Sustaining protected areas through conservation trust funds: a review

ABSTRACT

Abstract: This article explores the unknown role of Conservation Trust Funds (CTF) through a review of the literature (scientific and technical) and a database of 89 CTF worldwide. It is based on the observation that there is little interest in the scientific literature for this instrument, although it is very well documented and used by conservation actors (NGOs, donors, governments). In the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, protected areas are the main instrument to achieve the SDGs 14 (Life below water) and 15 (Life on land). Then, sustaining protected areas through the use of CTF is particularly relevant to ‘the mobilization of financial resources from all sources’ (Targets 15.A and 15.B). The objective of the article is to provide an analysis of the literature and a typology of the different CTFs. We propose a mapping of the different CTFs around the world. Finally, we discuss the main risks associated with the use of this tool, particularly with regard to its dependence on stock market fluctuations.

KEYWORDS:

• Trust funds
• biodiversity conservation
• protected areas
• governance
• market-based instruments

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1. Conservationists consider that protected areas can contribute to achieve several SDGs: fighting climate change and its impacts (SDG 13) through the conservation of forests and their ecosystem services; ensuring sustainable water management (SDG 6) through watershed conservation; struggling against poverty (SDG 1) by developing economic activities around parks such as ecotourism, handicraft; helping to sustain cities (SDG 11) with urban parks, etc. Whatever, SDG 14 and 15 are the two main SDGs that directly focus on the links between conservation of ecosystems and sustainable development. As Dudley et al. (2017) suggested: ‘ the time is right for the protected areas community to communicate the value of protected areas and the contribution that they can make to the sustainable development agenda’ (p.10).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported through the “Strengthening Capacity of Local Communities and Establishing an Innovative Mechanism for Sustainable Funding for the Antrema Protected Area in Madagascar” project carried by Identi‘terre, a Nonprofit Organization located in Madagascar with the financial support from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.