By Amelia Arreguín-Prado, CBD Women’s Caucus Coordinator
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of the CBD Women’s Caucus
How should the world finance biodiversity protection and restoration? And who should decide how those resources are governed and distributed? These questions were at the centre of discussions during the CBD Workshop on Resource Mobilisation, held in Rome from 10–13 February 2026, which brought together around 90 participants from governments, international organisations, financial institutions, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women and youth organisations, civil society, and technical experts.
About the event
As biodiversity loss continues to accelerate and the biodiversity finance gap remains substantial, the meeting provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on how global biodiversity finance systems can evolve to mobilise resources at scale while ensuring that they are used effectively, equitably, and transparently. The discussions were conducted under Chatham House rules, allowing for open dialogue among participants. Rather than negotiating formal outcomes, the workshop aimed to foster technical exchanges and shared understanding on the future architecture of biodiversity finance.
The workshop formed part of the intersessional process mandated by Decision 16/34, supporting the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), particularly Target 19 on resource mobilisation. Discussions were structured around two complementary tracks:
Track A: examining possible permanent arrangements for the financial mechanism under Article 21 of the Convention
Track B: identifying barriers and opportunities to scale up biodiversity finance from all sources
The CBD Women’s Caucus was represented at the workshop by Amelia Arreguin, Coordinator of the Caucus, who contributed perspectives from a gender justice and rights-based approach to biodiversity finance. These interventions highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in biodiversity finance flows, direct access to funding for women-led and community-based initiatives, and stronger monitoring of social impacts to ensure that biodiversity investments support equitable outcomes and do not inadvertently contribute to human rights violations in the name of conservation.
Main conversations: Two tracks shaping the future of biodiversity finance
Track A: Designing the future financial mechanism of the Convention
Track A discussions focused on the future institutional arrangements for the financial mechanism under Article 21 of the Convention. Participants examined the criteria outlined in Decision 16/34 for a financial mechanism that would be aligned with the objectives of the Convention, accountable to the Conference of the Parties (COP), governed transparently, and accessible to eligible Parties.
A key theme was ensuring that biodiversity finance mechanisms effectively support the three objectives of the Convention and the implementation of the KM-GBF. Participants highlighted the need for stronger results-based monitoring frameworks, capable of measuring not only financial inputs but also biodiversity outcomes.
Governance and accountability were also central to the discussions. Participants explored how financial mechanisms could operate under the authority and guidance of the COP while maintaining efficient governance structures. Clear mandates, regular reporting to the COP, and transparent decision-making processes were identified as essential elements to ensure accountability.
Another major topic concerned the democratic and transparent governance of biodiversity funds. Discussions emphasised balanced representation across countries, transparent project selection procedures, and meaningful participation of stakeholders. At the same time, participants stressed that governance structures should remain efficient and manageable in order to avoid slowing down implementation.
Accessibility to funding emerged as a recurring concern. Participants noted that existing financial mechanisms can be complex and bureaucratic, often requiring multiple intermediary layers before resources reach countries and local actors. Suggestions included simplifying procedures, strengthening national institutions’ ability to access funding directly, and improving transparency throughout the project cycle.
Beyond the formal criteria, participants also raised additional considerations for an effective financial mechanism, including the need for predictable financial contributions, stronger accountability systems, and improved direct access to funds for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and youth.
Track B: Scaling biodiversity finance and improving its effectiveness
Track B discussions explored how to increase biodiversity finance from all sources, reduce harmful expenditures, and improve the effectiveness of existing financial flows.
Participants highlighted a range of policy tools and financing mechanisms that could contribute to scaling biodiversity finance. These included biodiversity-related taxes and fees, payments for ecosystem services, conservation trust funds, sovereign bonds, blended finance approaches, and innovative financial mechanisms. National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) were recognised as critical entry points for aligning financial flows and mobilising resources at the national level.
At the same time, participants emphasised that mobilising new finance alone will not be sufficient if existing financial flows continue to support activities that drive biodiversity loss. As such, discussions highlighted the importance of identifying and repurposing harmful subsidies, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and extractive industries.
Participants discussed the need for systematic assessments of harmful expenditures, improved monitoring systems, and stronger regulatory frameworks that integrate biodiversity considerations into financial decision-making. Some noted that framing reforms as repurposing incentives rather than eliminating them may help reduce political resistance and create space for policy change.
Improving the effectiveness of existing financial resources was another key theme. Participants called for a shift from fragmented, short-term project funding cycles toward long-term financing strategies aligned with national biodiversity priorities. Integrating biodiversity financing into national budgeting processes, strengthening monitoring and accountability systems, and enhancing coordination across ministries were identified as important steps to improve efficiency and impact.
Throughout the discussions, participants acknowledged that many biodiversity finance challenges are rooted in structural economic and governance barriers. These include fragmented policy frameworks, limited political prioritisation of biodiversity, high levels of sovereign debt, and economic systems that often fail to account for the value of nature.
Participants also stressed that harmful financial flows often exceed positive biodiversity investments, suggesting that achieving meaningful progress will require both mobilising new resources and redirecting existing financial flows toward nature-positive outcomes.
What’s next from a gender justice perspective
As discussions continue toward COP17 and beyond, ensuring that biodiversity finance systems are equitable, transparent, and inclusive will be essential for achieving the goals of the KM-GBF.
From a gender justice perspective, several priorities stand out:
- Biodiversity finance must become more transparent and accountable, including improved tracking of how financial resources reach women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities. Without better data and monitoring systems, it remains difficult to assess whether financial flows are supporting those who are already contributing significantly to biodiversity conservation.
- Governance structures for biodiversity finance should ensure meaningful participation of rights-holders, including women’s organisations. Inclusive decision-making processes are critical to ensure that financial priorities reflect on-the-ground realities and community needs.
- Advancing gender-responsive biodiversity finance requires strengthening the availability and use of gender-disaggregated data and community-generated evidence. These insights are essential to ensure that biodiversity investments contribute not only to ecological outcomes but also to social equity and sustainable livelihoods.
- Serious attention must be given to the evaluation of the impacts of biodiversity finance. Measuring progress cannot be limited to tracking how much funding is mobilised; it must also assess how those resources are used and what outcomes they produce. Strengthening impact assessment, monitoring systems, and safeguards is essential to ensure that biodiversity finance supports rights-based conservation and does not inadvertently contribute to human rights violations in the name of protecting nature.
As countries move forward with the implementation of the KM-GBF, building a financial architecture that supports both biodiversity and gender justice will be essential. Ensuring that financial resources reach those who are protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing biodiversity on the ground will ultimately determine the success of global biodiversity commitments.