Nature positive

Helping organisations to deliver nature positive contributions

We support organisations to develop strategies and actions that halt and reverse marine biodiversity loss, deliver nature-based solutions, and strengthen the wellbeing and resilience of people and the planet.

Our advice helps organisations to achieve a net positive impact through site-level actions and broader transformative approaches across value chains and ecosystems. We help organisations to understand marine biodiversity values and pressures in a broader seascape context to define the best course of action to drive positive outcomes. Through the advice we give, we help organisations to deliver lasting nature positive contributions.

What we do

Our advice helps organisations to align with global and regional conservation objectives, frameworks, and standards. Our support extends from helping organisations to deliver a net positive impact for site-specific projects to shaping overall corporate ambition and strategies.

Our advice to address marine biodiversity risks helps organisations to evaluate their direct and indirect impacts and to effectively apply the mitigation hierarchy. Our guidance goes beyond mitigation, helping organisations to fund or deliver voluntary conservation actions. We also help organisations to design and implement actions on the ground. We support governments in setting objectives and targets for marine biodiversity protection and restoration. As part of our work, we also promote the use of systematic conservation planning and marine spatial planning tools to optimise outcomes.

Seagrass - Nature positive
mangrove

Our approach considers the role of nature-based solutions and links to climate strategies. We emphasise delivery of equity and social justice for communities. We also consider how actions may enhance the diverse values of nature to people. We prioritise collaboration and partnership with local communities, conservation groups, and local experts, fostering community engagement and stewardship in the delivery of actions.

Leveraging our capacity building experience, we support biodiversity education and awareness programmes within organisations and with external partners. Additionally, we provide access to tools and guidance that organisations can use to improve the protection and restoration of marine biodiversity features. We also provide thought leadership around emerging concepts and share our approaches to inspire and support organisations committed to delivering positive actions. Explore the links below to learn more.

Our principles and how we deliver them

  • We provide the help needed to support decisions that halt biodiversity loss as a priority.
  • We adopt proven restoration approaches to mitigate project site-based impacts for the long-term, including no net loss and net positive goals. We support restoration offset actions to mitigate site-based losses on condition that the mitigation hierarchy has been robustly applied.
  • We support the delivery of transformative restoration actions that are not related to mitigating project impacts.
  • Our actions will also seek to provide nature-based solutions to deliver climate change adaptation and mitigation.
  • We focus on solutions that are scalable, especially across the seascape, so that local actions can seed broader benefits that extend beyond the project site.
  • We prioritise actions at sites where nature provides important social, economic and/or cultural contributions to people.
  • We place emphasis on supporting the important role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in managing marine ecosystems and ensuring the long-term viability of restoration initiatives.
  • We recognise the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and apply the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent.
  • We value the respectful use of knowledge held by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
  • We recognise diverse values and interests and support actions that are socially inclusive, equitable and just, and that deliver upon individual rights to a safe and healthy environment.

  • We support actions that diagnose and reduce direct and indirect threats to biodiversity within seascapes and adopt actions to remediate and rehabilitate degraded areas.

  • We only propose actions that are viable and feasible in the long term, with consideration of threats that are not manageable or are outside of direct control.

  • We promote the use of systematic conservation planning and marine spatial planning tools, within a broader planning framework.

  • We develop ecosystem-based actions that are informed by a seascape understanding of biodiversity attributes, functional traits, connectivity, physical influencing processes, and human interactions.

  • We set outcomes-based targets to ensure absolute biodiversity gains, supported by appropriate measurable indicators. We align targets with the desired conservation outcomes that are set by global and national policies, frameworks, and plans.

  • We acknowledge the importance of baseline data to understand what actions are needed and to monitor effectiveness. We provide advice and protocols to guide effective long-term monitoring and verification of project outcomes, and support for adaptive management frameworks.

  • We address uncertainties by promoting data collection and/or by using precautionary approaches, proxies, ecosystem approaches, and applying multipliers etc.

  • We support collaborative approaches to formulate actions that address cumulative threats within seascapes.

  • We adopt a framework that drives local partnerships.

  • We use our existing relationships to support collaborations.

  • We support the establishment of new collaborations and partnerships to support the identification and delivery of actions.

  • We actively share information and are transparent with our approaches.

  • We encourage and support our clients to disclose their intent, approaches, and assessments.

  • We assist our clients to monitor and audit their actions and report on outcomes.

  • We encourage and support clients to share the information they collect when delivering actions.

Our projects

Guidance for corporate-wide marine NPI approaches

Australia

Industry-wide marine NPI guidance

UK

Marine NPI pilot study for an offshore wind project

USA

Marine NPI pilot study for an O&G project

Denmark

Defining marine conservation funding opportunities

Africa

Corporate-level NPI ambition, strategy and BAP

Europe

Marine NPI strategy for an EBRD-funded submarine cable

Tunisia

Marine NPI framework for floating offshore wind for Ørsted

UK

Marine NPI framework for offshore renewables

Maldives

BMP and BAP to drive NPI for a major energy project

Mozambique

Corporate biodiversity strategy for a national energy company

Middle East