OUR PROGRAMS
Long term, sustainable funding for protecting and managing the Caribbean's biodiversity, powered by the CBF Endowment Fund and our network of partner trust funds.
Photo: Tanja Lieuw
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Caribbean is home to more than 12,000 species, and 300 bird and mammal species found nowhere else on Earth. These natural wonders are under threat from climate change, expanding settlements, natural disasters and the over exploitation of natural resources.
The Conservation Finance Program builds a stronger Caribbean Sustainable Finance Architecture (CSFA) with more funding for priority conservation actions. CBF provides financial resources and capacity building to its network of partner National Conservation Trust Funds (NCTFs), which together with CBF form the CSFA.
CBF and the NCTFs grow as mature organisations, with financial sustainability, a strong reputation and complete organisational structures.
Steadily increasing the funding delivered to projects and programs, with stronger management and conservation capacity at the national level.
Conserving, restoring and maintaining important ecosystems while contributing to sustainable livelihoods.
THE ENDOWMENT FUND
Created in 2012, the CBF Endowment Fund invests capital for long term conservation and provides financial resources to eligible partner NCTFs.
ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE (FY25)
PROJECTS FUNDED
MATCHING BY PARTNER NCTFS
ESTABLISHED
Countries access the Endowment Fund through a partnership agreement with their national conservation trust fund. Each NCTF can request a portion of the interest the fund generates, then runs grantmaking programs at national and sub-regional levels.
NCTFs must build new, sustainable revenue streams that match CBF resources on a 1:1 basis. This encourages them to create financial mechanisms that channel private and public resources toward nature conservation and sustainable development.
The Nature Conservancy · USD 8 million
GEF / World Bank · USD 7.6 million
GEF / UNDP · USD 750,000
French Development Agency (AFD) · USD 11.3 million, 2022, benefiting Haiti
World Bank · USD 3 million, 2023, benefiting Haiti
Endowment market value as at 30 September 2025, per CBF's FY25 financial statements. CBF's total net assets stood at USD 162.98 million on the same date.
At the national level, partner NCTFs lead grantmaking, implement projects and drive programs that protect marine and terrestrial ecosystems in their countries. Select a trust fund to view its profile and funded projects.
Antigua and Barbuda
The Bahamas
Dominican Republic
Guyana
Haiti
St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES
NCTFs fund a wide range of conservation priorities, supporting ecosystems, communities and long term resilience.
Effective management and creation of protected areas that safeguard critical habitats.
Sustainable infrastructure within and around protected areas that supports access and conservation.
Programs that empower communities and build appreciation for the environment.
Initiatives that bring local stakeholders into conservation efforts.
Environmental policies that address climate change and strengthen ecosystem resilience.
Sustainable tourism that generates economic benefits while protecting natural resources.
Restoring degraded lands through conservation projects across the region.
Scientific research that provides data for informed conservation decisions.
SUSTAINABLE FINANCE
The CSFA is the regional network formed by CBF and its partner NCTFs. Its goal is to finance the long term conservation of biodiversity across the Caribbean.
As the Architecture matures, it improves the movement, coordination and effective use of financial resources for conservation, creating a more structured, credible and collaborative financing environment.
Establishing a central hub for financial and technical partners, offering favourable terms, diversification and investment security that give donors and partners confidence.
Strengthening the capacity of the region's conservation trust funds to use financial resources efficiently and deliver tangible biodiversity outcomes.
In May 2025, CBF brought together more than 50 Caribbean stakeholders, including nine NCTFs, government agencies, NGOs and development partners, to accelerate marine conservation finance toward the Global Biodiversity Framework 30x30 targets. Key outcomes:
Consensus on a regional financing mechanism for Marine Protected Areas.
Support for a hub that strengthens sustainable marine management and collaboration.
National alignment, equity, community participation and inclusive decision making.
Standardised regional M&E frameworks to track 30x30 commitments.
Photo: Tanja Lieuw
Learn more about the Conservation Finance Program and our partner trust funds.
FACT SHEET · PDF
An overview of the program, the Endowment Fund and our partner NCTFs.
DownloadNEWS · JULY 2026
STORY · JUNE 2025
Join the donors and partners investing in permanent, sustainable finance for Caribbean nature.
