In this episode of Planet Money, we dive into the world of biodiversity credits, a new financial tool designed to help save endangered species. The story centers on Mauricio Serna, a Colombian entrepreneur working to sell these credits, which offer funding in exchange for the promise to protect biodiversity-rich land. While the idea sparks excitement at a major biodiversity summit, Mauricio struggles to attract significant corporate investment. This highlights a critical need for government regulations and incentives to turn biodiversity credits into a viable large-scale conservation strategy. The episode raises an important question: Can voluntary market-based solutions like biodiversity credits truly tackle the global biodiversity crisis without stronger regulatory support?
