EU-funded Research and Innovation Action kicks-off: utilizing private capital and space technology to protect biodiversity
The recently launched BIO-CAPITAL project contributes to the development of financial tools that protect biodiversity by linking private capital investments and Earth observation data from space.
The BIO-CAPITAL project has just launched with the aim to develop tools and strategies for the protection and restoration of biodiversity in Europe. It uses the view of the Earth’s ecosystems from space to link Earth observation data with innovative financial instruments that incentivise private capital investments in species conservation and biodiversity. The research and innovation project is funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe framework, bringing together 17 partners from 13 countries.
Hynek Roubík is an Associate Professor at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, and coordinator of the project: “Protecting and restoring biodiversity is of crucial importance for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring the sustainability of our planet. Innovative approaches to conservation are essential. And that is where our BIO-CAPITAL project comes in.”
The involvement of private investment in biodiversity conservation is promising. Green bonds, index insurance, and other sustainable finance mechanisms to provide long-term funding for conservation projects all make substantial contributions to the challenge of reversing biodiversity loss with private sector resources complementing public finance.
The BIO-CAPITAL project thus supports the development of financial models that valorise ecosystem services.
Hynek Roubík: “I am particularly excited about the project’s focus on activating innovative sustainable finance solutions and integrating technological advances in geospatial analytics. The application of remote sensing technology offers valuable insights into the health and status of ecosystems, enabling targeted and effective protection and restoration efforts. This technology can help identify areas at risk of environmental degradation, facilitating proactive conservation measures.”
By using remote sensing data, BIO-CAPITAL will co-design, demonstrate, and promote a sustainable model for financing biodiversity protection and restoration. “This model will not only benefit the environment but also secure investor confidence, making it a viable and attractive option for private investment.”
The project duration of BIO-CAPITAL is 42 months with a project budget of EUR 4.7 million.
