WWF Board member Lauren Tyler on the peace of water

“Current funding for conservation priorities is woefully inadequate,” she says. “So, in the face of the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, the finance industry is a key partner. Finance provides money, of course, but also strategic advice, connections, and so much more.” Sustainable financing is also key to helping achieve the global goal of protecting 30% of the planet’s land, ocean, and freshwater by 2030.

Tyler admires the creative financial methods that WWF has applied to its work over the years. One example is Project Finance for Permanence (PFP), an approach borrowed from Wall Street that involves raising all the money, setting all the policies, and finalizing all the planning needed for a single long-term, large-scale conservation project before it is officially launched. The PFP model has been implemented in countries like Bhutan, Brazil, and Colombia.

“The finance industry is without a doubt increasingly focused on working creatively at the intersection of conservation and sustainable financing,” Tyler says. “It’s gratifying to see the pace at which these types of partnerships are taking shape.”

When considering what boards to serve on, Tyler looked for opportunities where she could give back while also learning something. “I’m happy to share my corporate experience in service to WWF’s mission of creating a future where nature and people thrive,” she says. “And I’m happy to do the work—to get my hands dirty and jump into any body of water in the name of conservation. But I also love to learn. And my fellow WWF Board members are so impressive. Whenever we’re together, I’m soaking up everything I can.”