Guatemala is advancing plans to secure sustainable, long-term financing for conservation following a March 2026 technical exchange in Costa Rica supported by the UK Government’s Biodiverse
Landscapes Fund (BLF).
The exchange brought together Guatemalan government agencies and conservation partners to study Costa Rica’s “Forever Costa Rica” model, which provides permanent funding for protected areas. Officials from Guatemala’s environment, finance and tourism institutions joined regional organisations and international conservation finance initiatives during the visit.
The discussions focused on how Guatemala could develop its own long-term conservation financing strategy, including the possible adoption of a finance-for-permanence (PFP) approach. Participants examined ways to establish sustainable funding mechanisms, improve institutional coordination and strengthen community participation in conservation programmes.
Delegates said the exchange reinforced the importance of reliable long-term financing, effective governance and local community involvement in improving conservation outcomes.
The initiative comes as Guatemala moves forward with new national environmental programmes, including the recently launched Forest Protection and Recovery Fund (FOBOSQUES), which is designed to support the sustainable management of natural resources. Photo by Rigostar, Wikimedia commons.
