It was a pleasure for Seneca Impact Advisors to participate in the Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA) Biodiversity Training Series: Nature and Biodiversity In Practice: Case Studies and Insights. During the panel discussion, we shared insights on finance initiatives with direct positive impacts on nature.

Notably, the largest share of public finance for nature-positive projects—totaling US$76 billion in 2023—focuses on biodiversity protection and landscape preservation. However, more than half of this funding originates from just four countries: the United States, France, Italy, and Germany. China has also significantly increased its public expenditures in this area, allocating US$35 billion since 2017. Despite these efforts, overall investments in biodiversity protection remain below what is necessary. In fact, less than 1% of national budgets are currently allocated to this critical cause.

As we move forward, bridging the annual financing gap of $700 billion (as outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) becomes imperative. Private sector investments can play a pivotal role in achieving positive outcomes for both nature and financial returns. Seneca Impact Advisors’ projects, such as the sustainable coffee initiative in northern Laos and the plastic and biochar projects in Indonesia, exemplify our commitment to preserving biodiversity while ensuring measurable, evidence-based results. These efforts aim to deliver durable and additional benefits for ecosystems and livelihoods.