climate resilience, freshwater security and sustainable livelihoods. They also provide a powerful opportunity to advance implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and related commitments under CBD, CMS, and other multilateral environmental agreements. As countries begin shaping priorities for GEF-9 and other biodiversity finance mechanisms, there is growing interest in identifying practical pathways to mobilize private-sector investment for species recovery, habitat protection and human-wildlife coexistence.  

This side event will bring together governments, financial institutions, multilateral development banks, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and conservation partners to explore and compare innovative approaches for financing big cat and other species conservation initiatives at scale. Drawing on experiences from tiger, jaguar, snow leopard and lion landscapes (including the Paro Declaration on Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes, CMS Jaguar Initiative commitments, wildlife outcomes bonds, Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) models and emerging GEF opportunities), the discussion will highlight how governments and NGOs can work with the private sector to develop blended finance mechanisms can support biodiversity, climate and community outcomes while helping countries deliver on national and global commitments. 

The event aims to foster collaboration among governments, NGOs and financial institutions, progress existing initiatives and identify opportunities to use big cats to leverage blended finance, and explore practical mechanisms for translating policy commitments into sustained and scaled investment and action on the ground that benefits people and fosters human-wildlife coexistence. 

Potential Speakers: 

• Gov of Bhutan, Kenya, Brazil 
• GEF/World Bank 
• Other multilateral development banks e.g. IDB, ADB  
• Private sector financial institutions - HSBC Amanah, BNP Paribas 
• Big cat conservation coalitions – IBCA, TCC 
• Developers of innovative mechanisms – ZSL, Levoca, Natural State, AB Entheos, WCS