• Print

Co-creating and applying a theory of change for biodiversity credits towards a nature-positive future

The main aim of the project is to deliver integration between the financial sector and biodiversity by adapting and implementing innovations on the 'economics of biodiversity'.

Duration: January 2023 – June 2024

Funder:

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Key people:

• Dr Simona Mateut
• Professor Stephen Timmons
• Dr Richard Field (Principal investigator) - School of Geography
• Dr Bouwe Dijkstra - School of Economics
• Dr Franziska Schrodt - School of Geography
• Dr Alexandra Zieritz - School of Geography
• Dr Geertje van der Heijden - School of Geography
• Professor David Coomes - University of Cambridge Plant Sciences

Research summary

Background:

Our main aim is to deliver integration between the financial sector and biodiversity by adapting and implementing the innovations we are developing with current UKRI-funded projects on the 'economics of biodiversity'.

These innovations started with developing a method to quantify biodiversity that is appropriate for use in biodiversity valuation and trading, and thus in biodiversity credit standards. We now propose to take the next step in developing tools and best-practice guidelines for (a) landowners and stewards to use when developing biodiversity projects for which biodiversity credits are sought, (b) assessors of biodiversity change (private knowledge providers, consultancies or universities) to consider when measuring biodiversity on behalf of either the landowners or the finance industry, (c) the finance industry to use when assessing applications for biodiversity credits, (d) investors to use when looking to invest in biodiversity.