Who Pays for Conservation?

The Reality of Sustainability Funding in a Changing World

By Akmal Arif Razali

Marking World Wildlife Day, Akmal Arif Razali recounts his own experiences and life-threatening dangers on the ground with conservation work, and makes the case for better conservation storytelling and smarter investment beyond policy setting.

I spent the early part of my career deep in the forests, setting up camera traps, patrolling for poachers, and working on tiger conservation. It was exhilarating, challenging, and rewarding—but one thing quickly became clear: conservation is expensive. Protecting even a single species requires constant funding for manpower, equipment, and enforcement. Yet, the biggest question remains—who pays for it? 

This question extends beyond traditional conservation into sustainability in agriculture and other industries. Everyone wants wildlife and forests to be protected, but when sustainability measures come at a cost, who shoulders the financial burden? In the palm oil industry, where global sustainability certification is voluntary, the challenge becomes even more pronounced.

Conservation isn’t just about ethics—it’s about economics.

The Hidden Costs of Conservation

On the ground, conservation work is demanding and severely under-resourced. During my time in tiger conservation, our small team of fewer than 30 people was responsible for safeguarding 30,000 hectares of rainforest—a task that far exceeded our capacity. We had to conduct patrols, set up wildlife monitoring tools, coordinate enforcement with local authorities, and manage risks like poacher encounters and injuries in the field—all with limited personnel and funding.

Protecting vast landscapes with such minimal resources is unsustainable. Conservation efforts need stronger financial and operational support to be effective. Without it, the burden on the ground grows heavier, and the risks—both for wildlife and those protecting them—continue to rise.

From Disasters to Wildlife Attacks – dangers of conservation work

The gravity of  risks faced during field operations, often overlooked, are a daily reality for those working on the ground. One experience still lingers in my mind. We were deep in the forest, making our way back to basecamp, but night fell before we could reach safety. With no choice, we set up a makeshift camp in the wilderness.

The next morning, exhausted and injured, we built a bamboo raft to get back. Just as we thought we were in the clear, disaster struck—a watershed hit us, snapping our raft in half. I felt myself sinking, my body heavy with exhaustion and gear. The only thing keeping me afloat was a dry bag that miraculously didn’t slip from my back.

When we finally reached basecamp, we thought the worst was over—only to learn that elephants had attacked our camp the night before, forcing the patrollers who stayed behind to scramble up trees to survive.

These are the untold dangers of conservation work. They rarely enter conversation when discussing sustainability and conservation funding. With better resources, training, and operational support, many of these life-threatening risks could be reduced. Protecting nature often comes at a cost—not just financially, but in human safety. Ensuring conservationists are supported isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Sustainability at Scale: The financial question

I’ve often reflected on the concept of sustainability itself. Back in university, when I was asked what I planned to do after graduation, I had no clear answer. Sustainability, as a concept, felt distant and abstract. Every time I heard the word—whether in lectures, advertisements, or reports—it sounded like an idea meant for someone else.  Then I heard a phrase that changed my perspective forever:

“You can’t preach conservation and sustainability to hungry people.”. That was my wake-up call. It made me realise that financial stability and economic realities must be factored into any sustainability discussion. For conservation efforts to succeed, they need funding models that align with these real-world pressures.

As I transitioned from field conservation to policy-driven sustainability, I realised that the financial dilemma is just as critical in agricultural supply chains. Sustainability standards like RSPO’s are designed to prevent negative environmental and social impacts in palm oil production. However, implementing sustainable practices comes with a cost, and compliance isn’t cheap. 

For palm oil producers—especially smallholders—meeting certification standards means investing in better agricultural practices, improving supply chain traceability, and undergoing audits. The cost of compliance, coupled with the complexity of global sustainability expectations, can be a barrier rather than an incentive. 

Exploring a New Conservation Finance Model

Given the tightening of global regulations and the increasing scrutiny on sustainability due diligence, agribusiness expansion is becoming more challenging. This, in turn, places conservation areas at greater risk. The question is: can we integrate conservation financing more directly into existing sustainability frameworks?

A recent study by Ecosystem Marketplace, highlights that while the voluntary carbon market is not saturated, it is undergoing a correction. Buyers are becoming more selective, with a growing preference for high-quality, co-benefit-driven credits. However, payment per hectare for nature-based solutions remains too low, with integrity concerns and media scrutiny driving a shift toward engineered removals and projects closer to buyers. This shift presents both risks and opportunities for sustainability-focused initiatives. Could a refined conservation finance model tap into this evolving market while ensuring tangible, lasting impacts?

At policy level, we can see from studies such as this by Jasperson et. al., that standard-setting is a complex process. The RSPO Standards revision process involves balancing diverse stakeholder perspectives, which requires careful negotiation and alignment to achieve consensus. While policy helps prevent damage in agribusiness, it does not necessarily finance conservation. This highlights the need for complementary mechanisms, such as conservation financing models, to fill the gap.

The idea of connecting financial contributions from companies with conservation projects is not new as past attempts have struggled with scalability, securing a reliable project pipeline, and ensuring robust impact verification. While the concept holds potential, challenges such as governance gaps, unclear long-term funding commitments, and the risk of greenwashing have limited its effectiveness. 

RSPO has the opportunity to explore a more structured approach by facilitating connections between its members and credible conservation project repositories, while also embedding safeguards to enhance transparency and maximise conservation outcomes. Beyond simply acting as a bridge, RSPO could focus on addressing structural barriers that have hindered the success of similar mechanisms in the past.

Moving Forward: Call for smarter conservation investment

Conservation is a balance—between protecting nature and enabling development, between commitments and financial realities. Policies set the framework, but they don’t fund conservation at scale. Forests need money to stay standing, and they need it now.

Conservation is a balance—between protecting nature and enabling development, between commitments and financial realities. Policies set the framework, but they don’t fund conservation at scale.

On World Wildlife Day, we celebrate nature, but goodwill alone won’t protect it. Stronger storytelling and smarter financing can bridge the gap. Can we make conservation a valuable investment that delivers real impact where it’s needed most?

The future of conservation depends on action. If we wait, nature will send us the bill.

About the author: Years after surviving near drownings and elephant attacks, works in the RSPO Standards and Sustainability team, focused on climate change and forest conservation. To get in touch, email: Akmal Arif Razali