This work helps us to deliver a core part of CI's mission—to empower societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, for the well-being of humanity. 

We wish all of our friends and colleagues a wonderful holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2013!

We were delighted to welcome four keynote speakers, each of whom shared accounts of GCF's unique contribution toward a more sustainable development path for the planet. Naoko Ishi, CEO and chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF); Pavan Sukhdev, founder and CEO of GIST Advisory; Russ Mittermeier, president of Conservation International; and H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo, former president of Guyana, all made wonderful statements about the urgency of protecting the planet’s critical natural capital and the necessity of ensuring financial sustainability for that protection. Jennifer Morris, executive vice president of Conservation International, was the master of ceremonies, and food and drink were enjoyed by more than 200 attendees. Guests at the event were also treated to the premiere of a new short film celebrating GCF’s history and some of our key accomplishments over the first 10 years (see below).

Our thanks to all of you who attended, and we look forward to seeing you at GCF's 20th anniversary event!

View photos from the reception

This visually stunning piece represents months of collaboration from partners on the ground and CI’s visual storytelling team. Loaded with information on GCF’s work and results to date, the video features some of the key people and places that have been the driving force behind our success:

• The first segment discusses the history of GCF and highlights our support for the work of local partner FANAMBY, collaborating with communities to protect the Daraina Forest in Madagascar.
   
• The second segment highlights GCF’s efforts to support a long-term collaboration between CI-Brazil and the Kayapó people of Brazil to protect their vast indigenous territories.
   
• The final segment looks at future directions for GCF and features one of our most important investments and a flagship marine conservation project for CI - The Phoenix Islands Protected Area in the South Pacific nation of Kiribati.

The P&S protected area declaration is the result of ongoing dialogue between the government of Mozambique, international organizations, and local leaders about how to best preserve the islands, corals and coastal ecosystems that continue to underpin the economic viability of the region. Conservation actions entail the creation of local sanctuaries to replenish the fish stocks in conjunction with educational outreach on sustainable farming and fishing practices, with the ultimate goal of creating a sustainably managed protected area benefiting both people and the environment.

GCF has also been working with WWF-US, WWF-Mozambique and several key donor agencies to establish Mozambique's Biofund, a national environmental fund that will support the country's network of protected areas (including P&S). GCF is working directly with the Biofund to contribute $1 million toward the fund's endowment, to be earmarked to support part of the annual recurrent management costs of the new protected area.

Learn more about the P&S work

More than 140 delegates from 32 countries participated in several presentations and meetings focused on pressing issues for the conservation of marine and land ecosystems in the region. The exchange of information that occurs at the Assembly contributes to GCF’s knowledge of conservation finance and also fosters the development of new ideas. Romas Garbaliauskas, GCF’s senior legal adviser, represented GCF at this year’s RedLAC Assembly. The Assembly also provides an excellent opportunity for GCF to meet with partners from many of GCF’s global conservation projects. Notably, Romas had the opportunity to engage with GCF partners from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Indonesia, Mozambique, Peru and the Philippines.    

Learn more about RedLAC and its work

The Vilcanota endowment was established in 2011 in collaboration with the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and the Peruvian national fund, Fondo de las Américas (FONDAM). The fund is administered by FONDAM, and the assets are managed by a local Peruvian investment management firm. One year after being established, the $2 million in starting capital has grown significantly from investment returns, and, in August 2012, FONDAM disbursed the first grant from this endowment. This first grant will play an essential part in supporting the recurrent management costs for conservation efforts led by the Peruvian NGO, Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN).

Congratulations to our partners at ECOAN, FONDAM, and ABC for their great work in getting this new fund off to a successful start. We expect this fund will help support these important efforts for many years into the future.

Learn more about the Polylepis Fund and GCF’s involvement