This side event aims to demonstrate how concrete advances in the management of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Brazil’s federal protected areas enable conditions for the conservation of migratory and threatened seabirds, while also supporting the development of innovative and scalable biodiversity financing solutions. The session seeks to position Brazil as a global reference in aligning effective conservation action with robust public governance and innovative financing mechanisms, contributing to the objectives of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly Target 4, which focuses on halting extinctions and improving the conservation status of threatened species, and Target 6, which focuses on invasive alien species. 

 

 

Invasive alien species are among the main drivers of global biodiversity loss and pose a critical threat to island ecosystems and coastal-marine environments that support migratory seabirds. Effective IAS management in these areas is essential to prevent extinctions, restore ecological processes, and safeguard ecosystem services that generate global environmental benefits, directly relevant to CMS Parties. 

 

Brazil has developed significant experience in IAS management within federal protected areas, including rodent eradication on islands, biosecurity protocols, eradication of invasive goats, control of feral and domestic cats, and ecological restoration actions. These efforts are led by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) and are aligned with national policy instruments such as the National Action Plan for Seabirds (NPO Seabirds - PAN Aves Marinhas). 

 

Importantly, these conservation advances have enabled the development of innovative financing solutions. The “BNDES Biodiversidade Ilhas do Futuro: Ninhos Protegidos ” Initiative, supported by a public fund from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), was designed to support conservation actions on islands of high ecological relevance, with a focus on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and the protection of strategic breeding sites for seabirds. The initiative promotes integrated actions such as invasive alien species management, ecological restoration, and the strengthening of protected area governance, contributing directly to biodiversity outcomes in coastal and marine island ecosystems. 

 

Building on this initiative and considering that the call focuses on islands located within federal protected areas that are critical for seabird reproduction, ICMBio will complement the effort by allocating resources from the Environmental Compensation Fund. These resources originate from legally mandated private environmental compensation, as established under Brazil’s National System of Protected Areas (SNUC), and are managed under public governance. Together, these funding streams result in a total investment of approximately USD 15 million, forming a robust, publicly governed, blended-like finance model based on regulatory obligations rather than philanthropy. This approach provides predictability, integrity and scalability, while creating a solid foundation for emerging biodiversity finance instruments, including biodiversity credits. 

 

Format and Programme (45 minutes) 

 

The side event will be organized as a roundtable-style session, combining short presentations with interactive discussion: 

 

 

 

Overview of Brazil’s advances in invasive alien species management and ecological restoration in federal protected areas, highlighting island rodent eradication as a priority action and introducing the role of innovative financing mechanisms in enabling large-scale implementation. 

 

 

Presentation of the “BNDES Biodiversidade – Ilhas do Futuro: Ninhos Protegidos” Initiative, detailing its financial structure, public governance model and role in mobilizing public resources and legally mandated private environmental compensation to scale up conservation action in island ecosystems. 

 

 

Presentation of public policy frameworks for seabird conservation strategies in Brazil (NPOA Seabirds), with emphasis on invasive alien species management and island restoration as key measures to enhance seabird breeding success, promote population recovery, and support the conservation of migratory seabirds of national and international concern, especially CMS-listed migratory seabirds.  

 

 

 

Moderated discussion with participants focusing on lessons learned, opportunities for international cooperation, and pathways for scaling up invasive alien species management and seabird conservation through multilateral and innovative financing mechanisms. 

 

Expected Results