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Conservation Finance Product Development
Description/achievement of initiative

Credit Suisse believes that market-based financing mechanisms from the private sector have great potential for nature conservation. In 2014, we launched our first investment product in this field, called the Nature Conservation Notes. This new product consists of investments in sustainable agroforestry and ecosystem conservation, and in a portfolio of sustainable bonds.

Implementation methodologies

The Nature Conservation Notes support conservation activities in around 20 countries, as well as the economic development of local communities through the revenues generated by the Althelia Climate Fund. Financial returns for investors are generated through the sale of sustainably certified commodities as well as from payments for ecosystem services.

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

Coordination mechanisms/governance structure

Partner(s)

* Credit Suisse AG * Althelia Ecosphere * United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Progress reports
Goal 13
Goal 15
15.1 - By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
15.2 - By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
15.4 - By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development
15.5 - Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
15.7 - Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products
15.8 - By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species
15.a - Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems
15.b - Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management, including for conservation and reforestation
15.c - Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities
Goal 17
June 2020
The notes are also expected to target the protection of over 3 million hectares of high conservation value ecosystems
June 2020
The notes will target a total of 12-15 investments in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In total, they are expected to promote forest conservation and sustainable land use that will avoid deforestation and associated emissions of approximately 33 million tons of carbon dioxide
Financing (in USD)
18,500,000 USD
Staff / Technical expertise
Project team within Credit Suisse of 10 people

Basic information
Time-frame: January 2014 - June 2020
Partners
* Credit Suisse AG * Althelia Ecosphere * United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Countries
Contact information
Fabian Huwyler, Vice President, Sustainability Affairs, sustainability.affairs@credit-suisse.com
United Nations