As Rewilding Europe’s enterprise loan facility, Rewilding Europe Capital has supported the growth of European nature-based businesses since 2014. A new strategy and set of targets will see this support scaled up through till 2030, amplifying the benefits for people and nature.
Helping nature-based businesses flourish
Rewilding Europe Capital is a specialist financing division of Rewilding Europe. Its small loans facility provides financial support and business development advice to enterprises located in and around our rewilding landscapes that have business models aligned with the principles of rewilding. The overall goal is to amplify rewilding impact, support the development of nature-based economies, and pilot new ways of doing new business that are good for nature, and good for people too.
Renewed ambition
Since it was established in 2014, Rewilding Europe Capital has disbursed loans with a cumulative value of 2.4 million euros to 24 European partners. Part of that amount helped funding three local businesses in the Iberian Highlands, with a total of 213.000 euros.
With the mediation and management of Rewilding Spain, REC grants have supported new business developments in La Maleza Wildlife Park (Frías de Albarracín, Teruel), the organisation Del Bosque a tu Casa (Orea, Guadalajara) and the Nemétona company (Cuenca).
Rewilding Europe Capital’s renewed loan facility ambition means it is now aiming to have disbursed 70 loans, worth 5 million euros, by 2030. Achieving this target will mean around 10 new loans, worth a maximum value of 100,000 euros, need to be made annually over the next five years.
“Rewilding Europe Capital has been in operation for a decade now and achieved some really positive results,” says Daniel Veríssimo, Rewilding Europe’s Conservation Finance Expert. “In line with Rewilding Europe’s ambition to scale up practical rewilding, we are now aiming to scale up the growth of nature-based businesses, in partnership with entrepreneurs. With rewilding efforts supporting nature recovery and wildlife comeback, there are burgeoning opportunities for such businesses to take advantage of – both in and around Rewilding Europe’s landscapes, and beyond.”
Enterprise prioritisation
ewilding Europe’s loan facility will prioritise micro and small-scale enterprises that are located inside, or close to a rewilding landscape. However, exceptions will be made for nature-based businesses judged to have impressive scalability and beneficial impact.
One trend supporting Rewilding Europe Capital’s new ambition is the growth of nature-based business networks in many of Rewilding Europe’s rewilding landscapes. These bring businesses together under a shared rewilding vision for the landscape, facilitating the creation of new tourism packages, helping to close gaps in tourism experiences, and creating new economic opportunities.
The most fully developed example of a rewilding landscape-based business network is the Wild Côa Network which was established by the Rewilding Portugal team in the Greater Côa Valley in early 2021.
Moving forwards, recipients of Rewilding Europe Capital loans will preferably be members of one of these networks. “The aim is to create investment clusters in the landscape, in key pilot villages and communities,” explains Daniel Veríssimo. “These can act as showcases for the economic impact of rewilding.”
Diverse business sectors
Rewilding Europe Capital provides support to nature-based businesses from a wide range of business sectors. In the past many of these businesses have fallen under the nature-based tourism umbrella, including enterprises such as accommodation, restaurants, nature guiding and activity companies, and wildlife hides. More recently, the facility has diversified its support, with loans disbursed to companies involved in areas such as marine rewilding and sustainable timber making.
“As long as businesses are aligned with rewilding principles, and meet our criteria, there is a flexibility and desire to help them develop,” says Daniel Veríssimo.
Grow your nature-based business with our support
Rewilding Europe is interested in investing in both new and existing enterprises that can enhance rewilding impact across Europe – both on land and in the sea. If you own or know of a business that you believe would benefit from a partnership with Rewilding Europe Capital, or if you’d like further information, please contact Basilio Rodríguez, Enterprise Manager.