Lunch & Learn: Making the Business Case for Nature: A Cost-Benefit Analysis Lunch & Learn Session - 08/04/2026 Is nature in your development a cost – or an investment? For many residential projects, biodiversity is still viewed as a compliance requirement – something tha...

Watch Webinar: learn.igbc.ie/course/llmak...

🌿 Event Recap: On April 8th, researcher Karl Byrne delivered a Lunch & Learn webinar for the Irish Green Building Council, exploring how investing in nature delivers measurable economic returns alongside environmental and social benefits.

We were delighted to have a presence at the Spring Interceltic Business Forum today 🌱 Our Chair, Alan Costello, spoke about the work of Natural Capital Ireland, highlighting key projects including REBORN, our EU‑funded Interreg North‑West Europe seagrass restoration initiative.🌊

Natural Capital Ireland: Find us at these events in April. www.naturalcapitalireland.com/calendar - Making the Business Case for Nature 8 Apr, Webinar: Irish Green Building Council - Spring Interceltic Business Forum 16 Apr, Isle of Man - ForES Ecosystem Services Tool Launch 16 Apr, Trinity College Dublin: To demonstrate & launch a decision support tool for managing ecosystem services at forest sites.

Coming up in April ➡️ www.naturalcapitalireland.com/calendar

🌳 ForES Decision Support Tool Launch, 16th Apr, @tcddublin.bsky.social🔗 www.for-es.ie

🏠 Webinar: Nature in developments, 8th Apr🔗 www.igbc.ie/events

📈 Interceltic Business Forum, 16th Apr, Isle of Man 🔗 www.financeisleofman.com/events

Carbon & Nature Forum Ireland 2026 | Climate Cocktail Club The transition is underway whether politics keeps pace or not. Targets are tightening, markets shifting and capital moving. The question is who leads first. Join business, government and finance leade...

📢 Mobilising finance for impact is also the theme of the upcoming Carbon & Nature Forum on 14th April at Trinity Business School delivered by Climate Cocktail Club. Register here: www.climatecocktailclub.org/events-1/carbon-nature-forum-ireland-2026 🧵[2/2]

Photo of workshop table with a page reading "How civil society benefits from emerging Natural Capital Markets?". Second photo in collage of three people standing in front of a screen reading "Civil Society Forum on Nature Finance". Third photo in collage of a person giving a presentation at the podium and a banner reading "BIOFIN-EU. Flip the script".

Thank you to BIOFIN-EU (www.biofin-project.eu) for a very insightful Civil Society Forum on Nature Finance at @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social last week. It was really helpful to draw out barriers for leveraging private finance and the arguments for/against valuing nature through markets. 🧵[1/2]

Quick Reads: Intro to Natural Capital. Download the full text on the ‘Quick Reads’ section of www.naturalcapitalireland.com. Natural capital frames the value that nature provides and our dependence on it in a similar way to other forms of capital – like financial. Environmental crises are intensifying. One of the reasons is that our current economic system does not capture the social costs or benefits of nature’s services in markets. It assumes an infinite supply of natural resources and functioning ecosystems. A common criticism of financially valuing nature’s services is that it will lead to commoditising or privatising nature. That is not the intent, but these unintended consequences need to be taken seriously as methods and accounting systems are developed and implemented.

We are a not-for-profit organisation advocating for the natural capital approach. You may wonder though, what is natural capital?

Learn more in our Quick Read, "Intro to Natural Capital": 🔗 www.naturalcapitalireland.com/_files/ugd/9...

View all our Quick Reads here: 🔗 www.naturalcapitalireland.com

Natural Capital Ireland Events & Consultations - Calendar Highlights. www.naturalcapitalireland.com/calendar. - Civil Society Forum on Nature Finance, 18 & 19 Mar, Belfast, NI - Forest Ecosystem Services Tool Launch, 19 Mar, Trinity College Dublin - Bioregioning Ireland Gathering, 10 Apr, Borris House, Co. Carlow - Carbon & Nature Forum, 14 Apr, Trinity College Dublin - 18 Mar Consultation Deadline: Draft Nature Recovery Strategy Northern Ireland

Coming up soon ➡️ www.naturalcapitalireland.com/calendar

🔹18 Mar: Consultation on Draft Nature Recovery Strategy NI
🔹18-19 Mar: Civil Society Forum on Nature Finance
🔹19 Mar: ForES Project's Forest Ecosystem Services Tool Launch
🔹10 Apr: Bioregioning Ireland Gathering
🔹14 Apr: Carbon & Nature Forum

Interreg North-West Europe REBORN. Co-funded by the European Union. Unlocking seagrass restoration in NWE as a BGI and natural capital opportunity Climate and environment. 11 partners from NL, BE, FR, IE, DE. Cooperating from 2026 - 2029. EU funding €2,9 million. Total project budget €4,9 million. Objectives: REBORN unlocks seagrass restoration at scale (>1 ha) in NWE for biodiversity and natural capital gains by simultaneously driving seagrass-related governance, practice and capacity-building to: Drive long-term seagrass restoration governance and policy change in NWE through a multi-actor community of >30 organisations; Test a novel restoration model in -15 ha in collaboration with 250 community members and facilitate its uptake to up to 50,000 ha across NWE; Increase the capacity of 40 organisations (practitioners, community members, businesses, policy makers) as seagrass restoration ambassadors through tailored capacity building modules. reborn.nweurope.eu Map:EuroGeographics Association for the administrative boundaries (NUTS regions).

🐟 Sunday 1st March marks World Seagrass Day🪿 Healthy seagrass is vital for the achievement of the SDGs.

This week, we launched the €4.9m Interreg NWE REBORN Project - feat. 11 partners across 5 countries. Learn more on our latest blog post: www.naturalcapitalireland.com/post/interreg-nwe-reborn

Natural Capital Ireland logo. Join our team: https://www.naturalcapitalireland.com/careers. Communications and Marketing Officer. Responsible for producing high-quality content, managing digital channels, supporting campaigns and events, and helping to ensure that NCI’s communications reflect its values, strategic priorities and integrity within the sector.

Join our team as a Communications and Marketing Officer!

➡️ www.naturalcapitalireland.com/careers

Please note, this is a self-employed contractor position. The contractor will provide their services from 5 days per month. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until it is filled.

REBORN | LinkedIn REBORN | 26 followers on LinkedIn. Unlocking seagrass restoration in NWE as a BGI and natural capital opportunity. | REBORN is a EU-funded Interreg North-West Europe project. 11 Partners and 7 Associa...

Seagrass is in decline due to physical disturbance, nutrient enrichment, invasive species, and climate change. Restoration faces challenges such as ad-hoc, small-scale cooperation, fragmentation of expertise across Europe, and low awareness. 🧵[3/3]

➡️Follow REBORN: www.linkedin.com/company/rebo....

A man pointing to a slidedeck reading "Ireland: University of Galway". It shows maps and photos of seagrass habitats in Ireland. The logo in the top right corner reads "Interreg North-West Europe REBORN - Co-funded by the European Union".

Ireland’s two seagrass species live in estuaries and coastal waters. Subtidal meadows are a nursery for young fish and intertidal meadows provide vital food for overwintering birds. Seagrass also reduces coastal erosion during storms by trapping sediments. 🧵[2/3]

➡️ www.epa.ie/publications...

Four people smiling for a photo in front of a window.

📢 @interregnwe.bsky.social REBORN aims to reinvigorate seagrass habitats and scale up their restoration.

📸 NCI's Jonathan Cooper & Deirdre Lane with Dr Juan Lugilde Yáñez (@uniofgalway.bsky.social) & Dr Fiona Tomas Nash (@imedea.bsky.social) at this week's REBORN meeting in Schiermonnikoog. 🧵[1/3]

Projects | Natural Capital Ireland List of projects past and present by environmental not-for-profit Natural Capital Ireland including Business & Biodiversity Report, Data 4 Nature Workshop & more

In 2021, we ran a survey on how Irish HEIs are integrating natural capital and ecosystem services approaches into curricula. Read more here: www.naturalcapitalireland.com/projects. It is fantastic to see how in 2026, modules like these are engaging students in different ways of valuing nature.🧵[2/2]

Three people smiling for a photo in front of a Natural Capital Ireland banner. In the background, there is a slide reading "Trinity College Dublin, Coláise na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath - The University of Dublin". It includes photographs of environmental initiatives at the university.

We were honoured to speak about Natural Capital Communications to postgrad students at @tcddublin.bsky.social last week on invitation from Rosie Mangan, Teaching Fellow in Ecology. The session was followed with a lecture by Professor Jane Stout, VP for Biodiversity & Climate Action at TCD. 🧵[1/2]

It will be interesting to see what Project BASELINE uncovers on the topic of agricultural economics over the next four years! The importance of soil for sustaining biodiversity & ecosystem services is deeply appreciated by all in the project—which Natural Capital Ireland is heartened to see. 🧵[5/5]

Ronan O'Neill's talk started with a Herman Daly quote, "The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the reverse." Ronan shared how an economic perspective looks at how the whole farming system needs to change, and a financial one asks how farmers can afford that change. 🧵[4/5]

We also heard from Dr Emma Hart on biodiversity monitoring; John Geraghty, on how measures like cover crops are supported in policy; and Dr Barry O'Donoghue, NPWS, on the power of the Irish language for understanding nature & land, e.g. how "talmhaíocht" means both agriculture & earthliness. 🧵[3/5]

It was great to hear an overview from Chairperson of BASE Ireland, Rob Coleman, and Project Manager, Dr Pippa Hackett. Tommy Hughes, a member of the project's Operational Group, then shared an inspiring story of him and his father transitioning their arable farm to regenerative agriculture. 🧵[2/5]

A person giving a presentation to a group in a farm shed for the launch of the Project Baseline EIP. There are four people sitting on the table beside the lecturn. The presentation reads "The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment" Herman Daly (1938-2022) American Ecological Economist.

Congratulations to Project BASELINE (www.projectbaseline.ie) on their official launch by Minister Heydon today in Athy 🎉 It is one of 23 EIP's funded under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. Learn more about the others: www.capnetworkireland.eu/irelands-eip-agri-operational-groups-2023-2027

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🔹 The Land Use Review Phase 2 Report has been received by government ministers: www.gov.ie/en/departmen...
🔹 In June 2025, @deptcee.bsky.social & NCI hosted a stakeholder workshop to inform the development of a Natural Capital Expert Group: www.naturalcapitalireland.com/naturalcapit...

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How have these focus areas developed since 2024?

🔹Dr Catherine Farrell's BUU44706 Natural Capital Accounting module in @tcddublin.bsky.social teaches the SEEA-EA process.
🔹LIFE SNaP aims to create an Integrated Data Platform & National Complementary Funding Unit for Nature: www.lifesnap.ie

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Valuing and Accounting for Nature in Ireland: Briefing paper commissioned from Natural Capital Ireland by NESC in January 2024. www.naturalcapitalireland.com/projects Key takeaways: - Building natural capital into the education system - Allocating budget for natural capital accounting - Developing maps and easier access to nature data - Signposting the natural capital approach in relevant policy - Establishing a Natural Capital Advisory Group Read the caption to discover how these areas of focus have developed in recent years.

In January 2024, the NESC Ireland Research Series featured a paper they commissioned from Natural Capital Ireland. It looked at embedding the Natural Capital Approach and Natural Capital Accounting in Irish policy for the benefit of people and planet.

➡️ www.nesc.ie/publications...

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The team took >200 datasets from >30 agencies and compiled them using the statistical framework SEEA-EA. The process highlighted knowledge and data gaps that affect the development of Natural Capital Accounting in Ireland. Another recommendation was that not all accounts should be monetised. 🧵[2/2]

Graphic of a flowing river with trees on the bank.INCASE Project. Learn more: www.naturalcapitalireland.com/incase-project & www.seea.un.org/ecosystem-accounting>200 datasets from >30 agencies and the SEEA-EA statistical framework combined to create natural capital accounts for 4 sub-catchments: Bride (Co. Cork), Dargle (Co. Wicklow), Figile (Co. Offaly), Caragh (Co. Kerry). incl. their ecosystem and geosystem extent, condition, and services for people.Project Partners: Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University of Limerick, University of Galway, IDEEA Group, Natural Capital Ireland. The INCASE Project was funded under the EPA Research Programme 2014-2020.

From 2019-2023, INCASE developed natural capital accounts for four contrasting sub-catchments across Ireland: Dargle in Co. Wicklow, Figile in Co. Offaly, Bride in Co. Cork, and Caragh in Co. Kerry) 🧵[1/2]

Learn more:
🔗 www.naturalcapitalireland.com/incase-project
🔗 seea.un.org/ecosystem-ac...

Heard about natural capital but not sure what it means?

Natural capital helps decision-making by creating an economic metaphor for nature. It frames resources like plants, animals, water, and minerals as assets or stocks that yield a flow of benefits to us.

▶️Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TELw...

Natural Capital Ireland - Events & Consultations Calendar Highlights.- BioDirect 2.0 Roundtable on Agriculture. Jan 14. Celbridge, Co. Kildare- Consultation Deadline: Jan 15. Changes to the scale of fees for environmental judicial reviews.- Civil Society Forum on Nature Finance. March 18-19. Queen's University Belfast, NI - 5th All-Island Bioeconomy Summit. May 19. Enfield, Co. Meath- Fair Seas Conference - World Ocean Week. June 3. Cork, Irelandhttps://www.naturalcapitalireland.com/calendar

Happy New Year!

➡️ www.naturalcapitalireland.com/calendar

🚜14 Jan: BioDirect Roundtable on Agriculture
📢15 Jan: Consultation on changes to the fees for environmental judicial reviews
💶18-19 Mar: Civil Society Forum on Nature Finance
🌾19 May: All-Island Bioeconomy Summit
🌊3 Jun: Fair Seas Conference

Celebrating our 10th anniversary. Read Prof. Jane Stout’s retrospective on NCI’s first decade! On our website: www.naturalcapitalireland.com/blog. Bottom image: A group of people at the National Botanic Gardens in front of a bed of tulips.Left image: A group of people at the National Biodiversit Conference.Right image: Two women at the Trinity Centre for Biodiversity Research.

As 2025 draws to an end, we invite you to read:

1️⃣ Professor Jane Stout's piece recounting her Natural Capital Ireland experience: www.naturalcapitalireland.com/post/10-year...

2️⃣ Paddy Woodworth's insights on NCI's 10th Anniversary in our newsletter: mailchi.mp/0e991dfaaa98...

Happy Holidays!🎄❄️

In a new blog post, Aparna Nair discusses policy instruments in the context of climate action and natural capital ➡️ www.naturalcapitalireland.com/post/policy-...

On the topic of finance, join the Civil Society Forum on Nature Finance, 18-19 Mar 2026 in Belfast
➡️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civil-soci...

Food production benefits from & affects natural capital, so we need more inclusive pathways to access finance & farming, even small-scale growing. Thanks to Sarah Prosser and the rest of the BioSEI team for such a wonderful event in Lismore, Co. Waterford!

🔗 www.linkedin.com/posts/bioreg... [3/3]🧵