GEF, World Bank and IUCN Launch Partnership to Protect Globally Threatened Species

BARCELONA/WASHINGTON DC, October 7, 2008-- Businesses that have built their brands on the back of threatened species should invest more in the preservation of their natural habitats according to a new conservation campaign launched here today. The Global Environment Facility (GEF), together with the World Bank and IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature announced this innovative new partnership to protect globally threatened species at the World Conservation Congress of IUCN in Barcelona, in cooperation with the Belgian NGO Noe Institute. It will include a Save Your Logo campaign to attract private sector involvement and build broad public support to sustain biodiversity on this planet.

Save Your Logo looks to leverage private sector and multi-stakeholder engagement for dramatically expanded funding for threatened species. While focusing on particularly threatened species, this initiative will also target those animals used for branding and in logos of global corporations. The fund will be invested in the long-term sustainability of their natural habitats.

“Investments in the protection of threatened species shelter habitats for flora and fauna, but also secure healthy ecosystems vital for the livelihoods of local populations. We expect this initiative to build new partnerships with the private sector. Many corporations have profited dearly from the hundreds of animals and plants they have built their brands around. Given the biodiversity crisis facing the planet, it is probably time to give back some of it so that their logos won’t disappear forever,” said Monique Barbut, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF.

Hundreds of companies and brands worldwide have built their image and products on nature and wild life in particular animals. Among these are creatures such as mammals, birds, and reptiles, fish and even insects. This new partnership calls for corporations to become engaged in a global effort to help protect species in poor condition and which are under facing rapid and predictable extinction.

The cost of effective implementation of species conservation action plans varies widely according to the natural history of the species, the local context and the nature of the threats. Some of the estimates point to an average cost of about $2-5 million per species.

The GEF will invest $5 million and expects to leverage a multiple of this in co-financing from the private sector to launch the pilot phase.

"As the world focuses our attention on climate change and other environmental challenges we need to recognise that many species are coming under increasing threat. Combating these threats will require additional conservation efforts and new and innovative financing. The World Bank welcomes this opportunity to join the GEF and IUCN in  a  new initiative to address  the plight and conservation needs of threatened species and the ecosystems in which they live. These efforts will complement, and expand, current Bank commitments to biodiversity conservation, including the Global Tiger Initiative which President Zoellick launched in June 2008 in partnership with the GEF and national and international NGOs”, said Warren Evans, Director, Environment Department of the World Bank.

“We know from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species that the world is facing an extinction crisis,” says Julia Marton Lefèvre, Director General of IUCN. “We hope that this initiative will help save the wonderful species that organizations often use for their logos.”

“Through the “Save your Logo” initiative, sponsors will not only protect their investment in their image but also build awareness and respect for their actions to protect biodiversity and thus creating a better world” , said Olivier Chiabodo, Chairman of Noe Institute.