In spite of the global rollout of vaccines, many countries still have a long path to travel for economic recovery. At the same time, the economic toll is occurring at a time when biodiversity is globally imperiled. Can countries afford to bring even larger areas under protection and focus on biodiversity conservation when the need for economic recovery is so pressing, fiscal spaces tight, and many development challenges persist?

Assessing the economic impact of protected area tourism in five protected areas in Brazil, Fiji, Nepal, and Zambia, the World Bank recently launched a report that outlines how inclusive protected-area tourism can contribute a country’s recovery from the economic fallout of the pandemic, address longstanding development challenges, and conserve biodiversity.