In many low-income countries, nature serves as a path out of poverty. Sectors such as forestry, fishing, and ecotourism can create jobs, boost economies, and increase resilience to climate change if managed sustainably. However, these countries are also the most affected by the unprecedented loss of biodiversity today. The loss of just a few key ecosystem services could cost low-income countries 10% of their annual GDP by 2030. Many have begun to see recent development progress undermined by environmental degradation, pollution, and climate impacts.
The International Development Association (IDA) is a crucial resource for the World Bank in supporting low-income countries to invest in nature. IDA's financial assistance helps protect nature while supporting economic development, creating livelihoods, and aiding countries in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
IDA invests in nature to benefit people and economies worldwide:
Community involvement and capacity building are emphasized in IDA projects to engage local communities in biodiversity conservation. The Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development Project (TRALARD) aims to create a sustainable forest economy in Zambia by increasing ecosystem resilience and productivity within vulnerable landscapes and improving disaster preparedness. By working together with community participation, the project raises awareness about the value of forests and strengthens capacities related to climate change and sustainable management practices.
Sustainable practices and environmentally friendly infrastructure are supported through IDA initiatives like Fiji's Tourism Development Program which promotes sustainable tourism practices that minimize environmental impact while supporting biodiversity conservation. This includes developing eco-friendly tourism infrastructure and implementing best practices in waste management, energy use, and water conservation.
Protected area management is another focus where land and sea use changes directly affect biodiversity loss. IDA projects often support managing protected areas beneficially for nearby communities. For instance, the Caribbean Blue Economy Program operates in Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and the Grenadines backing comprehensive management plans for current and new protected areas with strategies for conservation, sustainable use compliance including training programs aimed at local authorities enhancing their capabilities to enforce regulations within protected areas.
Strengthening environmental management involves adopting cross-sectoral approaches due to growing demands on land resources highlighted by Senegal's Natural Resources Management Project backed by IDA which improves natural resource handling through transparency accountability participatory decision-making processes strengthening legal institutional frameworks promoting community participation efforts conservation.
Building climate resilience is critical since climate change drives biodiversity loss yet IDA client countries bear its brunt despite contributing minimally global greenhouse emissions exemplified Nepal’s First Green Resilient Inclusive Development Policy Credit supports essential reforms generating climate resilience measures reducing infrastructure ecosystems communities' vulnerability impacts increasing resilience protecting biodiversity ensuring sustainability ecosystem services adverse effects guaranteeing long-term benefits healthy ecosystems generations come.
Biodiversity sustains economies human well-being across income levels regions globally reason remains significant topic debate twenty-first replenishment resources case low-income nations key ensuring development not occur expense sustainability allowing communities continue reaping benefits healthy ecosystems generations ahead.