Posted on March, 03 2025

Wildlife conservation is often seen as an environmental issue, but it is equally an economic one. Protecting forests and biodiversity requires continuous financial support for research, law enforcement, community engagement, and sustainable development initiatives. However, traditional funding mechanisms tend to favor regions where deforestation rates are high, neglecting areas like the Congo Basin, where forest loss remains relatively low (0,01 - 0,33%), but conservation efforts are still essential.

HIFFI: A new model for conservation finance
The HIFFI seeks to reshape how conservation finance works by ensuring long-term, high-integrity funding for tropical forests. Led by COMIFAC (Central African Forest Commission), and supported by WWF, the HIFFI demonstrates that conservation is not just about protecting species - it is about creating economic models that incentivize governments, businesses, and communities to prioritize nature-based solutions.
 
For example, by recognizing the true value of standing forests, HIFFI helps Congo Basin countries shift from donor-dependent conservation to self-sustaining financial mechanisms. This approach ensures that forests are not just seen as carbon reserves but as assets with economic value, leading to stronger incentives for preservation.
 
The Congo Basin Forest is the last functioning tropical forest carbon sink - but despite its immense carbon storage capacity - over 1.5 billion tons of carbon annually - and its rich biodiversity, funding for its conservation has been disproportionately low. From 2017 to 2021, comparative of the Amazon and Borneo-Mekong, only 4% of global forest conservation finance was directed toward this region. Most funds come from official development assistance (ODA, 68%) and loans (24%), with limited engagement from private investors. This funding gap creates an urgent need for innovative financial solutions to protect these critical ecosystems.

"For too long, funding has been directed only toward regions where forests are disappearing, while intact forests like the Congo Basin receive little support. HIFFI changes this by ensuring that protecting nature is not just a moral choice, but an economically viable one," says Jaap Van der Waarde, WWF’s Congo Basin Conservation Director. 
“The Congo Basin is not just a forest; it is a sanctuary for some of the world’s most iconic and endangered wildlife. From forest elephants to lowland gorillas, these species depend on intact ecosystems to survive. HIFFI ensures that conservation is not just about preserving trees but about securing a future where wildlife, forests, and communities can thrive together,” Jaap says.
 
Turning HIFFI into reality at COP30
To make HIFFI a transformative force, political commitment, global partnerships, and strong financial backing are essential. At COP30, Congo Basin countries—backed by COMIFAC, ECCAS, and WWF—must push for international recognition of high-integrity forests and secure funding mechanisms that reflect their true ecological and economic value. This means engaging global financial institutions, negotiating market-based incentives for conservation, and ensuring transparent and equitable benefit-sharing with local communities.  By securing commitments at COP30, the TFFF and the HIFFI initiatives can transition from concept to implementation, setting a new global standard for sustainable forest finance.

As World Wildlife Day 2025 reminds us, investing in nature is investing in the future of our planet. The Congo Basin and other wildlife-rich regions hold immense value - not just for their carbon storage or biodiversity but for the people and species that depend on them. Through initiatives like TFFF and HIFFI, we can build a world where conservation and finance go hand in hand, ensuring a thriving planet for generations to come.