Commitments
Examples of economic recovery packages likely to directly support protected and conserved area
Europe
European Union (EU)
The ‘Next Generation EU’ recovery package proposes to commit US$ 249 billion of its stimulus funds (30 per cent of the total US$ 830 billion) towards green initiatives, including US$ 11.74 billion (€10 billion) for “natural capital and circular economy”¹ (other funds would support decarbonisation, green infrastructure and renewable energy). It also stipulates ‘do no harm’ environmental safeguards. The package supports the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which promotes the protection of at least 30 per cent of Europe’s lands and seas in effectively managed and well-connected protected areas², and supports sustainable agriculture, reversing the decline of pollinators and reducing the use of harmful pesticides.³
Finland
US$ 15.38 million (€13.1 million) has been pledged for state-run rehabilitation of nature sites and the development of nature tourism, as well as US$ 62.23 million (€53 million) for projects involving green areas, water services and forest conservation. US$ 23.74 million (€20 million) of this is appropriated for voluntary forest conservation and US$ 15.2 million (€13.1 million) for the rehabilitation of local recreation areas.¹
Iceland
US$ 4.74 million (ISK 650 million) is committed for tourism infrastructure in protected areas.¹
Sweden
The Swedish government has proposed a 33 per cent increase in the 2021 budget for environment and nature protection.¹
United Kingdom
Local Nature Recovery Strategies initiative earmarks US$ 1.297 million (£1 million) to connect protected areas, restore 500,000 hectares of wildlife habitat outside protected areas, and support urban green and blue infrastructure (e.g. floodplains, wetlands, rivers and forests).¹
Asia
Japan
A programme has been announced to promote tourism and ‘workation’ (telework and vacation) in national parks (level of funding unclear).¹
Pakistan
Green Stimulus Initiative includes plans to expand protected areas, the addition of 15 national parks covering over 7,300 km2 (supported with Rs4 billion or US$ 24 million); launch of Pakistan’s first National Parks Service; and ~5,000 new jobs.¹
Africa
Kenya
Support pledged for conservation in PCAs through promotion of tourism, including employment of 5,500 community scouts under the Kenya Wildlife Service (US$ 9.2 million, or 1 billion Ksh) and 160 community conservancies (US$ 9.2 million, or 1 billion Ksh).¹
Oceania
New Zealand
SUS$ 850 million ($1.245 billion NZD) has been pledged to create 11,000 jobs in support of the following four initiatives: regional environmental projects to restore wetlands and riverbanks (US$ 287.80 million or $433 million NZD, 4,000 jobs over five years); pest eradication and management (US$ 209.37 million or $315 million NZD, 600 jobs annually); a ‘Jobs for Nature programme’ to manage public lands, involving predator control, wetland restoration, regenerative planting, recreation and visitor improvements (US$ 132.93 million or $200 million NZD); and public and private land management to restore indigenous biodiversity and habitat, revegetation of conservation land and riparian planting (US$ 102.36 million, $154 million NZD, 1,800 jobs). 1-2-3-4-5-6
Examples of economic recovery with the potential to support protected and conserved area
Europe
Germany
US$ 821.86 million (€700 million) is earmarked for conservation and sustainable management of forests. Responding to COVID, the German Government’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) dedicated US$ 58 million (€68 million) in support of 29 projects in 25 countries to build economic, social and ecological resilience, and prevent future pandemics.¹
Sweden
US$ 16 million (SEK 150 million) is earmarked for nature conservation and forest management to provide jobs, increase recreation opportunities and reduce the spread of pests.¹
United Kingdom
The Green Jobs Challenge Fund plans to invest US$ 51.83 million (£40 million), supporting up to 5,000 jobs, while “planting trees, restoring habitats, clearing waterways, and creating green space for people and wildlife.”¹-²
The pilot Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment is being launched with US$ 6.48 million (£5 million) committed to “improve the baseline understanding of habitats and species abundance” for evidence-informed conservation decisions.³
Asia
China
The Green Development Fund proposes to provide green investments worth US$ 12.66 billion (88.5 billion yuan) in the Yangtze River economic belt, support environmental protection, ecological restoration, pollution control, clean energy and green transportation.¹
Nepal
A province-level green recovery initiative has been initiated, providing jobs to hundreds of people staying at quarantine centres to plant trees; in four months, more than 7,000 trees were planted in and around public spaces.¹
Singapore
US$ 3.87 billion (SG$5 billion) for Coastal and Flood Protection Fund has been pledged for protection against rising sea levels with both hard infrastructure and nature-based solutions.¹
Sri Lanka
The Ministry of Tourism and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority introduced a sustainable destination development certification programme to promote sustainable tourism, and reduced the tourism development levy by 0.5 per cent while reinvesting that amount in biodiversityfriendly projects (pers. comm. Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka).
Africa
Ethiopia
US$ 3.6 million (133.02 ETB) is pledged for nature-based solutions to tackle climate change and foster a green recovery, including support for ecological restoration and community management.¹