Unlike conventional funding strategies that react to degradation after the fact, HIFOR is designed to secure resources in advance to help maintain these forest ecosystems before significant environmental damage occurs. The approach aligns with global sustainability goals, including the Global Biodiversity Framework, and focuses on preserving ecological systems that deliver measurable climate and biodiversity benefits.
This shift in investment strategy marks a broader recognition within the financial sector: conserving natural capital isn’t just a philanthropic act—it’s a practical, long-term investment in planetary stability and socio-economic resilience. These intact forests play a critical role in climate regulation, water cycles, erosion control, and biodiversity, while supporting the livelihoods of Indigenous and local communities.
Each financial partner in the HIFOR Initiative brings different capabilities to the table, reflecting a diversified strategy tailored to local conditions and investment needs. Bank of America is helping shape the foundational phase by funding structuring work and stakeholder engagement for a pilot project in Brazil’s Jaú National Park—an area representative of high-integrity forest ecosystems under pressure.
In Central Africa, CAFI is leveraging its regional partnerships to evaluate integration opportunities between HIFOR and existing forest conservation platforms, particularly in the Congo Basin. This region continues to be a focal point for nature-based climate solutions and biodiversity conservation. Meanwhile, Good Energies Foundation and UBS Optimus Foundation are supporting the initial assessment and site prioritization phases in the Amazon basin, which plays a disproportionate role in global carbon storage and climate stability.
WCS emphasizes that working closely with local governments, Indigenous groups, and communities will be central to the initiative’s success. HIFOR intends to align environmental impact with local development, ensuring that conservation financing respects local rights and integrates traditional knowledge into planning and decision-making.
