Innovate 4 Nature accelerates nature-positive solutions across four focus areas, which are related to the most significant socio-economic systems in view of biodiversity loss. We define each area as follows:
Sustainable Management of Ecosystems
This area focuses on the restoration, monitoring, and protection of ecosystems through nature-positive finance, technology, and governance. It includes biodiversity and carbon credit solutions, digital MRV tools, and data platforms that track ecological health and impact. Innovations also support conservation financing, risk assessment, and community-led stewardship. By making ecosystem services visible, investable, and accountable, these solutions enable long-term regeneration of forests, oceans, and landscapes—grounded in evidence, inclusion, and equity.
Nature as Infrastructure and Planet-Compatible Cities
This area redefines how we build, live, and move through space by integrating nature into infrastructure and urban design. Solutions include green construction materials, ecological sanitation, urban greening, water-saving innovations, and nature-based tourism. They make cities more resilient, livable, and biodiverse while restoring ecological functions within built environments. The area also includes nature-integrated planning and design tools that support climate adaptation and community well-being. By aligning infrastructure with ecological processes, these solutions help human settlements thrive within planetary boundaries.
Regenerative Food Systems
Solutions in this area improve food systems while restoring ecosystems and enhancing rural livelihoods. This includes nature-positive farming practices, bio-based fertilizers, alternative proteins, smart ag-tech, and transparent ingredient supply chains. By prioritising soil health, biodiversity, and long-term productivity, these innovations decouple food production from land degradation. The area also features community-driven approaches and tools that increase resilience, reduce emissions, and strengthen ecosystem services—especially through collaboration with indigenous and smallholder farmers.
Circular Nature-Positive Solutions
Circular nature-positive solutions redesign the flow of materials, energy, and behaviour to minimize waste and regenerate natural systems. This group includes nature-based materials, sustainable consumer goods, material innovations, and behaviour-change tools that shift consumption patterns. It promotes circular economy models—such as upcycling, eco-design, and resource efficiency—alongside digital platforms, educational tools, and cultural interventions that embed nature-positive thinking into daily life. These solutions reduce pressure on ecosystems by extending product lifecycles, closing resource loops, and empowering individuals and businesses to participate in systemic change for sustainability.
READ MORE INSIGHTS
