The RESTOREID project aims at understanding the links between biodiversity, restoration, and disease spillover. Lucinda Kirkpatrick is the coordinator of the EU-funded initiative and a Lecturer at the University of Bangor.

Lucinda met online with BIO-CAPITAL’s Work Package Leader for Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation Thomas Stollenwerk (Oikoplus) and gave him an insight into the project work.

Thomas Stollenwerk: Lucinda, RESTOREID explores the link between biodiversity loss and human health. How did the project come about?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: I became interested in spillover risks in restored environments while working as a research fellow at the University of Antwerp. My research focuses on how human impact drives animal movement, behavior, and, ultimately, disease transmission. The key question is: How do our actions influence disease spillover events?

Thomas Stollenwerk: What do you mean by spillover events?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: Animals naturally transmit pathogens among themselves, but some can jump to humans. While there’s growing interest in disease surveillance, we must understand how human activities contribute to spillovers. I’ve worked extensively with bats, which often carry harmful diseases—not because they are to blame, but because human interference increases the risks.

Thomas Stollenwerk: How does this relate to environmental restoration?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: After COVID-19, there was a rush to restore environments with the assumption that it would automatically reduce disease transmission. However, there’s little empirical data supporting that claim. Landscape degradation impacts species diversity at both the community and individual levels. Simply restoring an area does not guarantee lower spillover risks.

Thomas Stollenwerk: How are biodiversity restoration and spillover risks interlinked?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: A diverse ecosystem naturally regulates disease by preventing any one species—or its pathogens—from dominating. When biodiversity declines, common, fast-reproducing species persist, which often tolerate multi host infections, and can shed more pathogens. The same applies to parasites: the ones that thrive are those best at switching hosts, making spillover to humans more likely.

Thomas Stollenwerk: Does biodiversity loss increase the risk of animal-to-human pathogen transmission?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: Yes. Human activities degrade landscapes and increase human-wildlife interactions. The surviving species tend to be those comfortable around humans, creating the perfect conditions for pathogen transmission.

Thomas Stollenwerk: Are there examples where restoration has increased spillover risks?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: Yes. In Brazil, changes in forest structure increased yellow fever transmission by altering interactions between howler monkeys, mosquitoes, and humans. If forest cover remains below 30%, yellow fever rates rise; beyond that threshold, they decline. Similarly, in Australia, deforestation reduced native fruit trees, forcing bats into urban areas with ornamental fruit trees. This increased their contact with horses, which then transmitted the Hendra virus to humans. Well-intentioned actions can sometimes create new disease pathways.

Thomas Stollenwerk: How does RESTOREID tackle these issues?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: We study what happens when environments are restored. Restoration takes time, and the outcome isn’t a return to a pristine state but a new ecosystem. If restoration efforts allow only a limited subset of species to persist, the spillover risk remains. We need to build truly functional, biodiverse ecosystems.

Thomas Stollenwerk: Is there evidence linking restoration to pathogen spread?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: Poorly executed restoration can increase spillover risks. Restored areas attract human activity—tourism, recreation, hunting—so contact between people and wildlife remains high. Additionally, restoration itself begins with disturbance, creating potentially risky conditions. RESTOREID aims to uncover how biodiversity changes during restoration impact disease risk.

Thomas Stollenwerk: Your project includes case studies across Europe and Africa. What role do these sites play?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: We carefully selected sites based on available long-term data. Some have been restored for 10, 20, even 250 years. We don’t conduct active restoration but compare biodiversity and pathogen diversity in restored areas versus degraded landscapes and pristine reference sites.

Thomas Stollenwerk: How do you study these ecosystems?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: We use acoustic monitoring to capture soundscapes rather than identifying individual species. This helps assess functional diversity. In regions like Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where biodiversity data is scarce, this method provides valuable insights. We supplement this with environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, collecting DNA from vegetation swabs. Additionally, we employ a novel technique using carrion flies. These flies travel up to 200 m and feed on carcasses and feces, picking up DNA from various species. By trapping and analyzing them, we gain a unique perspective on local biodiversity.

Thomas Stollenwerk: Are these established or innovative methods?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: Some are well-established, but techniques like using carrion flies and large-scale soundscape analysis are quite new. Eventually, we aim to develop an online tool where users can upload sound recordings and receive biodiversity scores.

Thomas Stollenwerk: How do you assess potential pathogen presence?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: We trap small mammals to study pathogen communities, cross-referencing this with biodiversity and restoration age. This helps us identify relationships between ecosystem changes and disease risk.

Thomas Stollenwerk: Could RESTOREID help reduce the risk of animal-to-human disease transmission?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: Yes, through our mathematical model predicting how restoration impacts disease transmission. By analyzing species compositions and real-world data, we’re building a decision support tool to guide restoration efforts. This tool will account for spatial context, connectivity, and restoration size, helping minimize disease risks. For instance, restoring fragmented patches might increase risk, while restoring well-connected areas could reduce it.

Thomas Stollenwerk: I know, It can sometimes be difficult not to lose sight of the overall project idea in such complex projects. What is the overarching vision of RESTOREID?

Lucinda Kirkpatrick: Restoration is complex. If done improperly, it could be problematic. But if leveraged correctly, we can create healthy landscapes that naturally regulate disease, making ecosystems more resilient for both wildlife and humans.

Links: 

The RESTOREID project website: https://restoreid.europamedia.org
Lucinda’s page at the University at Bangor: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/staff/sens/lucinda-kirkpatrick-672983/en
Lucinda’s personal website: https://lucikirkpatrick.wordpress.com/

At a pivotal gathering in Prague, the BIO-CAPITAL consortium advanced its mission to link biodiversity conservation with innovative financial and geospatial solutions.

The BIO-CAPITAL partners have met in Prague to review the progress of their mission: to develop models for biodiversity protection combining innovative financial tools and geospatial technologies. The meeting at the Czech University of Life Sciences, brought together more than 40 researchers, technical experts, and local implementation teams from five pilot regions.

Multidisciplinary projects allow participants to broaden their horizons. This requires mutual explanation and understanding.The thematic and methodological diversity of the BIO-CAPITAL project’s approach became clear once more in Prague – as did its challenges. After all, when environmental experts, satellite earth observation specialists and financial tool developers get together, they first of all have to explain the basic concepts of their respective fields to each other. This exchange is a defining feature of cross-sectoral collaboration. In the best cases, it is precisely at these intersections that novel insights and transformative approaches emerge.

At the heart of BIO-CAPITAL’s integrative strategy are its five Use Cases, which act as spatial focal points where diverse forms of expertise are applied to real-world challenges. These testbeds—ranging from Alpine forests to British river corridors—demonstrate how biodiversity outcomes can be linked with sustainable finance mechanisms.

In Austria and Italy, Use Case 1 is tackling unsustainable forest practices, particularly in timber extraction. Case studies range from deadwood management to mixed-species forests. BIO-CAPITAL aims to propose viable solutions that align ecological goals with the economic needs of stakeholders like logging companies. Use Case 2 in France has expanded its farmer engagement to over 20 participants. These “pioneer farmers” are experimenting with biodiversity-supportive practices such as hedgerows, grass strips, and wetland buffers. However, accessing financial incentives remains difficult, and new approaches are being tested to monitor biodiversity uplift through remote sensing.

In Romania, Use Case 3 is focused on agroecological practices in the southeast, comparing organic and conventional farms. Satellite imaging—at resolutions down to 30 cm—is being used to monitor changes, though current efforts focus on the meter scale. Use Case 4 in Slovenia is working in species-rich grasslands, with pilots inside and outside the Goričko Landscape Park. Despite strong ecological data, land abandonment and weak socioeconomic conditions present barriers to implementation. Pratensis, one of the partners, distributed local seed mixtures to illustrate potential restoration strategies. In the UK, Use Case 5 is centered on river corridors and wetlands. The Westcountry Rivers Trust is trialing incentive mechanisms and soil-based monitoring.

The Prague meeting marked an important milestone for BIO-CAPITAL. It provided valuable insight into on-the-ground progress and fostered constructive dialogue around methodological approaches. Equally important, it offered a rare opportunity for all project partners to meet in person—deepening collaboration and strengthening the sense of a shared mission. As the meeting highlighted, research and innovation are not solo endeavors; they are inherently collaborative. In BIO-CAPITAL, biodiversity protection is truly a team sport.

Many thanks to the team at the Czech University of Life Sciences for organising the meeting and for their hospitality.

BIO-CAPITAL is excited to announce its partnership with the International Multidisciplinary Conference for Young Researchers (MCYR) 2025, reaffirming our dedication to supporting collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the professional growth of early-career researchers.

Organized by the BioResources & Technology Division (BRT) with the support of the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), MCYR offers a vibrant platform for young scholars to showcase cutting-edge research and innovative solutions.

MCYR2025 will be held in a hybrid format, ensuring accessibility for both on-site and remote participants worldwide. This year’s theme, “Science and Innovation: Advancing the Path to a Sustainable Future,” emphasizes the essential role of research and technology in achieving sustainability and global resilience.

The conference fosters interdisciplinary dialogue by encouraging young researchers to present their work, engage in critical conversations, and explore collaborative responses to pressing global issues. By bringing together emerging voices from diverse fields, MCYR cultivates a rich environment for exchanging ideas, building networks, and advancing pioneering research.

Join Us at MCYR 2025!

Participation in MCYR is free of charge, offering a valuable opportunity to connect with peers, share your work, and help shape the future of sustainability-driven science and innovation.

Visit [HERE] to learn more and register.

We look forward to welcoming you to MCYR 2025!

17 Partner organizations from 13 countries meet in Prague for the BIO-CAPITAL consortium meeting.

The BIO-CAPITAL project was launched ten months ago to develop methods for finding new ways to protect biodiversity by linking satellite earth observation data with innovative financial market tools. Since then, the 17 project partners from 13 countries have started their work in the six different work packages. 

The consortium will meet in the Czech capital, Prague, at the end of March. The project partners can expect intensive work days at the Czech University of Life Sciences, where the Biogas Research Team will host the meeting as project coordinator. 

Over three days, the teams involved in the project will hold in-depth technical discussions on the implementation of their research and development projects. The first day of the meeting will be used to bring the numerous participants up to date and to inform each other about the status of the work packages and the five use case areas in the Alps, Southern England, Southern France, Romania and Slovenia. 

On the second day of the meeting, working groups will focus on the next steps in each work package. Close dialogue between partners is important here – after all, the aim is to link concrete environmental protection work, biodiversity monitoring by satellite and financial instruments. The agenda also leaves room for informal dialogue, networking and getting to know each other personally. 

After all, European projects can be carried out in large consortia in a strictly formal way, but only through personal networking do they become truly collaborative projects. This creates multinational and multidisciplinary teams that have a real impact. 

In a promising move for environmental sustainability and public health, Hynek Roubík, coordinator of the BIO-CAPITAL project, and Lucinda Kirkpatrick, coordinator of the RESTOREID project, recently met to explore ways their projects could collaborate — and the potential is exciting.

With their shared focus on protecting biodiversity and improving human well-being, both projects are set to unlock fresh opportunities by combining their expertise in finance, geospatial technology, and ecosystem restoration.

Science Meets Strategy: Unlocking Collaborative Potential

The two projects bring distinct but complementary strengths to the table. While BIO-CAPITAL is driving innovation in green finance and using advanced geospatial tools to support biodiversity restoration, RESTOREID is delving into how healthier ecosystems can reduce disease risks for animals and humans.

During their discussions, Roubík and Kirkpatrick identified several impactful ways to join forces:

Geospatial Tools for Healthier Landscapes

RESTOREID’s ecosystem mapping research could benefit from BIO-CAPITAL’s cutting-edge geospatial analytics, creating more precise models to track biodiversity health and predict potential disease hotspots.

Finance Solutions for Nature and Health

BIO-CAPITAL’s innovative finance mechanisms offer a potential funding boost for RESTOREID’s restoration projects — demonstrating how investing in nature can support both environmental resilience and public health.

Knowledge Hub for Greener Solutions

The coordinators proposed the creation of a joint knowledge hub, bringing together experts, policymakers, and investors to exchange ideas on biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration strategies.

Community Engagement for Lasting Impact

With both projects emphasizing social dimensions, the teams explored strategies to engage local communities — ensuring inclusive, effective solutions that consider social and cultural factors.

Space for Early Career Researchers

The 6th International Multidisciplinary Conference for Young Researchers (MCYR) is focused on fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and supporting the next generation of researchers on key topics under this year’s sub-theme: “Science and Innovation: Advancing the Path to a Sustainable Future” and can be a space not only for BIO-CAPITAL but as well for presenting findings from RESTORAID. More about the conference: https://mcyr.ftz.czu.cz/en

Next Steps: Turning Ideas into Action

To build momentum, the projects are considering hosting joint workshops, sharing research outcomes, and engaging key stakeholders in collaborative discussions.

By merging their strengths, BIO-CAPITAL and RESTOREID are poised to unlock powerful solutions that address biodiversity loss, support ecosystem restoration, and improve public health — proving that protecting nature can deliver benefits far beyond the environment.

This exciting partnership highlights the growing recognition that healthy ecosystems are key to a sustainable, disease-resilient future — and that smart investments can drive positive change for both people and the planet.

https://restoreid.europamedia.org/

“Combining expertise is crucial if we want to develop impactful solutions for biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration. By collaborating with RESTOREID, we have an incredible opportunity to merge innovative finance mechanisms with ecosystem health strategies. Together, we can unlock investments that not only restore nature but also improve public health outcomes — a win-win for both the environment and society.” Concluded for us Hynek Roubík, coordinator of BIO-CAPITAL.

In a move set to boost innovation in sustainable finance, two major EU-backed initiatives — BioFin and BIO-CAPITAL — are teaming up to fast-track research and collaboration in the rapidly evolving field of green finance.

During a strategy session, coordinators from both projects (Hynek Roubík from BIO-CAPITAL and John Garvey from BioFin) laid the groundwork for deeper cooperation, unveiling a series of joint initiatives designed to break down silos and drive impactful progress.

Building Bridges for Sustainable Finance

Among the standout outcomes of the meeting was the decision to open workshops to both project teams, encouraging cross-pollination of ideas. These workshops will cover critical issues such as mapping existing ‘green’ financial instruments and exploring innovative solutions for sustainable investment.

In addition, work package leaders from both projects will hold dedicated meeting throughout the year to identify shared research priorities and explore joint initiatives on key financial topics.

Leveraging BioFin’s established experience, the project’s specialized taskforces — covering sectors such as banking and asset management — will now be accessible to BIO-CAPITAL researchers. This move aims to accelerate knowledge sharing and amplify results.

Perhaps most exciting is the prospect of a one joint consortium meeting throughout the lifespan of the projects. Plans are in motion to combine efforts, dedicating a few days to individual project work followed by shared sessions to tackle overlapping themes. This innovative format promises to strengthen connections and fast-track breakthroughs.

This new partnership signals a bold step forward in uniting research efforts to develop effective financial instruments that support environmental sustainability. By combining their expertise, BioFin and BIO-CAPITAL are poised to unlock smarter, greener financial solutions for a more sustainable future.

For more details on BioFin’s initiatives, visit biofin-project.eu.

“Our collaboration with BioFin represents a step forward in driving sustainable finance for biodiversity protection. By combining BioFin’s established expertise with BIO-CAPITAL’s innovative financial solutions and geospatial tools, we can accelerate the development of impactful investment strategies that deliver real benefits for ecosystems and communities alike.” Concluded for us Hynek Roubík, coordinator of BIO-CAPITAL.

BIO-CAPITAL is not the only Horizon Europe project exploring the links between biodiversity and society. While BIO-CAPITAL develops innovative financing models for biodiversity conservation, RESTOREID focuses on the link between ecosystem restoration and disease prevention.

In this interview, Diego Ibáñez, Communication Manager of the RESTOREID project, and Hynek Roubík, coordinator of BIO-CAPITAL, talk about the synergies between their projects, their common goals and how stakeholder involvement is crucial to the success of the projects.

Diego Ibáñez: To start off, I just wanted to ask you if you could please introduce yourself.

Hynek Roubík: My name is Hynek Roubik. I work at the Faculty of Tropical Agricultural-Science of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, where I am currently serving as Vice Dean for Science Research and Doctoral Studies. In two months, I’m starting as a Dean of the faculty here. I’m also Director of the Bioresources and Technology Divisions.

It’s a research division focused on various aspects related with environment, environmental engineering, environmental sciences. My background is relatively wide, but also very specific within environmental and resource management, which is good, because our BIO-CAPITAL project also puts together a lot of different issues, expertise and stakeholders.

Diego Ibáñez: You brought up BIO-CAPITAL, which is why we’re here today. Could you please provide a quick introduction to the project? What’s the mission, the objectives?

Hynek Roubík: BIO-CAPITAL is a Horizon Europe project, which is putting together 17 partners. It’s quite a collaborative initiative, is aiming at integrating the biodiversity protection sector with financial indicators and satellite based Earth observation data.

Our aim is to find the ideal mechanisms for sustainable business models, which serve biodiversity monitoring and conservation, as well as financial advantages for the private sector. For us, it’s important to bring it biodiversity and finance together in a common understanding. In doing so, we have to take baby steps.

Now, we are at the level of preparing the baseline studies for understanding the situation and putting it all in form of some outputs, which can be useful for everyone. We are working on use case scenarios in different locations in Europe.

Diego Ibáñez: I think that’s definitely going to be a very interesting field of exploration. It very well links with the RESTOREID project I am representing. It’s also a Horizon project, and the focus is also on biodiversity, especially on restoration and on better understanding of the links between biodiversity, restoration and disease emergence. We also have a central focus on socio-economical aspect, but more on the part of civil society and especially policymaking. Let’s look at the complementarity between both projects. How do our projects complement each other, and do you see synergies?

Hynek Roubík: When I read about the RESTOREID project, I thought it’s very clear that we have a common goal of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration at the core, but of course the approaches are different, which makes sense because it has to be tackled from different angles.

Where the main synergies should lie is in sharing the analyses that we do, because it’s important not to do something over and over again, but to always build on something. Then, where I see a need for synergy, is the work with stakeholders and external actors, because. Joint efforts here are quite necessary, because we have to work with stakeholders effectively.

I think a big advantage can also be that some of the use cases in BIO-CAPITAL and RESTOREID are in very similar ecosystems. For example, I saw that you are focusing on wetlands, which we are doing too. The same goes for forest areas. I think here we can complement each other, because in our case we have the alpine forest, and you have the northern forest of Scandinavia.

Diego Ibáñez: I agree, especially with two things you mentioned: Avoiding the duplication of efforts, data and resources. And also with what you said about stakeholder engagement. It’s very much needed, but a challenge as well.

Our projects rely on stakeholders who are committed, and who can give a lot of feedback and input. It can be difficult to get them on board sometimes. In our project, we are developing a Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP), which we hope will address this issue that many projects face. We’re trying to think it from a user’s perspective, so it will serve as a platform to not only exchange data, but knowledge, information, and network. Hopefully, this will be a boost to strengthen collaboration between projects, and create a bridge between stakeholders and projects. That’s what we’re working on right now.

Hynek Roubík: That does sound promising.

Diego Ibáñez: The BIO-CAPITAL project, started in June 2024, six months after RESTOREID. Are there already any findings, insights, achievements, milestones that you can share?

Hynek Roubík: I think that one very important achievement for us at this early stage is a report on the policy and financial framework for biodiversity protection investments. It’s a very comprehensive work, and a very important baseline for all the further work. It’s a detailed overview of some 150 pages – but it’s also very easy to read, I believe. It provides a very good overview of the current status of different regulatory frameworks on biodiversity, the different strategies which are out there, like the EU Green Deal, the Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the different Farm-to-Fork approaches, and so on, but also national policy regulations, directives and guidelines.

For our work, it was crucial to summarize all this, and make a comprehensive framework out of that, in order to understand the European sustainable financing framework and the regulation that influences it. The result is quite robust, allowing us to delve into the work with practical examples on use cases level in different regions. We can now very clearly say how our work fits not only in the EU policy framework, but also into the national regulations, which cannot be omitted when we want the models to really work in the end.

There’s also a chapter identifying the inconsistencies, barriers and challenges in the regulatory framework. That also gives you also an interesting perspective.

Diego Ibáñez: That’s definitely something very important for everyone working in this field. We have touched a bit on different types of stakeholders. We’ve mentioned policy and regulation, we’ve mentioned academia, of course. However, my impression is, that one particular group of stakeholders is a bit taken for granted, perhaps. That is the wider public, the general people. So I also wanted to ask if you have any concrete examples on how BIO-CAPITAL is going to benefit the wider public.

Hynek Roubík: Well, we work on the assumption that protecting and restoring biodiversity is already important to the public. Ultimately, I believe that the sustainable financing model for biodiversity conversation and restoration that we’re developing will benefit the general public. It will allow capital investment in biodiversity, and it will monitor biodiversity from space using Earth observation technology. This will help create transparency and accountability. This affects a very broad range of public stakeholders if it works.

Diego Ibáñez: Looking ahead, what developments or results can we expect from BIO-CAPITAL? What will happen in the in the following months? Are you looking forward to particular results of the project?

Hynek Roubík: One milestone we’re looking forward to, right now, is our project meeting here in Prague, later this months. That’s always very exciting. The discussions will hopefully motivate us and turn us into working bees.

Diego Ibáñez: I hope you have a good meeting! What is the one sentence, the one key message, that readers should remember from this interview about BIO-CAPITAL?

Hynek Roubík: In one sentence, I would say it’s important to keep in mind that biodiversity is not just an environmental concern, but it’s also an economic opportunity. And through collaboration with different stakeholders, policy, industry and research, BIO-CAPITAL is trying to find a way for more sustainable financial models that can benefit both nature and society.

Diego Ibáñez: That’s a nice closing statement. Thank you, Hynek!

The resumed session of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) concluded on 27 February 2025 in Rome, marking a significant step forward in global biodiversity conservation finance.

Governments reached crucial agreements on resource mobilization, setting the course for securing the necessary funding to protect ecosystems and achieve international biodiversity targets. Among the key outcomes was a comprehensive strategy to close the biodiversity finance gap, ensuring that the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) can be effectively implemented.

A Global Commitment to Biodiversity Finance

The Convention on Biological Diversity, established in 1992, is an international treaty aimed at conserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable use, and ensuring the fair distribution of benefits derived from genetic resources. With 196 Parties, the CBD is a near-universal framework guiding global efforts to address threats to biodiversity. Through scientific assessments, technological exchange, policy incentives, and the engagement of diverse stakeholders—including indigenous peoples, local communities, NGOs, and the business sector—the Convention fosters a cooperative approach to biodiversity conservation.

A key achievement of COP16 in Rome was the adoption of a strategy for resource mobilization, laying the foundation for permanent financial mechanisms under the Convention. Governments agreed on a plan to generate the necessary funds to safeguard biodiversity, with an ambitious target of mobilizing at least 200 billion USD annually by 2030. This includes an increase in international biodiversity funding, rising from 20 billion USD per year by 2025 to 30 billion USD by 2030. To achieve this, the strategy incorporates various funding sources, including public finance from national and local governments, private investments, philanthropic contributions, multilateral development bank funding, and blended financial instruments. And this is, where the BIO-CAPITAL project wants to contribute with novel financial instruments, leveraging private capital investments for biodiversity protection.

New Financial Tools to Bridge the Biodiversity Finance Gap

In addition to government commitments, COP16 emphasized the role of such innovative financial instruments in closing the biodiversity finance gap. The adopted Strategy for Resource Mobilization highlights a broad range of mechanisms to support biodiversity funding, encouraging the development of novel financial solutions. This multi-faceted approach aims to attract investments from both public and private sectors, leveraging sustainable finance models to drive conservation efforts.

An example for private financial efforts could be BIO-CAPITAL with its dedication to developing financial instruments supporting biodiversity conservation. The BIO-CAPITAL consortium partners closely followed the discussions in Rome, recognizing the conference’s outcomes as pivotal for shaping future biodiversity finance strategies. By aligning with the goals set at COP16, BIO-CAPITAL and similar initiatives can contribute to bridging the finance gap and ensuring that biodiversity protection remains a global priority.

The coming BIO-CAPITAL project actions will be critical in translating these financial pledges into impactful conservation actions, ensuring that biodiversity remains a cornerstone of sustainable development in Europe and worldwide.

Photo Credit: ©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito

For biodiversity finance to drive real change, it must be widely understood and trusted. BIO-CAPITAL’s Work Package 6, led by Oikoplus is developing a communication, dissemination and engagement strategy to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact.

Even the most innovative financial tools won’t make an impact if people don’t know about them. Biodiversity finance is still an unfamiliar concept for many investors, policymakers, and businesses. Without a clear understanding of how biodiversity investments work, financial decision-makers are unlikely to support conservation at the scale needed to reverse ecosystem degradation.

Think about how climate action gained momentum over the past decade—companies now proudly announce their carbon neutrality goals, and consumers have learned to assess products based on carbon footprints. But when was the last time you heard a business talk about its biodiversity impact? The issue isn’t a lack of concern but rather a lack of knowledge. Many investors and businesses don’t yet understand how to measure, fund, or benefit from biodiversity-positive actions.

Shaping the Conversation and Overcoming Communication Pitfalls

Communicating biodiversity finance comes with its own unique challenges. Unlike carbon emissions, which can be measured in simple tons, biodiversity is complex, site-specific, and multi-dimensional. It cannot be reduced to a single metric, making it harder to explain, track, and verify. Investors and businesses need clear and credible ways to understand how their contributions translate into real-world impact.

“One of the key challenges in this project is helping researchers translate their complex work into messages that resonate with non-scientific audiences. Through multi-channel communication, video production, and participatory methods, we aim to maximize the project’s impact by making biodiversity financing models accessible and compelling to a wider audience.” – Thomas Stollenwerk, OIKO+ GmbH

At the same time, biodiversity communication must avoid misleading narratives. One common pitfall is greenwashing, where companies exaggerate or misrepresent their biodiversity efforts. But this is just one of many challenges—others include overly technical language that alienates non-experts, a lack of transparency in financial mechanisms, and distrust from communities affected by conservation projects. WP6 is committed to ensuring that biodiversity finance is transparent, accessible, and grounded in evidence, avoiding these common communication traps.

To build trust and engagement, WP6 is developing a Communication and Dissemination Strategy (CoDiS) that lays out how to effectively reach different stakeholders. The project website will serve as a central hub for updates and key findings, while targeted press releases, newsletters, and social media campaigns will help raise awareness among policymakers, businesses, and the public.

Bringing the Use Cases to Life

WP6 plays a crucial role in communicating the findings of BIO-CAPITAL’s five real-world use cases, each demonstrating different approaches to biodiversity finance. These include:

• Sustainable Alpine Forests (Austria & Italy): Showcasing how biodiversity-linked financial mechanisms can support climate-resilient forest management.
• Agroecological Practices in France: Highlighting how financial incentives can encourage farmers to adopt biodiversity-friendly techniques.
• Species-rich Grasslands in Slovenia: Demonstrating how biodiversity certificates can create new income streams for landowners.
• Agroecological Transition in Romania: Providing insights into how monitoring biodiversity gains can improve financial accountability in sustainable agriculture.
• River Corridors and Wetland Buffers in the UK: Exploring how Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) can support freshwater ecosystem restoration.

These real-world examples make biodiversity finance tangible and relatable. WP6 ensures that the success stories, challenges, and lessons learned from these use cases are effectively communicated—not only to experts but to the wider public. The goal is to help investors, businesses, and governments see that financing biodiversity is not just an environmental duty but an opportunity for sustainable economic growth.

Making Biodiversity Finance a Lasting Movement

By the end of the project, WP6 will have produced key deliverables, including two policy briefs summarizing BIO-CAPITAL’s findings, a dissemination and exploitation plan, and a project website that remains accessible beyond the project’s lifespan. These tools will ensure that biodiversity finance doesn’t stay confined to research papers but becomes an essential part of how businesses, governments, and investors operate.

The challenge is clear: for biodiversity finance to be successful, it must move from a niche discussion to a mainstream investment strategy. WP6 is at the heart of this effort, making sure that the financial mechanisms developed in BIO-CAPITAL are not just understood—but actively used to reshape the future of conservation finance.

How Can Businesses Prove Their Commitment to Biodiversity? BIO-CAPITAL’s Work Package 5 (WP5), led by UCLouvain, is developing a trusted Biodiversity Certification system to ensure transparency and credibility in conservation investments.

Companies worldwide are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact. Many have turned to carbon offsetting as a way to compensate for their emissions, but biodiversity presents a far greater challenge. Unlike carbon, which can be measured in tons, biodiversity is complex, highly localized, and deeply dependent on specific ecosystems. Without a trusted system for verifying biodiversity gains, businesses risk engaging in conservation efforts that lack measurable impact or credibility.

Consider a hotel chain that wants to offset the ecological footprint of its resorts by investing in species-rich grassland restoration in Slovenia. While the intention is positive, how can the company be sure that its funding leads to real, measurable improvements? More importantly, how can customers trust that these efforts go beyond marketing claims? Without a reliable certification system, biodiversity conservation risks becoming vague and unverifiable—discouraging businesses from investing in meaningful ecological restoration.

BIO-CAPITAL’s WP5: Building a Credible Biodiversity Certification System

BIO-CAPITAL’s Work Package 5 (WP5) is addressing this challenge by developing Biodiversity Certificates, a standardized way to track and verify biodiversity contributions. Led by UCLouvain, this initiative brings together experts from Carbone 4, CZU, and CSCP, who will work to establish clear methodologies for assessing biodiversity improvements.

A key part of this effort involves designing a scientific framework for measuring biodiversity uplift. Since ecosystems vary widely, WP5 is developing a classification system that groups European landscapes based on their biodiversity potential. Using geospatial data, satellite imagery, and ecological fieldwork, researchers will define how different ecosystems respond to conservation efforts. By ensuring that biodiversity certificates are based on real, site-specific data, WP5 aims to create a certification process that is both scientifically rigorous and practically useful for businesses.

“A key ambition of the BIO-CAPITAL project is to develop a credible biodiversity certification system based on stakeholder engagement and geodata analysis. By combining AI-driven remote sensing with geostatistical methods, we can create robust indices that quantify biodiversity uplift. This certification will provide a trusted framework to reward those who actively enhance biodiversity capital, bridging the gap between conservation and economic value.” – Julien Radoux, UCL

Beyond measurement, WP5 is also working closely with stakeholders to ensure broad acceptance of biodiversity certificates. Businesses, policymakers, conservationists, and investors all need to trust that the system works. Through consultations and co-creation workshops, WP5 is engaging these groups to develop certification standards that align with both scientific best practices and market expectations.

A Use Case in Action: Restoring Slovenian Grasslands

One of the most exciting applications of WP5’s work is unfolding in Slovenia’s species-rich grasslands. These vibrant meadows, once home to an incredible diversity of plants and pollinators, are under threat. Land abandonment and modern agricultural practices have either left them overgrown or converted them into monoculture farmland, leading to a sharp decline in biodiversity.

“Through our work on the Slovenian use case, we aim to identify the key drivers of grassland biodiversity loss, detect barriers to conservation, and define measures to unlock financial flows for the restoration of biodiversity-rich landscapes. By mapping and evaluating financing options, policy directions, and investment opportunities, we are working toward a future where biodiversity protection is both ecologically and economically sustainable.” – Maruška Čuš, Pratensis

WP5 is exploring how Biodiversity Certificates could help reverse this trend by providing financial incentives for farmers and landowners who maintain or restore species-rich meadows. Using remote sensing, habitat assessments, and species monitoring, the team will measure biodiversity gains and translate them into a certification framework. This means that businesses looking to offset their environmental footprint could invest in these grasslands with confidence, knowing their contributions lead to real, measurable improvements.

A New Era for Biodiversity Finance

The development of Biodiversity Certificates represents a major step forward in conservation finance. WP5 is working to ensure that businesses can integrate biodiversity into their sustainability strategies with the same level of confidence and transparency as they do with carbon offsets. By establishing a robust classification system, defining clear assessment guidelines, and conducting real-world pilot projects, this initiative is laying the foundation for an entirely new market.

Biodiversity conservation is no longer just an environmental goal—it is becoming an investment opportunity. With a trusted certification system in place, businesses and investors can support ecological restoration while ensuring that their contributions lead to tangible, lasting impacts on the natural world.

Securing funding for biodiversity conservation requires innovative financial solutions beyond traditional grants and donations. BIO-CAPITAL’s Work Package 4 (WP4), led by GND, is developing investment models that make biodiversity protection economically viable.

Conserving nature is essential, yet securing the funds to protect and restore biodiversity remains a challenge. For too long, conservation has relied on government grants and donations, but these traditional funding sources are not enough to match the scale of biodiversity loss. If we want businesses and investors to take biodiversity seriously, we must rethink finance and develop tools that make nature-positive decisions economically rewarding.

Imagine a forestry company looking to manage its land more sustainably. Right now, their profits come primarily from harvesting timber, while biodiversity conservation remains an expense with little financial incentive. But what if they could issue Biodiversity Bonds, where investors provide funding for sustainable forest management and receive returns linked to conservation success? What if insurance providers offered reduced premiums to businesses that restore ecosystems, recognizing that healthy forests and wetlands reduce climate and disaster risks? These are not just theoretical ideas—they represent the future of conservation finance.

BIO-CAPITAL’s WP4: Creating Financial Innovations for Biodiversity

BIO-CAPITAL’s Work Package 4 (WP4) is leading this transformation by developing financial models that make biodiversity conservation a viable investment opportunity. Led by GND, the initiative brings together experts from across Europe, including 17S, Agrocasco, Agrosolutions, Aarhus University, ITASIF, JSC One, Westcountry Rivers Trust, Pratensis, ASOI, and ICEADR. The team will design and test financial mechanisms that mobilize private capital for biodiversity while ensuring fair returns for investors.

At the core of WP4’s work is the challenge of demonstrating how biodiversity can be integrated into financial decision-making. The team is developing models for Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), ensuring that landowners and businesses receive financial rewards for improving biodiversity. They are also refining Triple Capital Accounting, a system that includes environmental and social benefits in corporate financial planning, allowing companies to recognize the true value of nature in their operations.

Another focus is on developing insurance and investment products that reduce financial risk for those who support biodiversity. This includes hybrid insurance schemes that lower premiums for companies restoring ecosystems and biodiversity bonds that channel investment into conservation projects. These mechanisms offer a crucial shift: instead of seeing conservation as a cost, businesses and investors can begin to see it as an opportunity for stable, long-term returns.

A Use Case in Action: Supporting Agroecological Practices in France

One of the most promising applications of WP4’s work is unfolding in France’s agricultural landscapes, where the transition to agroecological farming is gaining momentum. Conventional farming practices, often reliant on chemical inputs and intensive monocultures, have contributed to soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and declining pollinator populations. Yet, for many farmers, shifting to more sustainable practices comes with financial risks and uncertainty. WP4 is exploring how innovative financial tools can help bridge this gap and make biodiversity-friendly farming economically viable.

“The BIO-CAPITAL project is a unique opportunity to explore the adaptability and efficiency of financial mechanisms to enhance biodiversity on a large scale. By benchmarking different approaches, we aim to develop tailored financial solutions that can effectively guide the funding of sustainable agricultural practices throughout France and beyond.” – Alexandre Benoist, Agrosolutions

One potential solution is the introduction of Biodiversity Certificates, allowing businesses to invest in farms that commit to agroecological practices, such as crop diversification, cover cropping, and reduced pesticide use. These certificates would provide farmers with an additional revenue stream while giving companies a way to meet their biodiversity commitments. At the same time, the project is evaluating Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes that compensate farmers for maintaining hedgerows, wildflower strips, and healthy soils, which provide essential habitats for pollinators and other beneficial species. By aligning financial incentives with ecological restoration, these mechanisms aim to make agroecological farming in France a profitable and scalable model for the future of sustainable agriculture.

Making Biodiversity Finance Work for Investors and Nature

WP4 is setting out to prove that investing in biodiversity is not only possible but also profitable. By the end of the project, the team will have tested real-world financial models across different sectors, from agriculture to forestry. A customized business case in France will demonstrate how farmers can generate revenue from ecosystem services. In parallel, biodiversity-linked insurance schemes will be piloted to show how financial risk can be reduced for landowners embracing sustainable practices.

The ambition is clear: to create financial tools that set a new standard for biodiversity-friendly investments. By bridging the gap between conservation and capital, WP4 is ensuring that nature protection becomes more than just a noble cause—it becomes an integral part of a functioning, forward-thinking economy.

Restoring Nature Is One Thing—Proving It Works Is Another. Effective biodiversity conservation requires measurable proof of impact to attract investment and drive large-scale change. BIO-CAPITAL’s Work Package 3 (WP3), led by GEOSYS, is pioneering high-precision biodiversity monitoring using Earth observation, AI-driven analytics, and remote sensing.

Planting trees, restoring wetlands, and promoting biodiversity-friendly farming are all important steps in protecting nature. But how do we know if these efforts are actually making a difference? Conservation needs to be backed by hard data. Investors and policymakers require measurable proof that biodiversity initiatives are effective before they commit funds to large-scale projects. That’s where cutting-edge technology comes in.

Take, for example, a farmer in Romania who introduces agroecological practices, such as planting flower strips to attract pollinators. The theory is that this should lead to more bees, healthier crops, and improved soil conditions. But without scientific monitoring, this remains an assumption. To attract investment and scale these solutions, biodiversity improvements must be quantifiable, verifiable, and transparent.

BIO-CAPITAL’s WP3: Turning Observations Into Actionable Data

BIO-CAPITAL’s Work Package 3 (WP3), led by GEOSYS, is addressing this challenge head-on. With the support of partners including Agrosolutions, Pratensis, Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT), ICEADR, UCLouvain, ASOI, and ITASIF, WP3 is working to develop high-precision biodiversity monitoring techniques. The goal is to translate EU biodiversity policies into measurable indicators that can be used to track progress across different ecosystems.

“The BIO-CAPITAL project is a crucial step in bridging the gap between biodiversity conservation and quantifiable impact. By leveraging advanced Earth Observation (EO) systems, AI-driven analytics, and remote sensing technologies, we can develop robust methods for monitoring biodiversity uplift across diverse use cases.”  – Harold Clenet, GEOSYS SAS

By combining satellite imagery, remote sensing, and ecological field surveys, the team is developing a powerful toolkit for monitoring biodiversity uplift. One of the key aspects of their work is identifying observable parameters that can measure changes in ecosystems. This includes monitoring habitat loss and gain, assessing the health of vegetation, and tracking shifts in species populations. Through geospatial analysis, WP3 can reveal patterns that help conservationists and investors understand where biodiversity is improving and where additional efforts are needed.

A Use Case in Action: Agricultural Land in Romania

One of the real-world applications of WP3’s work is happening on farmland in Romania. This region has been experimenting with agroecological practices, such as maintaining hedgerows, increasing crop diversity, and reducing pesticide use. These efforts should, in theory, increase biodiversity on farms—but how can we prove it?

Using Earth observation technology, GIS mapping, and on-the-ground biodiversity surveys, WP3 will measure changes in pollinator populations, soil quality, and habitat connectivity in these agricultural landscapes. If the data confirms that these biodiversity-friendly practices lead to measurable improvements, it will provide strong evidence that sustainable farming is not only good for nature but also a viable model for future agricultural investments.

Setting a New Standard for Biodiversity Monitoring

BIO-CAPITAL’s WP3 is pioneering a data-driven approach to biodiversity conservation. By leveraging advanced space technology and ecological expertise, the team is ensuring that investments in nature are backed by solid evidence. Over the course of the project, WP3 will produce a comprehensive catalogue of geospatial data, create detailed biodiversity maps, and develop AI-driven algorithms to detect environmental changes.

With tools like satellite-based biodiversity monitoring and remote sensing-powered habitat classification, WP3 is setting a new standard for conservation transparency. This isn’t just about measuring nature—it’s about making biodiversity an investable asset that can attract funding, scale impact, and drive lasting environmental change.