IFC and the Smithsonian’s Center for Conservation and Sustainability are collaborating to develop an online Geographical Information System (“GIS Toolkit”) to support the International Finance Corporation (IFC)’s sustainable finance decision-making in the Chaco region of Paraguay. The development of the biodiversity tool is planned to assist in defining:
- Areas of potential investments where mitigation strategies or specific activities would maintain ecological value and ecosystem services;
- Areas of potential sustainable intensification investments; and
- High biodiversity areas for conservation or ‘no go zones,’ which will be excluded from investments;
Currently IFC along with the Smithsonian Institute are finalizing the development of this tool in an inclusive validation process with local stakeholders and other Development Finance institutions. IFC Environmental and Social specialists have been supporting this initiative all along.