Deliverable 4.1 - Review of Business and Finance Models and Market Demand

Deliverable 4.1 was developed by Wageningen University and the University of Venice as part of WP4 - Mobilising Finance.

The overall objective of the report is to provide insights for WaterLANDS Action Sites and similar actors (restoration projects) who wish to explore opportunities for financial support beyond public grants or philanthropy.

To this end, the report examines European and international experience to determine the business and financing options most relevant to the upscaling of wetland restoration in Europe and to achieve a transitioning of economic activity to more sustainable development.

A range of options are presented which cover the full range of wetland types in the WaterLANDS project.

The report explores a blended finance approach to financing wetland restoration, where blended finance is the strategic (or catalytic) use of concessional finance (where concessional means below market terms) for the mobilisation of additional and private finance towards sustainable development.

The report provides a rationale for investment decisions, and explains how financial support to wetland projects can deliver positive impact both for State agencies and investors by blending public-private sector partnerships to incentivise commercial investment in solutions that regenerate wetlands and their services and promote green economic growth.

Read this Deliverable in full if you are:

• An environmental manager or restoration project interested in exploring alternative and additional methods of financing.
• A policy or decisionmaker who is interested in methods to enable private-sector investment in restoration.