What if biodiversity could become not just a moral or ecological priority - but an investable one? As climate finance expands and sustainability enters boardroom agendas, researchers are asking a new question: how can we make nature bankable without compromising its integrity?

 

BRT Director Assoc. Prof. Dr Hynek Roubík, coordinator of the BIO-CAPITAL project, explores this question in his recent commentary "Biodiversity Needs a Business Model: Rethinking How We Finance Nature". The piece dives into how science and finance can come together to create trustworthy, measurable frameworks for biodiversity investment.

 

In the article, Dr. Roubík highlights the urgent economic case for biodiversity protection, with the World Bank estimating global losses of $2.7 trillion annually by 2030 due to ecosystem degradation. Despite this, investment in nature-based solutions remains far below what’s needed. The BIO-CAPITAL project aims to bridge that gap by developing science-based financial mechanisms that can attract private capital while maintaining ecological integrity.

 

Among its innovations are:

 

 

However, Dr. Roubík cautions that turning biodiversity into tradable assets also risks greenwashing if not governed by rigorous science and stakeholder oversight. For nature finance to succeed, transparency, accountability, and co-design with local communities are essential. Ultimately, he calls for a new financial architecture for nature, one that embeds biodiversity in decision-making across sectors, integrates it into ESG standards, and rewards long-term, nature-positive investments.

 

 

To dive deeper into this perspective on biodiversity finance and the work of the BIO-CAPITAL project, read the full blog on the BIO-CAPITAL website: HERE