Frequently Asked Questions - Regional Strategy Development
How does CEPF determine its focus and investment strategy for an area?
CEPF uses a process of developing ecosystem profiles to identify its niche and investment strategy for each region approved for investment. The profile reflects a rapid assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and couples this with an inventory of investment taking place within the region and other key factors to identify how CEPF can provide the greatest incremental value. Ultimately, the profile explains and guides CEPF investment in the region.
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What are the elements of each ecosystem profile?
The CEPF donor partners have agreed specific information requirements for ecosystem profiles. Each profile follows a standard format that includes:
- Introduction
- Background
- Biological Importance of the Ecosystem
- Conservation Outcomes Defined for the Region of Interest
- Socioeconomic, Policy, and Civil Society Context of the Region
- Threat Assessment
- Assessment of Current Investment
- CEPF Niche for Investment
- CEPF Investment Strategy and Programmatic Focus
- Sustainability
- Conclusion
- Logical Framework
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What is the process to develop an ecosystem profile?
CEPF coordinates a process to gather data, consult stakeholders, and create the profile. This process includes securing up-to-date information on current activities, threats and opportunities affecting biodiversity conservation in a region, and current levels of investment. It also includes consulting many key stakeholders with expertise in biological, economic, and political arenas.
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Who contributes or has input into the ecosystem profile?
Each ecosystem profile is based on a comprehensive research and consultation process that includes input from diverse stakeholders to create a shared strategy from the outset. Technical review teams and regional representatives from CEPF donor partner institutions also provide input.
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Who approves the ecosystem profile?
The CEPF Donor Council reviews and approves each profile. The Donor Council approves funding for each profile in the form of a block ecosystem grant to be managed by CEPF, based on the final approved profile. The ecosystem profile for each region is then made public on this site.
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Which ecosystem profiles have been approved to date?
The CEPF Donor Council has approved 18 ecosystem profiles to date, as follows:
- Atlantic Forest (Brazil)
- Cape Floristic Region
- Caucasus
- Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tanzania and Kenya
- Eastern Himalayas Region
- Guinean Forests of West Africa (Upper Guinean Forest Ecosystem)
- Indo-Burma (Indochina region)
- Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar)
- Mesoamerica (Northern Mesoamerica: Belize, Guatemala, Mexico)
- Mesoamerica (Southern Mesoamerica: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama)
- Mountains of Southwest China
- The Philippines
- Polynesia-Micronesia
- Succulent Karoo
- Sundaland (Sumatra)
- Tropical Andes (Vilcabamba-Amboró Conservation Corridor)
- Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena (Chocó-Manabí Conservation Corridor)
- Western Ghats and Sri Lanka (Western Ghats region)
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How can I obtain a specific ecosystem profile?
The profiles are available in multiple languages in the Publications section
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