Is GCF accepting proposals for new projects?
GCF is unable to consider funding requests from projects not already in our extensive portfolio. We are focusing our efforts on consolidating our existing project portfolio and developing long-term financing strategies for those projects.
Is GCF separate from Conservation International?
The Global Conservation Fund is a program within the Conservation Funding Division at Conservation International (CI). GCF has provided grants to support projects led by other CI programs around the world, as well as more than 40 partner institutions.
What is GCF’s definition of a protected area?
GCF uses a very broad definition of the term “protected area,” and has supported a range of strategies from the more traditional to the new and innovative. We consider a protected area to be any area managed for the purpose of conservation under some type of legally binding agreement or legislative recognition. Therefore, the GCF portfolio includes diverse projects implementing dozens of unique strategies, from national parks decreed by governments to privately owned lands to community-owned and managed reserves that combine conservation with responsible natural resource use and development. For more information on our projects, please see our selected portfolio highlights.
What does GCF mean by “long-term financing?”
While GCF’s Long-term Financing Grants are generally restricted as seed capital for conservation endowments and trust funds, GCF takes a broader view of long-term financing. We collaborate with our partners on ways to incorporate endowment funds into comprehensive financing strategies for protected areas. These strategies may include traditional grants, funding from governments, tourism, and debt for nature swaps, as well as emerging revenue streams such as payments for ecosystem services and carbon and biodiversity offsets. GCF is working with partners and other donor institutions around the world to advance understanding and best practices of new revenue opportunities and to develop robust financing mechanisms that can efficiently and effectively manage diverse streams of funding to the benefit of protected areas.
What does GCF mean by “effective management?”
GCF has developed a general definition of effective protected area management. GCF uses this definition as a benchmark in assessing the projects we support, as well as our own conservation impact through these projects. The definition can be downloaded here.
Does GCF support projects in areas where CI does not have an office?
GCF is able to support projects in any of the Biodiversity Hotspots and High-Biodiversity Wilderness Areas and key marine regions. Please see the Regions section for more information.