Funding nature-based solutions and biodiversity credits
143 matching capital sources on the AESFIP database · Last checked October 2026
Nature finance is growing, but most money still arrives as grants, results-based payments for reduced deforestation and nature-based carbon credits. Biodiversity credits are an early market with few committed buyers, so treat them as an upside rather than the core revenue.
This guide lists funders on our database active in forestry, biodiversity, land restoration and nature-based carbon, and explains how projects typically combine conservation grants, carbon revenue and blended investment.
Find the right route for your project
Ask iSustain Advisor Live about nature-based solutions finance for your country, sector, stage and ticket size. The question is pre-filled — just add your project details.
Where nature finance comes from today
Different revenue sources suit different project types.
- Conservation and restoration grants from climate funds, foundations and donor governments.
- Results-based payments for reduced deforestation, often agreed with governments.
- Nature-based carbon credits sold to corporate buyers and intermediaries.
- Blended investment funds backing sustainable forestry, agroforestry and land-use businesses.
Biodiversity credits: realistic expectations
Standards and buyer demand are still forming. Projects should plan on grants, carbon and commodity revenue first, and treat biodiversity credits as an emerging additional stream.
The funders
Each profile shows mandate, instruments and sector appetite. Verified contacts and application routes are available to members.
- WALD Innovation FacilityClimate FundThe Innovation Facility is a grant-making facility designed to support the development and scaling of innovative carbon projects. In doing so, it seeks to play a catalytic role in mobilizing private capital for high-quality, nature-based carbon projects that contribute to both climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation while delivering positive social impacts.Grants
- Arcadia FundFoundation · United KingdomUK charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin making large grants to protect nature, restore ecosystems and preserve endangered culture, with African conservation and landscape programmes.GrantsTechnical Assistance
- Forest Carbon Partnership Facility - Forest Carbon FundClimate FundThe Carbon Fund is set up to pilot incentive payments for REDD+ efforts in developing countries. FCPF participant countries that have made significant progress in their REDD+ readiness endeavors may be selected to participate in the Carbon Fund, which became fully operational in May 2011. Carbon Funds payments are designed to help countries and their stakeholders achieve long-term sustainability in financing forest conservation. They are intended to help reduce climate change impacts from forest loss and degradation by making forests more valuable standing than cut down. The Carbon Fund remunerates participant countries in accordance with negotiated contracts for verifiable emission reductions (ERs)Technical Assistance
- LEAF CoalitionCarbon Finance Mechanism · United StatesPublic-private coalition purchasing jurisdictional REDD+ credits at scale, with African jurisdictions among signed agreements.Carbon Credits / ERPAResults-based Finance
- Climate Asset ManagementImpact Investor · United KingdomHSBC/Pollination joint-venture natural capital asset manager financing nature-based carbon and restoration projects in Africa, including large-scale land restoration programmes.EquityDebtCarbon Credits / ERPA
- eco.business FundGovernment AgencyThe eco.business Fund is an impact investment fund that promotes biodiversity conservation and climate resilience by financing sustainable practices in nature-based businesses. It operates primarily in Latin America and Africa, two of the most biodiverse regions in the world. The fund finances the adoption of more sustainable practices by companies in Latin America and Africa. They provide financing via financial institutions to ensure more businesses can access capital. They also invest directly in businesses that are committed to sustainability. Their funding base unites public and private investors through their blended finance structure. In addition to financing, the fund supports their investees with Advisory & Capacity Building services funded by a separate pool of sponsors.Concessional DebtDebtTechnical Assistance
- Global Environment FacilityClimate Fund · United StatesMultilateral fund financing biodiversity, land degradation and climate mitigation projects.GrantsConcessional DebtTechnical Assistance
- CIF - Forest Investment Program (FIP)Climate FundThe Forest Investment Program (FIP), is one of three targeted programs that make up the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) of the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs). The FIP addresses the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation by supporting developing countries’ efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), while promoting sustainable forest management. FIP provides financing to developing countries for developing institutional capacity, and for public and private investments that are identified through REDD readiness strategies. Along with supporting the public sector, FIP's Private Sector Set Asides (PSSAs) allocate concessional financing to projects that engage the private sector in sustainable forestry. The FIP’s Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (DGM), is designed and led by representatives of indigenous peoples groups and local communities to set priorities and implement programs aimed at conserving their natural environment, and to enhance capacity in engaging with local, national, and international REDD+ dialogue and actions. The FIP has four objectives: Initiate and facilitate transformational change in developing countries’ forest related policies and practices; Facilitate the leveraging of additional and sustained financial resources for REDD, including through a possible UNFCCC forest mechanism, leading to an effective and sustained reduction of deforestation and forest degradation, and enhancing the sustainablConcessional DebtDebtGrants
- Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Program (ASAP)Climate FundThe Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme is the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) main programme for channelling climate and environmental finance to smallholder farmers. The programme is incorporated into IFAD’s regular investment processes and is subject to rigorous quality control and supervision systems. Since starting its operations in 2012, ASAP funding in two distinct phases (ASAP1 and ASAP2) has received USD 300 million in contributions and has helped eight million vulnerable smallholders in 43 countries cope with the impact of climate change and build more resilient livelihoods. In 2021, the Enhanced Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP+) was launched by IFAD as an expansion of the original ASAP initiative.Grants
- Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT)Climate FundGEF support for the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) was established shortly after the adoption of the Paris Agreement to provide quick-access support to countries and to boost their capacity to enhance the transparency of inventories and action as well as the transparency of support received. As such, the CBIT is a key channel of the GEF’s support for successfully implementing the Paris Agreement and its key pillars of transparency and accountability. It does so by enhancing institutional arrangements for climate transparency, strengthening national Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems, and informing NDC enhancement and decision-making. The Paris Agreement requested the GEF to support the establishment of the CBIT through voluntary contributions during GEF-6 and future replenishment cycles. Following the adoption of the Paris Agreement at UN Climate Change Conference COP21, the GEF established the CBIT Trust Fund in six months and began supporting national projects by COP22 thanks to high levels of donor support and successful engagement with countries and other key stakeholders. CBIT support is available to countries upon request and is provided in a timely manner. In GEF-8, the CBIT has been fully integrated into the climate change focal area’s strategy, with new CBIT projects now being supported directly by the GEF Trust Fund. All developing country Parties that have ratified the Paris Agreement canGrantsTechnical Assistance
- Le Fonds Français pour l'Environnement MondialGovernment AgencyThe French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) is an international partner dedicated to global environmental protection and sustainable development. Created in 1994 by the French government, it has already supported over 400 projects in more than 120 countries, two-thirds of which are in Africa and the Mediterranean, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Grants
- Shell Nature-Based SolutionsCommercial Investor · United KingdomCorporate buyer and investor in nature-based carbon projects, holding offtake and equity positions in African forestry and agroforestry programmes.Carbon Credits / ERPAEquityProject Preparation
- Green Climate FundClimate Fund · South KoreaLargest dedicated global climate fund supporting mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.GrantsConcessional DebtEquity
- Symbiosis CoalitionCarbon Finance Mechanism · United StatesBuyers coalition of Google, Meta, Microsoft and Salesforce contracting high-quality nature-based restoration credits, with tenders open to African restoration projects.Carbon Credits / ERPAResults-based Finance
- Vertree (Macquarie)Commercial Investor · United KingdomMacquarie-backed carbon markets business investing in and offtaking credits from nature-based and household energy projects, including in East and Southern Africa.Carbon Credits / ERPAEquityProject Preparation
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Showing 15 of 143 matching capital sources. The remaining 128 — including their verified routes, ticket sizes and eligibility criteria — are reserved for members.
Common questions
- Who buys biodiversity credits?
- So far, a small number of corporates and pilot programmes. Demand is early and voluntary, so few projects can rely on it as their main revenue.