A credit to nature: a matter of interest – How to finance biodiversity?

Where and when:
English conference | Tuesday 19 May 2026 | 08h30 - 04h45 | Pacheco Center, Bd Pacheco, 1000 Brussels

The conference will be chaired by Prof. Patrick Van Damme, Chair of the FRDO-CFDD Working Group “Biodiversity and Forests” and will bring together researchers, policy experts, financial actors and practitioners to discuss the opportunities and challenges of financing nature restoration.

Against the backdrop of accelerating biodiversity loss and the implementation of nature restoration objectives in Belgium and the European Union, the event will explore whether innovative financial mechanisms, including certification systems and nature credits, can help mobilise private and public investment in ecosystem restoration while safeguarding environmental integrity.

The programme will include keynote presentations on the need for biodiversity financing in Belgium, expert contributions on the role, limits and feasibility of nature credits, lessons learned and concrete plans for nature credits in other countries, and a multidisciplinary panel discussion.

During lunchtime a marketplace will offer project leaders and financial stakeholders an opportunity to meet and exchange. Initiatives for nature restoration and conservation can apply for a stand to showcase their projects.

Applications for the Market Place are now closed.

PROGRAMME SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Chair: prof. Patrick VAN DAMME

WELCOME

• 08.30 – 09.00:    Registration and welcome coffee
• 09.00 – 09.15:    Opening remarks by minister Jean-Luc CRUCKE (TBC)

I. OUTLINE

• 09.15 – 09.35:   Why and how should private and public actors invest in nature restoration in Belgium? – Filip MEYERMANS (Natuurpunt)
• 09.35 – 09.45: Q&A

II. ROLE AND LIMITS OF NATURE CREDITS

• 09.45 – 10.05:   Developing nature credits – Prof. Caroline NIEBERDING (UCLouvain)
• 10.05 – 10.25:   “Helicopter view” – Jerome KISIELEWICZ (Climact)
• 10.25 – 10.45:   The feasibility of nature credits in Belgium – Jules DE BRABANDER (FPS Public Health) and BOS+
• 10.45 – 11.10:   Q&A
• 11.10 – 11.30:   Coffee break

III. LESSONS LEARNED AND CONCRETE PLANS

• 11.30 – 11.50:   Natalie DUFFUS (University of Oxford) (focus on “biodiversity net gain” in ecological planning and finance: outcomes from the UK Net Gain Model)
• 11.50 – 12.10:   Romain JULLIARD (National Museum of Natural History, Paris) (responsible for ongoing projects in France)
• 12.10 – 12.30:   Hinke WIERSMA (Wageningen University) Building blocks for developing nature credit markets in the Netherlands
• 12.30 – 12.50: Q&A
• 12.50 – 13.00:   Conclusions of the morning session by Jerome KISIELEWICZ (Climact)

NETWORKLUNCH & MARKET PLACE

• 13.00 – 14.30:   Presentation space and a meeting place for project leaders and potential financial supporters. This will take place in the lobby and meeting rooms of the Pacheco Centre during and after lunchtime. If you are interested in presenting a project, please click here.
  • 13.30 – 14.30:    Presentation of the “Build your biodiversity strategy” by Charlotte MOREAU (The Shift), Koen STUYCK (WWF) and Titus GHYSELINCK (WWF).
  • 13.30 – 14.30:    An overview of IMS Luxembourg’s activities to promote biodiversity conservation by businesses (TBC).

IV. PANEL

• 14.30 – 15.30:   The panel will address the pros, cons and potential use case of a market of biodiversity credits.

• Frederic HACHE – Green Finance Observatory
• Thomas FREISINGER – IUCN
• Frédéric MADRY – Impact Finance Belgium
• Simon SCHOLL – Triodos
• Thomas VAN CRAEN – Triodos
• Merel OEYEN – FPS for Public Health
• FINANCE FOR BIODIVERSITY FOUNDATION TBC
• Moderators: Esther VANDE CAVEY and Nathalie BOUCQUEY

• 15.30 – 16.00:   Q&A
• 16.00 – 16.15:   Closing remarks by prof. Caroline NIEBERDING and prof. Patrick VAN DAMME
• 16.15 – 16.45:   Networking

LANGUAGE

Please note that the conference will be held in English. No simultaneous interpretation will be provided.

REGISTRATION

You can already register as a participant (free of charge) via the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/5UH1dVcUAR?origin=lprLink

Applications for the Market Place are now closed.

CONTACT

For questions, please contact Sven Vermassen (sven.vermassen@frdo-cfdd.be)