Happy Tuesday!

In today’s edition:
🌊 Colombian Biodiversity Bond

⛵️ Funding for Seaweed Cow Feed

💼 A whole new suite of NatureTech jobs

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🐘 Long Read (1-Min Read)

BBVA to issue first biodiversity bond in Colombia

What happened: BBVA Colombia plans to raise as much as $75 million in the sale of the first biodiversity bonds in the local market, a deal that is being arranged by the International Finance Corporation. 

Use of Funds: The bank will use the proceeds to finance projects for reforestation, mangrove conservation or restoration, climate-smart agriculture, and the restoration of wildlife habitats. Returns on investment will be linked to demonstrated improvement in biodiversity.

Gaining Prominence: Bonds incorporating biodiversity loss prevention and nature protection objectives now account for almost a third of all debt issued this year with an environmental, social and governance (ESG) label. In 2015, such bonds made up just 3 per cent of total issues. At this pace, the year’s total could come close to a record US$300 billion.

Who’s leading: Sovereigns and supranational institutions have spearheaded the development of biodiversity-related capital. The European Union and the World Bank were among the first to issue biodiversity bonds. They collectively account for around two-thirds of all biodiversity-related ESG debt issuance to date (IIF).

Why it matters for Nature: Colombia is the world’s most biodiverse country per square kilometre. It is home to 14 percent of known plant species in the world, only surpassed by Brazil; and close to 4,500 bird species. This represents one third of all bird species in the world, making it the country with the greatest bird diversity on the planet.

Why it matters for NatureTech: A boost for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification start-ups who can help bond issuers to quantify and monitor biodiversity gain or loss accurately. (Full story here)

💬 Snippets for your lift conversations

• Finance:  A group of large global investors has called on ESG data providers to develop better coverage of ocean biodiversity

• Big business:  Rio Tinto will invest A$8 million over five years in a partnership with Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) on a new project to enhance conservation land management

• Big business: Some 40 insurers set out plans to mainstream nature-related risk assessments and disclosures and identify priority actions on nature for the insurance industry

• Big Business:  Offshore wind developer, Orsted, launched a new framework for holistically measuring our impact on biodiversity

• Regulation: CDP has launched a new disclosure platform it says will "unlock faster action, harmonise global standards and make disclosure more efficient".

• Conservation: ‘More profitable than farming’: how Ecuador’s birding boom is benefiting wildlife and leading to farmers turning their land into nature reserves

• Nature X Sport: This coming winter, up to 40 sailors will set off from western France on a daring solo round-the-world race — several armed with sensors meant to collect valuable ocean data.

• Research: Wind, rainfall and ocean temperatures all influence the synchronised spawning of some coral in an elusive but critical process scientists are beginning to unravel.

• Research: Artificial intelligence is being used in the hunt to find an endangered male plant, described as the world's loneliest, a female partner.

• Innovation: Innovative Chilean project uses discarded hair to clean up coasts and waterways to protect biodiversity

 🎣 Deals

• Pollination has launched its first Climate and Nature Impact Fund with a A$150 million target

• US based, Symbrosia secures $1.2 million for its seaweed feed supplement to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from cattle farming.

• UK based, Aeropowder has secured a £150,000 in pre-seed investment for its packaging made from surplus feathers as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. Its product can also be used to clear environmental spills

💭 Little Bytes

📊 Stat: Powelliphanta, are amazing. They’re carnivorous, giant land snails with the ability to suck up worms like spaghetti.

📺️ Watch: Nature Positive Hub - Nature tech in action: case studies from the field

💬 Listen: The Nature Tech Nexus: Bridging biodiversity and business

📆 Events

• 12 & 13 June -  Forestry & Agriculture Investment Summit - London, UK

• 20 June - IEMA Green Skills Networking Event - London, UK

• 25 & 26 June - Nature Tech Expo 2024 - Leeds, UK

• 25/26 June - Blue Earth Forum - London UK

• 26 June - The Nature Positive Hub at London Climate Action Week 2024 - London, UK

• 26 June - World Bio Markets - London, UK

• 16 July - Using Green Finance to Drive Nature’s Recovery - Online

💼 Jobs

• Lead Biodiversity Scientist @EarthAcre

• Engineering and Product roles @ Sylvera

• Product Manager @ Perennial

• Multiple Roles @ NatureMetrics

• Software Engineer @ Gaia

• Climate, Nature, and Social Risk Intelligence Lead, Vice President (New York, US) @ JP Morgan

• Investments Director (London, UK) @ Pollination,

• Check out Theresa Lieb’s post for even more