Our Project BIO-CAPITAL Brings Together Innovative Financial Tools and Space Technology to Protect Biodiversity

Biodiversity loss poses serious threats to clean air, fresh water, and healthy soils – jeopardising services that are essential for our wellbeing and the economy. With the European Union warning that biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate across the continent*, innovative approaches are needed to address the challenge. Our new EU Horizon project, BIO-CAPITAL has launched with a mission to protect and restore biodiversity across Europe by combining private capital with cutting-edge space technology.

Funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe framework, this initiative brings together 17 partners from 13 countries to develop financial tools that counter biodiversity loss.

“Protecting and restoring biodiversity is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring the sustainability of our planet,” says Hynek Roubík, Associate Professor at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague and project coordinator. “Innovative approaches to conservation are essential, and that is where our BIO-CAPITAL project comes in.”

BIO-CAPITAL envisions private investment playing a transformative role in financing sustainable solutions for a better future. The project will create financial models that make biodiversity conservation both a moral imperative and a financially viable opportunity.

Central to BIO-CAPITAL’s strategy is the use of Earth observation data. By utilising remote sensing technology, the project gains insights into the health and status of ecosystems, identifying areas at risk of environmental degradation. This allows for more targeted conservation efforts, ensuring that the right actions are taken at the right time.

“We’re particularly excited about integrating technological advances in geospatial analytics with sustainable finance solutions,” explains Roubík. “Remote sensing technology offers valuable insights into ecosystems, enabling proactive conservation measures.”

As part of the project, the CSCP will focus on engaging stakeholders to develop and endorse biodiversity certificates and foster a shared understanding of biodiversity among consortium members. By involving diverse stakeholders—including companies, civil society organisations (CSOs), and field experts, the CSCP wants to ensure that the biodiversity certificates are both effective and scalable.

BIO-CAPITAL aims to attract private capital into biodiversity conservation with a long-term perspective in mind. The development of green bonds, index insurance, and other sustainable finance mechanisms will provide long-term funding for conservation efforts, complementing public financing and addressing the urgent need to protect our natural environment.

By the end of its three and a half years duration, BIO-CAPITAL plans to have co-designed and promoted a sustainable model for financing biodiversity protection. “This model will not only benefit the environment but also secure investor confidence, making it an attractive option for private investment,” Roubík adds.

For additional details, please visit the BIO-CAPITAL project website.

To keep up to date with the latest developments and to engage with relevant actors, please follow BIO-CAPITAL on LinkedIn.

For further questions, please contact Michael Mühlenbein.

*European Environment Agency (EEA) 2024