ICFC releases report: Canada must ramp up international conservation aid

September 17, 2020 — For over a decade Canada has badly lagged other OECD countries in providing aid to developing countries to help them conserve their large share of the world's biodiversity.  A report released today by the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC) compared biodiversity-related bilateral official development assistance (ODA) for the years 2002 to 2018. While France, Germany, the U.S. and others ramped up their support, Canada's aid stagnated, averaging just $10 million per year and ranking 22 out of 28 OECD countries in per capita biodiversity aid in recent years (2016-2018).

ICFC's report explains why tropical nature matters to Canadians and why it's in our interest to help conserve it.  We discuss what level of support may be appropriate and what the priorities should be.

The report is in the hands of government.  With the federal government's express concern for biodiversity and endorsement of nature-based climate solutions, here's hoping we're about the turn over a new leaf.