Too often, the environmental sector treats project scale and speed as if they’re opposites. Framing this as an either/or choice is slowing down progress. But there is a better way. We can both care enough about a place to get it right and move fast and broadly enough to matter at scale.

Strong conservation projects across the country are ready to move. What stalls their progress isn’t commitment. It’s cash flow. Organizations can and should think like an investor to secure mission-aligned financing that sustainably scales conservation and restoration.

Conservation is often treated like an enemy of economic opportunity. It’s seen as an action that prevents progress. But that narrative is an outdated one. Through a focus on targeted climate finance initiatives driven by local stakeholders, we can provide tangible economic benefits to rural communities while simultaneously working towards a more environmentally-forward future.