Biodiversity Conference - Money Talks: Closing the Funding Gap for Nature Restoration

Nature restoration in Europe cannot succeed without closing the biodiversity financing gap. With private landowners managing much of Europe’s landscapes, attracting their active participation requires making restoration economically viable. Well-designed financial tools—results-based payments, tax incentives, blended finance, and credible biodiversity credits—can make restoration rewarding rather than risky. But private investment must work alongside robust public funding, legal certainty, and fair benefit-sharing to build trust. When finance and policy align, restoring nature becomes not just an environmental imperative but a strategic economic opportunity for farmers, foresters, and land managers.

14:00 – Opening of the room

14:30 – Welcome & Introduction – Jurgen Tack, ELO Secretary General

14:40 – Opening address – Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for environment

15:00 Panel 1: Bridging the finance gap—How Public, Private, and Market Mechanisms Can Deliver?

15:45 Panel 2: From Policy to Practice: Empowering Landowners to Drive Europe’s Biodiversity Comeback