FORLIANCE is supporting Rewilding Europe in making Europe a wilder place
July 12, 2021
Alliances, Project Updates
We are supporting Rewilding Europe in making Europe a wilder place, with more space for wild nature, wildlife and natural processes. Together with Rewilding Europe, FORLIANCE is strengthening and developing forest, wetland and other ecosystem-based projects under the Natural Capital Finance Facility. We are supported by Medi XXI. This project is funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Photo Credit: Magnus Lundgren / Rewilding Europe, Yellow-legged gull and a white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) waiting patiently for the fisherman to empty his nets
Tackling both the current climate and biodiversity emergencies
The loss of biodiversity is higher than at any other time in history. The declination of biodiversity comes with heavy consequences for our health, livelihoods and prosperity. Nature has the potential to solve many of the global problems we are currently facing. Even in the most biodiverse areas, wildlife has strongly declined. Some critically important wildlife species have even gone extinct. Through rewilding lost species guilds can be restored by giving them space to thrive, by population enhancement, and by reintroducing key native species. The rewilding of European ecosystems can help to tackle both the current climate and biodiversity emergencies.
We are going to support Rewilding Europe by identifying and developing new initiatives that align with the Rewilding Europe’s investment criteria. We also aim at exploring different revenue streams in particular for forest, wetland and peatland rewilding activities in combination with the development of carbon credits.
The 3 step plan to a wilder Europe
The project consists of three components that aim to boost private financial support for forest and biodiversity conservation initiatives in two European macro-regions. The first component focuses on the Scandinavian and Baltic countries of Northern Europe, identifying potential wetland and peatland restoration programmes that have the potential to generate carbon credits.
The second component of the project is designed to support the management of forest restoration projects in Southern Europe (in addition to Finland), as well as accompanying the inclusion of new projects to the Rewilding Europe portfolio.
- The third component aims to strengthen Rewilding Europe’s administrative structures and processes to adapt to the new business schemes, such as carbon credits, and higher demand of projects.
Photo Credit: Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe, Peat bog lands and taiga boreal forest, Sjaunja Bird Protection Area, Laponia UNESCO World Heritage Site, Greater Laponia rewilding area, Lapland, Norrbotten, Sweden
These are the results to be achieved by our advisors:
- A feasibility study which allows Rewilding Europe and relevant investees to make a judgement on whether the development of carbon credits from wetland and peatland restoration programmes as well as forest rewilding actions is feasible and makes economic sense in the context of their activities in the Northern Rewilding areas.
- In case of a positive outcome of the feasibility study, an overview of the immediate next steps (roadmap with timeline) to take towards the implementation of carbon credit projects.
- Current and future Rewilding Europe investees in the Rewilding Europe Mediterranean forest areas will receive training on methods to improve their forest management approaches with a view to increase resilience of forest ecosystems and enhance biodiversity.
- Identification and development of additional and/or alternative income streams for current and future Rewilding Europe investees in the Mediterranean Rewilding Europe areas.
- The business model and revenue streams of Rewilding Europe forest will be assessed; gaps identified and recommendations made for improving business models and creating additional revenue streams.
- Identification of further potential Rewilding Europe forest initiatives and investees in the Mediterranean Rewilding Europe areas.
