The GEF-8 Heart of Conservation Initiative (HCI) is being launched at a time of profound ecological degradation and biodiversity loss driven by land conversion for agricultural and urban use, intensifying climate change-related events, direct exploitation of natural resources, pollution, and invasive species. These factors are exacerbating pressures and threats to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, their territories, lands, waters, resources, and the biodiversity they conserve. In tandem, recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ contributions to Global Environmental Benefits (GEBs), commitments to support them in securing land and tenure rights, and the use of their traditional knowledge to steward their territories, lands, waters and resources, are growing yet remain insufficient. This is resulting in Indigenous Peoples and local communities being under-supported at this important time as threats continue to grow and when their solutions are critical to achieving global biodiversity and climate goals. The GEF-8 HCI seeks to directly address this nexus of issues.
The GEF-8 HCI’s objective is to increase resources, organizational strength, and recognition for Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ governance and stewardship of territories, lands, waters and resources to deliver global environmental benefits. This will be achieved by directing eighty percent of the project grant’s support to Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and their organizations, including for their self-determined priorities and self-strengthening activities under Components 1 and 2.
Taking a systems change approach, GEF-8 HCI will enhance the capacities of key actors within the ecosystem of Indigenous and locally-led organizations, as well as help strengthen the overall functioning of the system of funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities organizations, which together will promote the long-term durability of the project results.
It is estimated that there will be 125,000 beneficiaries; 150,000 ha of terrestrial protected areas and 100,000 ha of marine protected areas created or under improved management; 10,000 ha of land and ecosystems under restoration; and 2.5M ha of landscapes and 150,000 ha of marine habitat under improved practices.
