EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, has committed €50 million to a nature-restoration fund managed by the private investment firm Ardian. The equity investment will support Ardian’s Nature-Based Solutions fund, which focuses on reforestation, afforestation, and the restoration of wetlands and mangroves worldwide. The fund aims to restore degraded forests and ecosystems, generate high-integrity carbon removal credits, and advance climate goals and sustainable development, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
As a cornerstone investor, EIB Global’s pledge reinforces the European Union’s leadership in climate action while promoting biodiversity and delivering tangible local benefits such as new income opportunities and infrastructure improvements. The fund also allocates part of its private capital to green projects in OECD countries, particularly in Europe, aligning with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and European policies on forests, biodiversity, and deforestation-free products.
The initiative targets the creation of carbon credits that remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, sold primarily to companies through Voluntary Emission Reduction Purchase Agreements. This approach supports Europe’s decarbonisation efforts while addressing the growing demand for nature-based carbon offsets. EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle emphasized that the fund helps address climate change, protect biodiversity, and improve the livelihoods of local communities, reflecting a commitment to mobilising both public and private capital for sustainable development.
Laurent Fayollas from Ardian highlighted that the fund’s first €100 million round of commitments marks a milestone in scaling nature restoration projects, targeting the sequestration of 85 million tons of carbon and restoring ecosystems to benefit local communities. The fund combines Ardian’s expertise in infrastructure and nature-based solutions to deliver long-term environmental, social, and economic impact.
EIB Global’s involvement is part of a broader commitment under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which mobilizes public and private investments to boost smart, clean, and secure global connections, including ecosystem and biodiversity restoration. EIB Global, through its offices worldwide, strengthens international partnerships and development finance under the Team Europe approach, complementing Ardian’s extensive experience in managing $192 billion in assets globally.
The collaboration exemplifies a strategic effort to integrate environmental protection, sustainable investment, and climate action, ensuring that restoration projects are effective, transparent, and aligned with both local needs and European climate objectives. By combining financial innovation with a commitment to social and environmental responsibility, EIB Global and Ardian aim to make a measurable impact on global reforestation and ecosystem restoration.
