Guatemala is working to develop long-term financing for conservation, following a technical exchange with Costa Rica in March 2026 supported by the UK Government's Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF).
A technical exchange with Costa Rica in March 2026 brought together Guatemalan government institutions and partners to learn from Costa Rica's Forever Costa Rica model. Forever Costa Rica provides sustained funding for protected areas. Representatives from Guatemala's environment, finance and tourism institutions took part alongside regional partners and global initiatives working on conservation finance.
The visit helped inform Guatemala's plans to develop a long-term conservation financing model, including a finance-for-permanence (PFP) approach. Discussions focused on how to design sustainable funding mechanisms, strengthen governance, and involve communities in conservation efforts.
Participants highlighted that long-term funding, strong coordination between institutions, and community participation are key to making conservation more effective. The exchange also comes as Guatemala advances new national initiatives, including the launch of the Forest Protection and Recovery Fund (FOBOSQUES), aimed at supporting sustainable management of natural resources.
