Green Assist and RESTORE: exploring an investment approach for biodiversity restoration and conservation

A mission-driven vehicle to assess new models for private engagement in biodiversity

Created in October 2024 after a few months of incubation, RESTORE is the first investment vehicle dedicated to biodiversity restoration and conservation through the issuance of biodiversity certificates. The aim is to assess how private capital could be mobilised to support projects that deliver measurable improvements in biodiversity, both in the EU and internationally.

Unlike philanthropic or grant-based approaches, RESTORE is designed as a mission-oriented enterprise, seeking to direct investments towards nature-positive actions. These may include nature restoration of agricultural lands, restoration of degraded landscape, wetland rehabilitation, or marine ecosystem conservation. In return, investors would be associated with the generation of environmental value that could potentially be certified and recognised in the future though accredited methodology.

The initiative is still in its early phase and is being developed as an open learning process. It seeks to engage with companies that are interested in contributing to biodiversity outcomes and that may, over time, wish to report on such contributions as part of their sustainability strategies. 

In this context, RESTORE is supporting two projects in France (Vosges and Jura) and is the first investor to the Peruvian pilot on nature credits, National Parc Sierra Del Divisor, coordinated by the Peruvian authorities and Fronterra, with the support of the European Commission. The company is involved as a private-sector participant, helping to test how a European biodiversity investment vehicle might operate in a non-EU context. This includes examining the compatibility of biodiversity-related contributions made in Peru with emerging European frameworks for non-financial reporting and sustainability disclosures. The participation of RESTORE in those pilots allows for a practical exploration of cross-border approaches to biodiversity finance and the alignment of voluntary contributions with national conservation goals.

How Green Assist contributed

Green Assist provided advisory support to help refine the financial structure and clarify the value proposition of the proposed vehicle. A Green Assist expert contributed to:

• Reviewing the proposed business model and assessing its feasibility in a context of limited market infrastructure for biodiversity credits;
• Exploring how financing could be structured to support both restoration and conservation activities, while remaining attractive to corporate partners;
• Identifying potential sources of risk and proposing mitigants, particularly given the early-stage nature of the market;
• Situating the initiative within the broader EU and international context of nature-related finance.

The support also included reflections on how future certification frameworks might relate to the types of projects targeted by RESTORE, and on the practicalities of aligning with emerging corporate reporting and disclosure requirements.

As an exploratory effort, RESTORE contributes to the broader conversation on how private actors might support biodiversity, and how financial innovation can complement public funding and regulation.

"Green Assist's support helped align RESTORE's development with the European Commission's Nature Credits framework and roadmap. We are so proud that the first projects funded by RESTORE, thanks to the commitment of our investors, have been recognized and supported by the European Commission teams. Together, we are innovating and making the implementation of the GBF's commitments possible."

Antoine CADI, President in RESTORE - Biodiversity together.