From 19 to 22 May 2025, the BIOFIN-EU consortium gathered in the Netherlands, for its Plenary Meeting. Hosted by the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the meeting brought together representatives from all 13 partners across 10 European countries to align on project progress, share knowledge, and plan future actions.
Day 1: Exploring Biodiversity
The meeting opened with a guided tour of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Partners had the opportunity to explore its world-class fossil collection—ranging from butterflies to dinosaurs. Mark van Nieuwstadt of Naturalis also gave an engaging presentation on biodiversity in the Netherlands, setting the stage for the days ahead.
Day 2: Project Progress and NbS Dashboard
The second day focused on project implementation. Work Package leaders presented progress updates and upcoming milestones. Interactive workshops followed, including sessions on the evolving BIOFIN-EU Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Dashboard and the business models for agricultural lending. A presentation on the Thrive approach offered new perspectives on financial practices in the agricultural sector. The project officer from the European Commission, Piret Noukas, participated in the first two days of the meeting, contributing valuable insights.
Day 3: Participatory Dialogue
Day three featured a series of consortium-wide, hands-on workshops. The morning began with a session on citizens’ and investors’ attitudes toward Nature-based Solutions, along with the design of upcoming research tools. This was followed by the Civil Society Forum, a collaborative workshop exploring views on valuing nature, financial responsibility, and future visions for biodiversity. In the afternoon, partners engaged with the Sulitest Knowledge Framework and participated in a practical session on biodiversity risk modelling.
Day 4: Consolidation and Next Steps
The final day was dedicated to aligning internal work and next actions. Discussions focused on ensuring coherence across work packages and reinforcing the consortium’s strategic direction.
The Plenary Meeting marked a key milestone in BIOFIN-EU’s journey. Through open dialogue, shared expertise, and collective planning, partners strengthened their commitment to supporting biodiversity through innovative financial mechanisms.
