By James McBreen, Lindsey Chang, Leander Raes
The need for efficiency in conservation project finance administration demands innovative solutions. Enter the development of the IUCN Green List Dynamic Token (GLDT), a blockchain-based tool that aims to strengthen funding mechanisms for Protected and Conserved Areas (PCAs). Say goodbye to unclear impact metrics, manual workload, risk of errors, and slow data processing and reporting. The GLDT weaves accountability, transparency, and measurable progress into a dynamic ecosystem, with the goal of empowering protected areas.
The IUCN Green List Standard, as the world’s inaugural global standard for PCAs, serves as a beacon for recognising and promoting effective, equitable, and successful conservation of natural areas. By providing a framework that urges PCAs to reach higher and embrace innovation, it sets the gold standard for quality conservation outcomes, inspiring others to follow suit. The Green List celebrates the unsung heroes – PCAs excelling in safeguarding biodiversity, empowering local communities, and fostering fair and effective management and governance. With over 300 PCA sites from more than 40 countries on their Green List journey, spanning diverse ecosystems from coral reefs to mountains, this initiative showcases tangible conservation results and highlights the ongoing commitment of site managers worldwide. However, the effective and fair management of these sites requires resources, capacity, and support, prompting the development of a new way to reward fair and effective area-based conservation success: the IUCN GLDT.
What is the GLDT?
By leveraging blockchain technology for effortless real-time tracking to unlock sustainable financing with the GLDT, the IUCN Green List Standard will take an important step forward. Let’s look at some reasons why the GLDT represents a significant shift in conservation efforts.
Transparency at the Core
Unlike traditional tracking methods for investment, the GLDT offers improved transparency. Each token (or tokens) is intrinsically linked to a specific PCA and its achievements against the rigorous IUCN Green List Standard.
The IUCN GLDT mirrors the journey of PCAs, measured by the Green List – Improvement Benchmarking and Evaluation Index (IBEX) score. It is a digital token that represents the progress of a site on its Green List journey. The higher the IBEX score, the closer the site is to achieving the IUCN Green List Standard. Through the GLDT you can follow progress in real-time and in a non-bureaucratic way, enhancing overall operational effectiveness and reporting.
Not a tool for offsetting
The IUCN GLDT is not only a tool to reward conservation success, but also a tool to attract and mobilise resources for conservation. The token creates a demand for investing in the IUCN Green List process, as it is linked with a clear and objective measure of conservation performance and progress, as well as a potential return on investment. However, the GLDT will not be designed to avoid addressing or even offsetting an organisation’s or an individual’s ecological footprint. Instead, it is an additional tool to support and empower existing fair and effective area-based conservation efforts, offering a direct path to invest in PCAs that are demonstrably achieving positive outcomes.
Empowering Potential Donors: Investing in Our Planet’s Future
The demand considered for the IUCN GLDT will first focus on existing investors, who are already familiar with the IUCN Green List initiative and its value proposition. However, as the token is developed and piloted, and as there is proof of concept, additional investment can be attracted from new and diverse sources. Moreover, the token can potentially be resold, creating a secondary market for conservation success, and allowing for additional revenue generation for the participating sites. The GLDT transcends the traditional donor model. It recognises the vital role everyone plays in safeguarding our planet, offering a unique pathway to actively participate in the fight for biodiversity.
Transparent tracking will ensure that every contribution can fuel real change, and clear social impact showcases the positive ripple effects of an investment. More than just donors, GLDT holders become partners in progress, directly supporting the dedicated guardians who protect our planet’s species and their habitats.
The IUCN GLDT isn’t just a token; it’s a promise – a promise to conserve, to thrive, and to leave a more resilient and connected world for generations to come. This is not just about financial returns; it’s about investing in a future where nature thrives.
To learn more about the IUCN Green List, visit the IUCN Green List website or read the concept note.
For any questions on the GLDT, please contact the IUCN Green List Dynamic Token Team: james.mcbreen@iucn.org; siska.sihombing@iucn.org; leander.raes@iucn.org
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) plays a vital role in shaping global conservation efforts by bringing together experts, organisations, governments, and communities from around the world. The wide range of science-based knowledge products that it produces are designed to support evidence-based decision-making and guide conservation efforts on a global scale. The development and use of innovative technologies and digital solutions to drive transformative change in conservation efforts is at the core of IUCN’s 2030 Nature Programme.
