The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is presenting its initiatives to integrate nature protection into development at the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, currently underway in Cali, Colombia.

As a supporter of the Multilateral Development Banks’ (MDB) Pavilion, CDB is joining other entities in highlighting support for biodiversity-focused projects and showcasing tools designed to benefit nature. The Bank is also participating in a workshop that will explore mechanisms for tracking investments in nature and ecosystem restoration as well as incorporating ecosystem health and climate goals directly into project planning, rather than solely focusing on minimising environmental impacts.

Additionally, CDB is taking part in sessions that address how small island states can collaborate to protect biodiversity, promote inclusive conservation, and finance nature-based solutions to regional development challenges. The Bank will also be part of a panel discussion on integrating biodiversity protection into large infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and buildings, which will explore how financial institutions like CDB can prioritise biodiversity conservation within development projects.

Commenting on the Bank’s participation in its first Biodiversity COP, CDB’s Vice-President of Operations, (Ag) Mrs Therese Turner-Jones, emphasised the importance of this platform for advancing the Bank’s biodiversity efforts.

"Protecting biodiversity is not just an environmental obligation—it is a critical pillar of the Caribbean’s sustainable development. By integrating nature conservation into our operations and infrastructure projects, we are safeguarding the region’s rich ecosystems, ensuring food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience for our generation and generations to come," said Mrs Turner-Jones.

As a member of the MDB Nature Heads Working Group, CDB is addressing challenges in biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainable development while aligning with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. The group has developed guidelines for tracking investments that protect or manage nature.

CDB's involvement underscores its commitment to finding solutions to biodiversity issues affecting small island developing states, which are particularly vulnerable to climate change and depend on biodiversity for economic stability in sectors such as tourism, fisheries, and agriculture. The Bank is also in the process of drafting a new Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to strengthen climate resilience and sustainable development across small island states, with completion expected by 2025.