As an initiative to mobilise the US 1bn fund for the conservation of tigers and tiger landscapes, the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP has presented the Tiger Landscapes Investment Fund as sustainable financing. This is one of the many financing instruments to mobilise the USD 1bn over the next ten years. However, for now, the office has yet to secure the fund.
Officials from UNDP said 50 per cent of the Tiger Landscapes Investment Fund is expected to be mobilised from private investors, 35 per cent from concessional financing through multilateral development banks and the remaining portion will be met from grant capital.
The office added that a project-based approach to financing poses a risk and is unsustainable.
“So, we presented the concept of the fund. We wanted the world to start the world to hearing about the fund and coming to us about questions and criticism and offering us a partnership. Between now and the conference of parties 16, we hope we can complete the outstanding work on the fund and the idea is to announce it at COP 16. So that’s where we are,” said Maxim Vergeichik, Senior Nature Economist of UNDP.
He added that for the first time, the investment decision-making committee will include conservationists represented by the tiger conservation coalition as well as investors in one panel, making the Tiger Landscapes Investment Fund different from other funds.
Samten Dolkar
Edited by Tshering Zam
