Coast Funds, an Indigenous-led conservation finance organization, was established in 2007 as a result of the Great Bear Rainforest agreements. These agreements, which protected 6.4 million hectares of coastal temperate rainforest, were a historic milestone in environmental conservation. Eddy Adra, CEO of Coast Funds, explains, "Our vision is to support First Nations in achieving their visions for environmental sustainability and economic prosperity. We provide financing and additional services, such as long-term stewardship planning, fundraising, and storytelling." Coast Funds was established to manage $120 million in financing for First Nations’ conservation, stewardship, and economic development projects in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. In 2024, First Nations secured another $335 million through the Great Bear Sea project finance for permanence initiative for marine stewardship and community development – this new funding will also be managed and delivered through Coast Funds. Coast Funds’ 2023-2025 Strategic Plan directs the organization to continue serving First Nations by 69 SEPT 2024 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA
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