Conserving Lands and Waters, Where Nature and People Thrive
Enduring Earth is currently working with more than 100 partners on the design and implementation of 14 Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) projects in 12 countries. These initiatives will support governments, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to durably protect and conserve more than 390 million hectares of ocean, lands, and freshwater – an area greater than the size of India. Of the 14 PFPs, 4 have been agreed, securing 127 million hectares of durably conserved lands and waters through projects in Canada, Mongolia, and Colombia:
Northwest Territories: Our Land for the Future was agreed in November 2024, enabling CAD$375 million to durably conserve 38 million hectares of lands and waters. The PFP will fund Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship, and economic development across the Northwest Territories, and is one of the largest Indigenous-led conservation land initiatives in the world.
Great Bear Sea, Canada, was agreed in June 2024, securing long-term financing for durable conservation, community-led economic development, and diversification, while ensuring sustained funding for Indigenous Guardian programs. Led by 17 First Nations in collaboration with the Governments of British Columbia and Canada, this co-governance model is projected to create 3,000 new jobs and provide 32,000 days of skills training.
Eternal Mongolia, was agreed in April 2024, delivering $198 million in new investments over 15 years for conservation and community economic development, extending climate-resilient, community-managed practices to 34 million hectares beyond protected areas.
Herencia Colombia was agreed in June 2022, securing $245 million in public and private financing to permanently protect 32 million hectares of iconic Colombian landscapes and seascapes, with investments in community forestry, tourism, and restoration projects led by Indigenous peoples, rural communities, women’s organizations, and youth.
Project Finance for Permanence Initiatives Around the World
10 PFP projects in planning phase in Brazil, Belize, Bolivia, Eastern Tropical Pacific, Kenya, Gabon, Namibia, Panama, and Canada
4 PFP projects in implementation, established and led by government, communities, Indigenous peoples, First Nations, partners.
5 PFP projects agreed prior to Enduring Earth partnership
The Enduring Earth PFPs build on the durable conservation of an additional 87 million hectares of lands and waters from five PFPs that were established prior to the formation of the partnership:
Great Bear Rainforest agreement was a historic collaboration between First Nations and the Government of British Columbia, Canada, to conserve 8 million hectares of temperate rainforest, which continues to support Indigenous-led conservation and sustainable economic development.
Forever Costa Rica tripled the country’s marine protected areas and improved the management of its entire national park system, allowing Costa Rica to meet its goal to protect 30% of its lands and ocean.
Amazon Region Protected Areas for Life project in Brazil maintains a 60 million-hectare network of protected areas. This project is expected to avoid 1.4 billion tons of carbon emissions by 2050.
Peru’s Natural Legacy expands and more effectively manages 16.7 million hectares of the Peruvian Amazon, where 87% of the country’s protected area network is located.
Bhutan for Life permanently protects the nation’s 2 million-hectare network of protected areas. More than half of the nation is now under conservation protection.
Herencia Colombia PFP
In June 2022, the Colombian Government, in partnership with a broad coalition of community, public sector, and private sector partners, signed an agreement to launch Heritage Colombia PFP (HECO), which secures US$245 million in public and private funding to permanently protect 32 million hectares of landscapes and seascapes. HECO will include land outside of protected areas, such as lands managed by Afro- Colombian communities and lands owned by Indigenous communities.
HECO is a major step forward in Colombia’s effort to protect 30% of its land by 2030— and it will achieve the country’s goal of protecting 30% of its oceans and seas. The project contributes to a regional cluster of PFP initiatives that, together, provide permanent protections for approximately 12% of the entire Amazon rainforest.
Over 10 years, HECO will support the creation of more than 3 million hectares of new terrestrial protected areas and at least 15 million hectares of new marine protected areas. It will also improve the management of existing national, regional, and private lands, and maintain ecosystems that millions of Colombians rely on for clean air and water, food, medicines, and their livelihoods.
Great Bear Rainforest in Canada
The Great Bear Rainforest agreement illustrates the potential impact of a large-scale conservation initiative. Through the early 2000s, First Nations worked with the Government of British Colombia to conserve over 6 million hectares, extending over one of the world’s largest remaining intact temperate rainforests. Starting in 2006, TNC supported a groundbreaking conservation finance effort to secure durable funding for Indigenous stewardship and to catalyze the transition to a sustainable, conservation-based economy. This initiative led an innovative finance agreement among First Nations, BC, Canada, and private funders; and to the creation of Coast Funds, an Indigenous-led conservation finance institution, to manage CAD$120 million for conservation and economic development.
First Nations have leveraged this funding to advance their visions for their territories, create more than 100 businesses and over 1250 new jobs (13% of First Nations’ workforce), and conserve critical habitats for spirit bears, salmon, and centuries-old cedars. This model has since become recognized as the world’s first PFP. Building on this success, First Nations are now developing a Great Bear Sea PFP with support from Enduring Earth. The project would fund sustainable management and habitat protection over an area of ocean larger than Maine. A spectacular array of wildlife relies on these waters for survival, including sea otters, whales, bears, and sea wolves. This project stands to benefit 17 distinct Indigenous communities and would establish the largest Indigenous-led marine protected area network in the world.
