Financing and Business Models for NbS
Nature-based solutions are increasingly recognised as a cost-effective way of addressing climate change and biodiversity challenges that results in economic, social as well as environmental benefits. Sometimes nature-based solutions are small-scale interventions like small community gardens or allotments. Other times they are very large infrastructure-type investments such as sustainable urban drainage schemes (SUDS), wastewater phytoremediation treatment plants or ecological restoration projects such as riverbank rehabilitation.
Financing refers to sourcing the funds to create and sustainably maintain a nature-based solution. Three major phases of financing nature-based solutions have been identified.
These are:
1. Financing the planning of nature-based solutions
2. Financing capital investment in nature-based solutions
3. Financing ongoing operational costs
The planning and design of nature-based solutions, and of large-scale infrastructure-type projects in particular, can take a long time, involve many organisations in lengthy co-production processes and can often be very expensive. Usually, the highest costs associated with nature-based solutions projects are the capital costs associated with initial implementation. These costs usually occurred over a short period of time. The costs of maintaining and operating nature-based solutions (sometimes known as the stewardship phase) are often considerable and occur over a long period of time. The ongoing costs of nature-based solutions and revenue generation opportunities are core elements to be considered in planning the nature-based solutions business models.
The Connecting Nature Guidebook on Financing and Business Models for NbS introduces the topic of financing and business models for nature-based solutions, identifies common challenges and enablers to financing and presents a step-by-step guide to securing financing.
Download the Financing and Business Models Guidebook here or from the attached PDF below
The Nature-Based Solutions Business Model Canvas by Connecting Nature is an easy-to-use tool to help you capture in a visual format the business model of your Nature-Based Solution (NBS). The Guidebook supports cities in using the NBS Business Model Canvas.
Download the NbS Business Model Canvas here or from attached pdf below
Download the NbS Business Model Canvas guidebook here or from attached pdf below
Download the NbS Business Model Canvas Guidebook in Spanish here