Valuing Nature: From Biodiversity Credits to Real-World Impact

​Event Description

As the urgency of the biodiversity crisis grows, so does interest in new ways to value and finance nature. From biodiversity credits to nature-based assets, there is increasing momentum to bring conservation into economic systems. Yet critical questions remain about what these approaches actually deliver, and for whom.

This discussion explores how to move from emerging mechanisms to meaningful, equitable impact on the ground. What does it take to make biodiversity investable while ensuring that communities, ecosystems, and long-term stewardship are not compromised? How can policy, business, and finance align to support a nature-positive economy?

We will also examine the role of data, evidence, and technology, including AI, in shaping better decision-making for biodiversity and land use, and how to ensure that these tools are accessible and useful for local actors. Finally, the session will challenge siloed approaches, asking how climate, biodiversity, livelihoods, and governance can be addressed in more integrated ways.

Bringing together practitioners, policymakers, funders, and community leaders, this session invites a deeper look at how to value nature in ways that truly sustain it.

​Speakers

• ​Ben Warren is CEO of Adaptation Asia, working at the intersection of climate adaptation, smallholder agriculture, and sustainable finance.

• ​Stacy Crevello is the CEO of Akashinga, enabling women to lead community-based biodiversity conservation that protects ecosystems and supports local livelihoods in Africa.

• ​Tanya O'Garra is an environmental economist at the University of Oxford, leading research on AI and sustainability.

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Discussion Questions
What are the opportunities and risks of emerging models like biodiversity credits and nature-based assets?
How can financial and policy incentives be redesigned to support, rather than harm, ecosystems and communities?
How can data, AI, and evidence be made more accessible and actionable for local decision-making?
What would it take to move from siloed approaches to more integrated, community-led solutions for nature and livelihoods?