Financing Ponds and Pondscapes as Nature-based Solutions

 
Cover slide of the presentation titled "Financing ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions." Presented by Hugh McDonald, Manuel Lago, Levin Scholl, Isabel Seeger.

© Ecologic Institute, 2024

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Financing Ponds and Pondscapes as Nature-based Solutions

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At the International Pond Conference 2024, which took place online from 12 to 13 November 2024, Hugh McDonald from the Ecologic Institute in Berlin presented the results of a comprehensive study on the financing of ponds and pond landscapes as nature-based solutions (NbS). The work analyzed public and private financing models and assessed their suitability for the implementation of pondscapes. In the presentation, Hugh McDonald also introduced the PONDERFUL Sustainable Finance Inventory. 

Case studies and approaches to financing

The team analyzed financial data from 14 case studies in Europe, Turkey and Uruguay. These case studies provided insights into the costs and benefits of pondscapes and enabled an assessment of the financing approaches required. A key finding was that pondscapes, like other NbS pose many challenges for private financing. Private options such as creating markets for environmental assets or incorporating pondscapes into for-profit landscape projects may offer some potential in some contexts. However, these models are not without challenges, including securing long-term profitability and taking environmental objectives into account.

Public funding remains essential

Hugh McDonald emphasized that public funding and public policy more generally play a crucial role in realizing the many societal benefits of ponds, such as biodiversity promotion and climate adaptation. 

About the conference

The International Pond Conference 2024 was organized by the European Pond Conservation Network and the EU project PONDERFUL. The aim was to bring together scientists, practitioners and policy makers to discuss the latest findings on the role of ponds in biodiversity conservation and as nature-based solutions to climate change.

Private financing for implementing pondscapes as nature-based solutions offers some opportunities but also faces many challenges. Public funding remains essential.

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International Pond Conference 2024
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Financing of ponds, pond landscapes, nature-based solutions, NbS, biodiversity, climate adaptation, public financing, private financing, environmental goods market, landscape projects, cost-benefit analysis, sustainable financing, European pond landscapes
Europe, Turkey, Uruguay
Cost-benefit analysis, market analysis for environmental goods, evaluation of financing instruments, data collection from case studies, analysis of financing models, integration into profit-oriented projects, cooperation between public and private actors
PublicationBrochurePonds and Pondscapes: A technical guide to the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation
 
Cover of the "Ponderful: Ponds for Climate" technical guide. The top section shows a serene pond surrounded by lush greenery and a large tree in the foreground. Below, the title "Ponds and Pondscapes" appears on a blue background, followed by the subtitle: "A technical guide to the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation." The bottom section features an underwater image of a colorful newt among aquatic vegetation.

© PODERFUL project, 2024

The technical handbook of the PONDERFUL project shows how ponds and pond landscapes can be used as Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to tackle societal challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and water scarcity. Ponds – small standing bodies of water with an... Read more

Biggs, J., Hoyle, S., Matos, I., McDonald, H., Nicolet, P., Oertli, B., Teixeira, J. (2024). Ponds and pondscapes: a technical guide to the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation, EU Horizon 2020 Ponderful project, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13844497

PublicationBrochureUsing Ponds and Pondscapes as Nature-based Solutions
 
Cover of the "Using Ponds and Pondscapes as Nature-Based Solutions" guidance document. The left side shows a young girl sitting on a wooden pier extending into a calm pond surrounded by lush greenery. The right side features the title and subtitle in bold white text on a green gradient background: "Using Ponds and Pondscapes as Nature-Based Solutions: Guidance for policy makers on the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation."

© PONDERFUL project, 2024

The recently published guide "Using ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions" is a practical guide for policy makers. The guide provides detailed recommendations on using ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions, in particular to adapt to climate change and... Read more

Biggs, J., Hoyle, Matos, I., Oertli, B., Teixeira, J. (2024). Using ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions. Guidance for policy makers on the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation, EU Horizon 2020 Ponderful project, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13847395

PublicationFact SheetNature-based Solutions Sustainable Financing Inventory
 
PONDERFUL Financing Instruments

© Ecologic Institute 2023

The PONDERFUL Sustainable Finance Inventory (below) consists of a total of 22 financing instruments for nature-based solutions (NBS). Each instrument is matched by at least one concrete example of the financing instrument in action. Different financing instruments have... Read more

McDonald, H., Seeger, I., Lago, M., & Scholl, L. (2023) Synthesis report on sustainable financing of the establishment of ponds and pondscapes. PONDERFUL Project (EU Horizon 2020 GA no. ID869296), Deliverable 1.4.