Best Practice Guidelines to Bridge the Gap between Biodiversity and Finance: Outlining the Critical Role of Intermediaries

This best practice guideline examines the organisational setup required for impactful biodiversity finance. The insights indicate that private finance for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is hindered by structural disconnects between financial market needs and local biodiversity. Biodiversity finance (biofin) interemediaries can bridge this gap. The document identifies four key organizational attributes of sucessful intermediaries. Specialised landscape intermediaries are essential to align land managers, financial institutions, and govenments for scalable impact. BIOFIN-EU, an R&I project funded by the EU, unites 13 experts from 10 countries to find financial solutions to address biodiversity loss and enhance nature conservation. The project redirects funds from harmful activities to nature-positive investments, promoting harmony between human actions and nature. BIOFIN-EU will develop a framework and technology to support large-scale investments in nature-based solutions (NbS), streamline decisions, and standardize investments. A data-driven dashboard will enhance project appraisal and risk assessment, aiding the EU's biodiversity goals. Case studies will identify gaps in the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy and inform policy recommendations.