Everland has teamed up with BNP Paribas to unveil a $50 million capital markets initiative that will finance large-scale, Indigenous community-led conservation projects in the Amazon.
Everland, which mobilises investment to protect forests around the world, said in a statement that the bond initiative will provide direct project financing for 20 community-led REDD+ forest conservation projects, which are certified under the Equitable Earth Standard.
The initiative is being supported by Global Citizen, as part of its ongoing partnership with Equitable Earth, and was unveiled at the Global Citizen NOW summit in New York City.
Jaguar Corridor
An early focus of the project will be to fund projects located within priority areas in the ‘Jaguar Corridor’, a mosaic of landscapes that connect and protect jaguar populations, which are also home to various Indigenous and traditional communities.
The finance the bond initiative intends to deliver will be used to implement conservation activities that, if successful, will generate high-integrity carbon credits over the 40-year lifespan of the projects. The sale of these carbon credits is projected to generate over $1 billion in the first 10 years, according to Everland.
Safeguarding resources
“Conservation is about safeguarding the natural resources that underpin countries’ long-term prosperity,” commented Constance Chalchat, global chief sustainability officer, BNP Paribas Corporate & Institutional Banking. “From forests and water systems to working lands, we help finance efforts to responsibly manage and restore nature so that ecosystems continue delivering services to communities and economies.
“Indigenous Peoples have safeguarded these vital ecosystems for generations, and Indigenous knowledge, combined with sustainable financial mechanisms, is essential to driving long-term investments that deliver measurable and lasting climate, biodiversity and community outcomes. This initiative exemplifies how aligning private sector investment with Indigenous expertise can secure the long-term value of forests for people, economies, and our planet.”
Participating groups are confident that the programme will deliver equitable revenue sharing and long-term climate impact. It also aligns with the vision for COP30 in Brazil later this year, which has positioned Indigenous leadership at the forefront of Amazon protection.
“This initiative is a breakthrough,” added Gerald Prolman, executive chairman, Everland. “It unlocks financing to launch 20 transformative, Indigenous-led forest conservation projects that can deliver measurable climate, biodiversity, and social outcomes. By combining private capital with Indigenous leadership, we’re not just enabling the market to access high-integrity carbon credits–we’re investing in the people and places that provide critical ecosystem services essential to the survival of our planet.” Read more here.
