The integration of biodiversity and sustainable landscapes objectives and considerations has the potential to increase the sustainability of programming, amplify results, and save costs. It also offers an opportunity to jointly address threats and drivers of biodiversity, forest loss, and land degradation as well as advance sustainable, resilient, and inclusive programming. However, at other times, separate activities may make more sense in contexts where programmatic goals and requirements are not a natural fit.
This document explores both the benefits and potential challenges of integrating biodiversity and sustainable landscapes objectives to help project staff make informed choices about whether and how to integrate. The following questions suggest some considerations for those interested in pursuing integrated programming:
1. Is the proposed site a biologically significant area?
2. Will the proposed activity contribute to reducing emissions or increasing carbon storage?
3. If considering co-funded programming, is an integrated approach consistent with both the intended objectives and the funding requirements of biodiversity and sustainable landscapes funding?
4. Will integration lead to improved and/or measurable development impacts? If so, how?
5. Does integration make sense from a financial perspective?
6. Does integration require additional time and resources, and is this manageable?