Projects for Nature. Nature conservation & business

Together, we can restore nature

To help thrive and recover, nature needs your help now.

Projects for Nature has so far raised over £700k from corporate partners for critical nature restoration and species conservation projects in England.

However, the benefits are wider than this -

For Business

Projects for Nature has provided corporate partners with the means to further develop and deliver their nature strategies, and invite staff to see, experience and volunteer in some of that work. In addition, we provide -

Matchmaking from Defra Group to find the ‘right’ project(s)
The possibility of long-term relationships with leading eNGOs and landowners
Ways to evidence the work as part of businesses’ TNFD reporting and SBTN commitments
Ways to build an understanding of the role of nature funding with regulators such as OFGEM.
Opportunities to explore whether more commercial relationships – for example around lending to landowners who want to pursue payments for ecosystem services – might be possible. P4N is not a broker, but can support establishing such relationships.
Communications guidance and support from Government comms (e.g. relevant blog

For eNGO's and landowners

Projects for Nature has creating funding partnerships with large corporate business with the potential for these to be long term
For those not yet funded, we’ve provided valuable insights into the elements of nature projects that corporates are interested in funding
Defra Group’s screening of the projects has built confidence with the private sector
Our screening of corporate donors provides a basis for project managers to engage with committed businesses and decide whether to accept the funding or not
Our common MRV framework across all projects tie project-level outcomes to wider business targets and national environmental goals.

Projects for Nature has delivered funding for nature, benefits for business and landowners/eNGOs and acts as a stepping stone into a wide range of other nature positive actions.

Indirectly, Projects for Nature can support building supply and demand for future high integrity nature markets (which will be separate to Projects for Nature) and identify ways in which business funding for nature can help them to reduce their risk and costs or develop new nature friendly products and services.

About Projects for Nature

Nature is essential for the climate, biodiversity, and people, yet the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. As a collective, we need to turn a corner towards protecting and restoring it by recognising the value of nature and supporting its path to recovery.

We are bringing together a unique collaboration of businesses, eNGOs, expert environmental bodies and government to achieve one goal: bring Projects for Nature to life to bridge the funding gap and accelerate urgently needed nature recovery.

The Council for Sustainable Business, Accenture, Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency are our committed collective alongside the Nature Recovery Network Partnership and Wildlife and Countryside Link as collaborators.

We have developed an innovative, collaborative approach, which we will continue to explore, to effectively scale for maximum impact. If you would like to join us, register your interest today.

Get involved

Meet the committed collective

The Council for Sustainable Business (CSB)

The CSB was formed by the Government in 2018. We are thirteen business leaders from diverse sectors and locations. We are dedicated to delivering the government's Environmental Improvement Plan through supporting, connecting, and driving action amongst the Business community.

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Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Defra is the department responsible for improving and protecting the environment and sustaining thriving rural communities. Defra’s Environmental Improvement Plan for England 2023 sets out a vision for how we will work with land managers, communities and businesses to deliver our goals for improving the environment and leaving it in a better state than we found it. Each of the projects included in the Projects for Nature initiative has been screened by us, in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency, and has received government funding.

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Natural England

Natural England is the government’s advisor for the natural environment. It was established by an Act of Parliament in 2006 to help conserve, enhance and manage the natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations. Our vision is, ‘Thriving Nature for people and planet’. We aim to achieve this through our mission; ‘Building partnerships for Nature’s recovery’. Projects included in the Projects for Nature initiative have been screened and selected by our experts.

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Environment Agency

The Environment Agency was established in 1996 to protect and improve the environment. We work to create better places for people and wildlife and to support sustainable development. Projects included in the Projects for Nature initiative have been screened and selected by our experts.

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Wildlife and Countryside Link

We are the largest environment and wildlife coalition in England, bringing together 78 organisations to use their strong joint voice for the protection of nature. We campaign to conserve, enhance and access our landscapes, animals, plants, habitats, rivers and seas.

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Accenture

We have collaborated closely with the Council for Sustainable Business and other partners to shape the ‘Projects for Nature’ initiative. By working together, we can build a more sustainable world, recognize the importance of taking action for nature and biodiversity and fostering innovative solutions that accelerate the transition to a nature positive future.

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Founding Business Partners

Our Founding Business Partners play a crucial role in the success of Projects for Nature. They have already made progress to understand and address their environmental impacts. By collaborating with us, they become catalysts for nature recovery, contributing to the mobilisation of private finance to address the nature finance gap. They enable the realisation of our vision to channel donations to screened nature projects. Through their commitment, these partners can help drive the restoration of ecosystems, support biodiversity, and foster a harmonious coexistence between nature and society.

Lloyds Banking Group

At Lloyds Banking Group, our purpose is Helping Britain Prosper. As the UK’s largest financial services provider with more than 26 million customers, we have an important role to play in creating a more sustainable and inclusive future for people and businesses, by shaping finance as a force for good.

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Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks runs the electricity network providing power to millions of customers across central southern England and the north of Scotland. We serve some of the most diverse and unique geographies across the UK. We take our role in protecting and enhancing the natural environment extremely seriously and have business commitments focused on restoring nature while maintaining and strengthening the network for our customers.

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More Business Partners coming soon...

Our projects

All our projects are screened for robust plans and confidence in delivery. They focus on either creating, restoring, protecting, or improving habitats and biodiversity. Some will help develop nature-based solutions or test innovative approaches. And some will connect communities to green and blue spaces or individuals to skills and employment.

Our project catalogue is geographically dispersed across England, with a range of objective, sizes and benefits, and each of the projects support the delivery of the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan.

View projects

Why do we need to fund nature?

Helping to protect our most valuable asset
Nature is one of our most valuable assets. We all rely on it to produce food, shelter, medicine and clean water. Land-based and marine ecosystems also play a vital role in regulating our climate. To successfully restore nature, we must both limit our negative impacts and actively fund its recovery – to create bigger, better, and more joined up space for nature.

Bridging the funding gap
Governments around the world are using public funds to finance nature restoration, but these funds alone are not enough. We need to come together to bridge the gap. England’s estimated finance gap is £21-53 billion over the next 10 years.

Supporting strategic nature recovery
We are facilitating a movement of land managers, communities, and businesses that supports a shift in investment away from nature-negative activities and toward nature-positive activities. This movement aligns with scientifically backed national ambitions for nature and the environment more broadly.