EuroNatur was selected by the European Commission to join the new Expert Group on Nature Credits, which aims to explore how private finance can support biodiversity conservation and restoration.
In future, EuroNatur will also contribute its expertise in nature conservation policy to an expert group on nature credits.
© Mira BellLast week, EuroNatur was appointed by the European Commission to take part in discussions on how to leverage private finance for nature, through the Expert Group on Nature Credits. The creation of the Expert Group follows the publication of the European Commission’s Roadmap towards Nature Credits in July 2025, which confirmed the EU executive’s ambition to explore innovative ways to leverage private finance for nature conservation and restoration.
Nature credits are tradable units whereby an investor, such as a private company, a financial institution or a citizen can contribute to nature conservation or restoration activities by supporting landowners and farmers in the enhancement of natural areas that they manage. Nature credits would be certified by independent authorities, which would look at the planned activities, monitor their effective implementation and assess the impacts before the credits can be sold to investors, thus generating revenues to reward nature positive action.
If strict principles are respected, nature credits could represent an opportunity to leverage additional funding to close the EU’s biodiversity funding gap and contribute to its commitments under the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the Nature Restoration Regulation, and the Kunming-Montral Global Biodiversity Framework, inter alia.
However, while private finance and nature credits are one of many ways to fund nature positive action, they cannot replace public funding. EuroNatur’s priority remains dedicated public funding in the EU’s next budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, with possibly additional private funding in addition. Only then, and if the right safeguards and high integrity principles are implemented to avoid greenwashing, offsetting and further nature destruction, should nature credits be considered to direct additional financial flows to nature.
Having a seat in the Expert Group sets EuroNatur in a privileged position as it will allow us to exchange with decision-makers, civil society, academics, public and private entities, and give us an opportunity to shape the future of nature credit markets. We have recently updated our position on the topic, and will exchange with experts in the field to ensure that the EU can leverage additional private finance for nature at the condition that the right science-based safeguards are put in place.