Jim Tolisano

Jim Tolisano

Jim Tolisano is Executive Director of Innovating Conservation LLC, a boutique consulting group that integrates conservation finance, eco-enterprise development, nature conservation, and environmental education towards nature-based solutions to climate and biodiversity challenges. Jim has led and advised nature conservation projects in more than 50 countries, including recent work as the IADB Advisor to Barbados in the establishment of their new national conservation trust fund and associated marine spatial plan. He has also recently guided the Africa Protected Areas Directors (APAD) in their proposal for an all-Africa Protected Areas Conservation Trust (APACT); led the establishment and roll out of the trinational Cubango-Okavango River Basin (CORB) trust fund; and assisted Coast Funds and the First Nations in British Columbia in strategic financial planning for the first indigenous led network of marine protected areas. Jim continues to work with a wide range of bilateral and multilateral donors, governments, NGOs, and indigenous networks to support land and seascape-scale sustainable finance and biodiversity strategies throughout the Caribbean-Latin American and Africa regions, including extensive work with innovative finance, offsets and OECM designations engaging forestry, oil and gas, hydroelectric and mineral development projects. He is on the Advisory Board of the Center for Sustainable Business at New York University, and an Adjunct Professor of Conservation Science in NYU's Gallatin School and Environmental Studies program. From 2006-2012, Jim led the development and served as Executive Director of Kinship Conservation Fellows, an international environmental leadership program that provides integrated training in conservation finance strategies, sustainable finance, business management, and economic tools.