The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission have announced the first loan agreement backed by the Natural Capital Financing Facility.

The €6 million loan agreement with Rewilding Europe Capital is expected to provide support for over 30 nature-focused businesses across Europe. Rewilding Europe Capital is Europe's first conservation and rewilding enterprise financing facility.

The Bank on Nature Initiative builds on the Natural Capital Financing Facility (NCFF), an established financing partnership between the European Commission and the European Investment Bank supporting nature and climate adaptation projects through tailored loans and investments, backed by an EU guarantee. It recognises and fosters the business case for investing in natural capital for biodiversity and climate change adaptation purposes. With this first project the ambitious new initiative to protect biodiversity and support climate adaptation in Europe has become reality.

Jonathan Taylor, EIB Vice-President responsible for Climate and Environment said:

"To safeguard and restore Europe's precious habitats and wildlife we need to do more. There is a great business case for investing in nature. Biodiversity and economic growth can go hand in hand. As the EU Bank we are committed to investing in projects that support a vibrant rural economy, while also safeguarding our biodiversity and wisely managing natural capital. The Natural Capital Financing Facility is a ground breaking partnership between the EU Bank and the European Commission and this first project with Rewilding Europe Capital gets us off to the best possible start".

Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries added that the rewilding Europe project would be the first of many that the Bank on Nature initiative, building on the Natural Capital Financing Facility (NCFF), would assist in EUplans to create rural jobs and protect nature.

Rewilding Europe Capital was established in 2014 by Rewilding Europe, which promotes wild nature as an important and inherent aspect of Europe's natural and cultural heritage. As one of Rewilding Europe's tools, Rewilding Europe Capital finances nature-based businesses and uses a unique levy system to help support conservation and rewilding initiatives.

A key element of the project is to build a ‘business case for the wild'. The rewilding areas, which could be supported by the new agreement, comprise 38 different sites in the Natura 2000 network.

The rewilding areas are: Western Iberia (Portugal), Velebit Mountains (Croatia), Central Apennines (Italy), Southern Carpathians (Romania), Danube Delta (Romania), Rhodope Mountains (Bulgaria), Oder Delta (Germany/Poland) and Lapland (Sweden). The comeback of iconic and threatened European wildlife species such as the European bison, brown bear, black vultures as well as pelicans and white-tailed eagles of the Danube and Oder Delta could also benefit from the investments.

As well as supporting the creation and consolidation of nature-based businesses, new nature-related business models will be supported in sectors like forestry, water management, sustainable fisheries and tourism. The agreement is expected to create 250 jobs.

Ilko Bosman, Executive Director of Rewilding Europe Capital commented:

"The contract with the EIB that we've signed today is a great step forward for Rewilding Europe Capital. Not only will it allow us to really accelerate our facility, but above all by attracting external finance we can increase our ability to showcase how commercial finance can contribute to nature conservation and rewilding. With the proposed EIB/EU loan, all EU 28 countries will be considered and larger loan sizes will be permitted, including new nature-related business models in sectors like forestry, water management and tourism.”