Financing Nature the Pacific Way: Lessons, Leadership, and the Path Forward from the BioFIN Inception Workshop

By Dr Jalal Mohammed*

*This reflection represents the personal views of Dr Jalal Mohammed and does not reflect the positions of any organisation. It is intended to share personal insights and experiences, and should not be interpreted as official policy, guidance, or endorsement.

The Pacific is home to unique biodiversity that is closely linked to cultural, economic, and spiritual life. Connections to land, water, and the environment are vital to the identity of Pacific peoples and are closely connected to development. At the recent BIOFIN Pacific Regional Inception Workshop in Fiji, this uniqueness was not only recognised but also celebrated. More importantly, it provided a foundation for shaping how biodiversity finance in the Pacific should reflect the region's realities, values, and strengths.

The Pacific's Uniqueness

The term "small island developing states" is often used to describe Pacific nations. However, Pacific nations are anything but small, particularly in their ecological, cultural and political significance. In fact, through their uniqueness, Pacific Island nations are making significant impacts on mitigating climate change, heralding innovations in biodiversity management, and providing ecological stewardship. This uniqueness is shaped by:

• Custodianship: Pacific peoples are custodians of the 'Blue Pacific Continent', managing vast exclusive economic zones that far exceed their land masses. As such, the ocean is not just a resource—it is a connection to settlement histories, to customs and traditions, and livelihood.

• Traditional Knowledge: Conservation is not new in the Pacific. Knowledge on how to balance human needs with the environment has been passed down through generations and exists within all Pacific societies as a vast resource.

• Resilience: While a buzzword in many parts of the world, the Pacific and its people are the epitome of resilience. Facing climate risks such as sea-level rise, extreme weather, and ecosystem degradation, despite contributing minimally to global emissions, the Pacific has shown resilience, innovation, and leadership in global climate diplomacy.

• Relationships: Vast geographic dispersion, relative smallness and isolation have meant that the Pacific has had to form strong relationships, partnerships and collaborations and tailor solutions to their uniqueness.

Key Lessons from the Workshop

Over four days of dialogue and collaboration, several key lessons emerged that reflect both the strengths and needs of the Pacific context:

1.     Nature is an Asset

Pacific countries voiced during the workshop that nature and biodiversity activities cannot stand alone or be siloed within the Environment ministries. They are core to fisheries, to tourism, agriculture and even public health. Workshop participants advocated for mainstreaming biodiversity into national budgets, climate plans and economic strategies.

2.     One Size Doesn't Fit All

While BioFIN offers a flexible, structured approach, countries underscored the need for contextualisation. What works in the Solomon Islands may not apply in Palau or the Cook Islands. Countries are at different stages of development, have different contexts, capacities, and challenges. These differences should be accounted for through tailor-made solutions.

3.     Success Demands Bridging Data and Capacity Gaps

Many Pacific countries struggle with biodiversity and finance data—how much is spent, where, and with what outcomes. There are also gaps in capacity at various levels, particularly in technical expertise related to biodiversity finance and data management. Pacific countries struggle with limited human resources and technical know-how, which hinder progress in conducting complex financial analyses and integrating biodiversity considerations into broader economic planning.

4.     Communities Must be At the Heart

Community-based resource management is the norm in the Pacific. Any finance solution must centre initiatives around communities. Fostering a sense of ownership among national and local stakeholders was identified as crucial for achieving long-term success. Countries that prioritised inclusive participation nurtured more substantial commitment to biodiversity finance plans.

The Way Forward

A nature-positive future for the Pacific relies on tailor-made solutions that work in the Pacific context, address country contexts and are driven by communities. The Pacific needs to tap into its uniqueness and diversity – this is a strength. The workshop highlighted the value of peer learning and regional adaptation of global tools and frameworks. The Pacific has all the ingredients to develop a distinct Pacific model of biodiversity finance—rooted in traditional stewardship, informed by modern finance tools, and supported by regional solidarity. Pacific countries should take forward the ideas discussed during the workshop—such as sustainable tourism levies, blue bonds, and payment for ecosystem services—and assess their feasibility at home. Regional platforms and communities of practice could help countries share lessons, pool expertise, and build a shared voice in global forums. Ultimately, the region's values of kinship with nature and collective responsibility can offer powerful narratives that can shift regional thinking and provide the Pacific with a platform for global leadership.

The region's values of kinship with nature and collective responsibility can offer powerful narratives that can shift global thinking. The challenge now is to ensure that the region's commitment to biodiversity is matched by financing systems that are locally grounded, regionally coordinated, and globally supported.

*Vidcast AI Generated

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