Supporting Indigenous-Led Biodiversity Conservation and Nature Finance in BC

Working with BC First Nations to develop some of the first biodiversity credit pilot projects in the province.

Our Work Get In Touch

A Bridge, Not a Gatekeeper

InSight Biodiversity is focused on supporting the growth of underutilised nature finance tools, like biodiversity credits, to improve the conservation of remaining healthy ecosystems in British Columbia. Our team's international work across Latin America, Africa, and Asia has taught us that some of the most innovative approaches are developed in the Global South, and rarely make their way north. Savimbo's Indicator Species Biodiversity Methodology (ISBM), developed by Indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon, is one of those innovative ideas. Co-designed by the Kamentšá, Cofan, Inga, and Emberá Chamí Peoples working alongside scientists, the ISBM is the basis for the world's first certified voluntary biodiversity credits, and it was built from the ground up with Indigenous knowledge, governance, and priorities in mind. We have come to know this methodology, its developers, and its real-world application well. That familiarity is why we are confident in its integrity, and why we are excited to test its adaptation in BC. We do not profit from the Savimbo methodology; our role is to help adapt and test its application here, while reducing technical burden and risk for our Indigenous Community partners.

Our Approach

Relationship-first, community-led co-design with BC First Nations — from initial outreach to pilot-ready governance frameworks, we must earn the trust of our partners.

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The Methodology

The Savimbo ISBM — Based on the science of indicator species — plants and animals whose presence signals a healthy, functioning ecosystem. A monitoring approach backed by both peer-reviewed science and the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of its Indigenous developers.

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Work With Us

We welcome conversations with Indigenous Communities, funders, researchers, and allied conservation organizations.

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Some Insight Into Our Values

We are committed to certain socio-ecological priorities — a landscape approach to conservation, knowledge-sharing, Indigenous governance, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and clear data sovereignty. While these are currently voluntary commitments, they will soon be enforced through our legal structure and annual reporting requirements.

Indigenous Governance & FPIC

All projects proceed only with Free, Prior and Informed Consent. Nations lead; we support.

Data Sovereignty

All biodiversity data remains under Nation control. We build OCAP®-aligned governance frameworks with each partner community.

Open-Access Resources

All frameworks, templates and tools we develop are freely shared to build field-wide capacity, not competitive advantage.

Nature Finance & Indigenous Governance

"Supporting Indigenous-led pilot projects is one of three Quick Wins needed before 2030."

— Nature Investment Hub & IISD, 2025 National Roundtable

Hub Partners — Nature Investment Hub

InSight Biodiversity has been invited to become formal Hub Partners of the Nature Investment Hub (natureinvestmenthub.ca), Canada's national network advancing conservation finance.

Our Partners

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that InSight Biodiversity is based on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Nations — xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples. We will be working on projects spanning a number of Indigenous territories across British Columbia, and we are grateful to do this work on these lands.

In the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, we are committed to moving beyond acknowledgement toward genuine empowerment and partnership with Indigenous Peoples. This is not a statement we make lightly — it is a commitment we aim to demonstrate through every decision, relationship, and project we undertake.