Issues and options in the design of GEF supported trust funds for biodiversity conservation

Conservation trust funds can provide "an island of security" in an otherwise erratic budgetary and financial situation. Conservation of biological diversity has only recently been recognized as a national priority among many developing countries, and has therefore not benefitted from long-term investment support or the establishment of reliable revenue flows to support institutions. Trust funds of long-term duration can promote financial security to build local institutional capacity and community confidence.