Course: The Business of Nature Masterclass

WHAT TO EXPECT

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture has been working with experts across the Northwoods Rewilding Network to explore how rewilding can be financially viable as well as ecologically restorative. This practical, discussion-led course will help you understand where your business or project could fit into the growing nature economy.

This course is for you if you are:

• part of a business exploring natural capital or biodiversity opportunities
• a conservation or rewilding professional keen to understand how nature markets can support long-term funding
• a member of a rewilding project team, particularly if you’re involved in funding proposals or enterprise development
• a civil servant or policy maker wanting to understand nature markets and how they can help countries to meet legally binding nature and climate targets
• a student, graduate or career-changer looking to work in rewilding or nature restoration, with a passion for sustainability and innovation

During this course you will learn:

• what all the jargon actually means: natural capital, nature-based solutions, ecosystem services, green finance and nature markets
• how natural capital is being applied to land management and revenue generation
• the role of green finance, biodiversity net gain, TNFD, stacking, and other key mechanisms
• how rewilding projects can generate income while delivering measurable benefits for nature and people
• what types of nature markets exist in the UK, who the buyers are, and how to access them
• real-world examples - from across the country - of businesses that generate revenue from:
  • carbon credits
  • biodiversity units
  • CSR / ESG
  • ecotourism
  • ‘wild’ products (e.g. venison)

Meet the trainer:

Matthew Hay is a natural capital specialist with expertise in ecosystem markets and integrated land management. Formerly a director of Reforesting Scotland and natural capital consultant at Bidwells, he champions nature recovery and integrated land use. Now working for Nattergal, he’s swapped bogs for fens to help drive nature recovery across England’s heartland, and brings practical insight into how natural capital can drive nature recovery at a variety of scales.