IDB urges stronger partnerships to protect biodiversity
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is calling for greater collaboration among governments, development institutions and private investors to mobilise financing for biodiversity protection as Guyana advances the work of the Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA).
Speaking on Starting Point last Sunday, IDB Group Country Representative Lorena Solórzano Salazar said the alliance provides a platform to translate conservation commitments into investments, policies, and measurable development outcomes.
“The challenge today is not just to establish ambitions and commitments for biodiversity, but to translate them into action, investment and measurable development outcomes,” she said.
Launched by Guyana in 2025, the GBA has attracted more than 140 members, including the IDB.
Solórzano Salazar said the growing membership reflects recognition that biodiversity is not only an environmental concern but also an economic priority, supporting livelihoods, food and water security, energy supply, and industries such as tourism.
She noted that closing the financing gap requires coordinated action, with governments establishing the policies and institutional frameworks needed to attract private capital and develop innovative financing mechanisms.
“The real opportunity is not simply to find more money for biodiversity. It’s to create the environment and the conditions for different sorts of financial instruments that can support the country’s biodiversity and the development priorities at a scale,” Salazar explained.
The IDB has supported Guyana’s low carbon development through initiatives that improve environmental monitoring and promote sustainable livelihoods.
Through IDB Lab, the institution has also supported mangrove conservation in the Barima-Mora Passage area, combining environmental monitoring using drone technology with livelihood opportunities linked to local crops and pepper production.
As Guyana prepares for GBA 2026, she encouraged participating countries and institutions to share knowledge, data and expertise to protect ecosystems while creating jobs and supporting economic growth.
“Protecting biodiversity is not about choosing nature over development. It is about investing in nature assets that make lasting development possible,” she said.
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