A Market for the Restoration of Nature
Biodiversity and ecosystem health are becoming central to global policy and business strategies. Yet, a critical challenge remains: how can we scientifically measure and validate biodiversity improvements in ways that are robust, scalable, and politically accepted?
In summer 2024, the EU adopted the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), introducing legally binding restoration targets along with standardized indicators to track biodiversity and ecosystem recovery. Thus, providing the much-needed foundation for establishing high-integrity markets for nature restoration. This is where the AMARENA project steps in.
Funded by the BMBF under the DATIpilot program, AMARENA is set to reshape the way biodiversity restoration is financed and implemented.
What is AMARENA?
AMARENA (A MARket for the REstoration of NAture) is an innovation project led by the Future Forest Initiative (FFI) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). Its mission? To establish high-integrity markets for biodiversity and carbon by integrating advanced Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) solutions into scalable business models.
The project is deeply aligned with global biodiversity frameworks like:
- The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, and
- Nature accounting initiatives like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
Through this structured, science-driven approach, AMARENA bridges the gap between regulatory demands and corporate action, enabling businesses to align sustainability efforts with measurable ecosystem health improvements.
"With the EU Nature Restoration Law, we are entering a new era of standardized, high-integrity markets for nature restoration. The days of self-defined metrics are over—scientifically accepted indicators now form the foundation for credible biodiversity projects. AMARENA provides the perfect platform for innovators to lead in this regulated market and bring game-changing technologies to life."
—Dr. Benjamin Kowalski, Impact Lead & Co-Founder Future Forest Initiative
Why measuring biodiversity matters?
As the saying goes, “Only what gets measured, gets managed.” The EU Nature Restoration Law defines eight critical forest ecosystem indicators to monitor restoration success:
- 🌲 Standing deadwood
- 🪵 Lying deadwood
- 📊 Share of forests with uneven-aged structure
- ↔️ Forest connectivity
- 🌏 Stock of organic carbon
- 🍃 Share of forests dominated by native tree species
- 🍂 Tree species diversity
- 🐦 Common forest bird index
AMARENA leverages cutting-edge MRV technologies—like LiDAR, hyperspectral imaging, eDNA sampling, and bioacoustics monitoring—to measure these indicators cost-effectively and accurately. By refining these technologies, AMARENA ensures that biodiversity improvements can be tracked and verified at scale.
Why Now is the Perfect Time to Act
The global biodiversity finance gap is estimated at $700 billion annually. Biodiversity credit markets are emerging as a powerful solution, offering businesses a verifiable way to bridge this gap and meet sustainability targets.
With mounting pressure from regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and TNFD, companies are increasingly required to quantify and disclose their environmental impact.
Additionally, by 2026, EU member states must submit national implementation plans for the EU Nature Restoration Law.
However, responding to regulatory requirements alone is not enough. To overcome the biodiversity crisis, we need proactive, bottom-up solutions that accelerate and scale change. With AMARENA and its Startup Accelerator, the Future Forest Initiative (FFI) provides a platform for innovators to tackle forest restoration today.
Healthy forests are more than an ecological necessity—they are economic imperatives. They support biodiversity, secure livelihoods, and contribute to long-term prosperity. AMARENA fosters this transformation by demonstrating successful approaches and making them widely accessible, contributing to a nature-positive economy that benefits both people and the planet.
Who Should get Involved?
AMARENA engages multiple market players, each with a unique role in scaling nature-positive investments:
- Startups: Providing MRV technology solutions to measure biodiversity and ecosystem services.
- Forest Managers & Landowners: Implementing restoration projects with measurable biodiversity outcomes.
- Corporates & Investors: Funding ecosystem restoration to meet sustainability goals and improve supply chain resilience.
- Insurers: Offering risk mitigation for biodiversity-linked investments through performance-based contracts.
The AMARENA Biodiversity Residency: Innovation in Action
A cornerstone of AMARENA is the Biodiversity Residency, a LivingLab experience where startups collaborate with experts to test and refine MRV solutions in real-world forest environments.
Set in historic castles "Schloss Blankenburg" and "Schloss Neuenhof" in Harz and Sauerland, the residency offers:
- Field trials to validate cutting-edge technologies,
- Networking opportunities with key stakeholders, and
- The chance to scale solutions that align with market needs.
The Future of Biodiversity Markets
AMARENA is paving the way for nature to be fully integrated into financial decision-making. By establishing a high-integrity framework for biodiversity measurement and market participation, AMARENA builds trust in emerging biodiversity markets.
This project is not just about technology; it’s about empowering businesses, forest managers, and innovators to invest in nature-positive outcomes with confidence. Through alignment with policy frameworks, corporate reporting standards, and advanced MRV solutions, AMARENA creates the foundation for ecosystem services to be valued, verified, and invested in at scale.
Get Involved
Are you a startup revolutionizing biodiversity monitoring technology? A corporate seeking to enhance your nature-positive impact? A forest manager looking to monetize ecosystem restoration?
📢 Apply for the Biodiversity Residency now! Deadline: February 16, 2025
🌍 Join us at the Future Forest Forum at Blankenburg Castle, September 5-6, 2025, to build alliances and restore our planet.
