Conservation International

Conservation International (CI) is dedicated to conserving global biodiversity, emphasizing cutting-edge science, comprehensive partnerships and concern for human well-being. For more than ten years, Bank of America and CI have worked together to support biodiversity conservation efforts.

In the early 1990s, we supported a Debt for Nature Swap with CI -- a unique program that forgave governmental debts in exchange for conservation support. In Brazil, the debt we donated brought $2.2 million to conservation funds.

In 2005, we committed $100,000 to support CI's efforts to address environmental problems specifically related to energy and mining companies' work in fragile ecosystems.

Together, we launched Vanishing Species consumer checks. The checks display endangered species from biodiversity hotspot areas, with a contribution going to CI for each box of checks sold.

In June of 2008, Bank of America provided a $1 million dollar grant to CI for support of the Center for Environmental Leadership in Business (CELB), which is focused on widespread adoption of policies and practices that make industry a positive force for conservation while generating value for the companies involved. Through our participation in CI's industry group, Bank of America is especially focused on how companies can develop profitable business solutions that work to combat global climate change.

    1 Photo © CI, Russell A. Mittermeier

Quick Facts

  • Bank of America provided support for CI's Energy and Biodiversity Initiative which developed a report that includes tools and practical steps to integrate biodiversity protection into the entire lifecycle of oil and gas operations
  • CI was an important stakeholder involved in the launch of the bank's $20 billion initiative focused on addressing climate change
  • As part of the Makira Forest project in Madagascar, Conservation International is working to train farmers in ways to produce plentiful harvests from the same plot of land instead of cutting down trees to develop new fields. This project will reduce deforestation across Makira's 350,000 hectares