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WE HELP YOU BUILD

NATURAL STRATEGIES

We are international consultants accelerating sustainable finance for ecosystem & biodiversity conservation all over the world. We find solutions to help countries, communities & companies preserve nature & wildlife, mitigate climate change & contribute to sustainable development.

PROJECTS

MOBILIZING FINANCE FOR BIODIVERSITY In support of BirdLife International, Natural Strategies develops a country-wide sustainable finance plan for protected areas and biodiversity in São Tomé & Príncipe.
DEVELOPING PROTECTED AREAS INVESTMENT PLAN Natural Strategies develops a country-wide finance and investment plan for protected areas in Papua New Guinea. In support of UNDP, we identify sources of conventional and innovative finance to generate revenues for the sustainable management of the country's biodiversity.	ACCELERATING PRIVATE IMPACT INVESTMENTS Natural Strategies supports a leading private sector impact investor in identifying and assessing the sustainability of potential investments globally, to maximize environmental and social impacts.	UNLOCKING FINANCE FOR AGRO-FORESTRY UNEP will set up a Seed Capital Assistance Facility to unlock private investments for forest and landscape restoration. Natural Strategies develops UNEP's funding proposal to BMU IKI.	EVALUATING INVESTMENT READINESS Natural Strategies supports Conservation International in phase I of its Forest Finance and Investment Incubator (FFII). The FFII aims to increase investments into forest and land-use projects that contribute to national climate goals in ten countries globally.	ANALYZING BENEFIT SHARING MECHANISMS Natural Strategies conducts a comparative analysis on benefit sharing under REDD+ globally. In support of the WWF Climate and Forests team, we assess lessons learned and best practices on the design, implementation and scale up of REDD+ benefit sharing.	CONSERVING THE CONGO BASIN In support of the WWF Landscape Finance Lab, Natural Strategies mobilizes sustainable investments to conserve Central Africa’s rainforests.	STRENGTHENING CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT IN DRC Natural Strategies supports GIZ in the Democratic Republic of Congo to mainstream climate change into their development portfolio. Through this, we seek to strengthen GIZ's strategic approach to climate change in DRC while identifying concrete climate finance opportunities.	BUILDING PPPs FOR FORESTS Natural Strategies supports the EU REDD Facility on a public-private partnership strategy to reduce deforestation. The partnerships seek to enable investments in sustainable commodity production in developing countries.	PROTECTING THE WORLD'S TOP WETLANDS In support of the WWF Landscape Finance Lab, Natural Strategies mobilizes finance for landscapes programmes in Paraguay and Zambia, to preserve some of the world's critical wetlands.	ENABLING GREEN FINANCE The Paris Agreement calls for action to green the financial system. Natural Strategies, in collaboration with the Frankfurt School - UNEP Collaborating Centre, analyzes the enabling environment for green finance in Spain to contribute to the <2-degree target of the Paris Agreement.	MOBILIZING GCF FUNDS FOR GALAPAGOS This project, implemented by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) will identify measures to support the Galápagos Islands' adaptation to climate change. Natural Strategies helps turn these measures into two concept notes for the Green Climate Fund.	SUPPORTING THE REDD+ FUND IN DRC Natural Strategies supports the USD 200 million National REDD+ Fund of DRC (FONAREDD). We assess and strengthen REDD+ project proposals on a sectoral and landscape level that seek to reduce deforestation in DRC. The objective is to help FONAREDD make informed decisions on which proposals to fund - thereby advancing on its pathway towards conserving forests and biodiversity while supporting local livelihoods.	Helping access the GCF in 18 countries Natural Strategies helps 18 countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa access the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The objective is to enable countries to mobilize GCF funding for high impact projects in the forest, energy and agriculture sectors.	BUILDING A FUND FOR BIODIVERSITY Natural Strategies’ Director Alexander Koch co-leads the establishment of a new international investment fund, Natural Capital, which aims to mobilize private sector finance for sustainable land use in developing countries.	HELPING JORDAN MOBILIZE GCF FUNDS Natural Strategies helps Jordan access GCF funding. In providing technical support to UN Environment’s GCF Readiness Programme in Jordan, Natural Strategies develops key elements of the national GCF architecture.	SUPPORTING PRIMATES CONSERVATION Natural Strategies leads the UK fundraising strategy and campaign for the NGO Fundación Mona. Fundación Mona is a Spanish NGO dedicated to the welfare and conservation of chimpanzees and other primates. It rescues abused primates, raises awareness of wildlife trafficking and other threats to primates and contributes to related research.	ANALYZING DEFORESTATION IN GUYANA In a team of international consultants, Natural Strategies' Director Alexander Koch co-developed the draft strategic framework for the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment of Guyana. Alexander led the section on the forest sector.	ASSESSING GCS PROJECTS The Global Conservation Standard (GCS) seeks to make environmental conservation pay for landowners and local populations worldwide, based on measurable ecosystem benefits. Natural Strategies’ Director Alexander Koch served as an alternate member of the technical panel of the GCS.

NATURAL STRATEGIES CURRENTLY WORKS IN THESE COUNTRIES

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OUR CLIENTS

OUR MISSION

We are guided by our conviction that we need to drastically & rapidly reduce the degradation of ecosystems & biodiversity and mitigate climate change.

And we believe that this can only happen if we take into account the needs & priorities of governments, communities & the private sector. So we aim to find solutions where environmental conservation simultaneously leads to improved human well-being & economic opportunities.

We achieve this by analyzing environmental problems, identifying solutions & helping put these into practice.

This includes providing support to the public & private sectors at various stages of planning & implementation:

We develop ecosystem & climate policies for governments & private sector

We turn policies into investment strategies & funding proposals

We mobilize sustainable finance to help companies in greening their supply chains

We provide investment advice & technical assistance during implementation

We help monitor, report on & evaluate corresponding impacts & results

This way, we engage agents of land use change & conservation, work with them to systematically address the drivers of environmental degradation & contribute to green economic alternatives.

This creates viable pathways for sustainable development that benefit from intact ecosystems.

Alexander Koch

Founder & Director

Alexander is the Founder & Director of Natural Strategies. He has supported ecosystem conservation & sustainable land use in more than 20 countries in Africa, Latin America & Asia with the UN & the private sector.

Working with the Finance Unit of UN Environment for nine years, including as its REDD+ focal point person, he designed the largest global programme for UN Environment to help developing countries prepare to access the Green Climate Fund.

He also co-managed a pilot programme in seven African countries to launch forest & agroforestry projects through the carbon markets, including one of the first registered African REDD+ projects, and provided a broad range of technical assistance on

climate change & biodiversity, in support of governments, private sector & NGOs.

Alexander holds a University Master's Degree in Environmental Management & Restoration, a German University Law Degree & a University Diploma in Wildlife & Natural Areas Management.

Pablo Llopis

Lead, Climate and Biodiversity Solutions

As Natural Strategies' Lead on climate and biodiversity consulting, Pablo advises our clients on sustainability challenges in complex supply chains, helping to establish deforestation-free, water resilient and climate-smart supply chains.

In his 11+ years of professional experience as climate change adaptation and mitigation consultant, Pablo built strong expertise on identifying environmental and socio-economic impacts, designing solutions and implementing them on site and measuring, reporting and verifying the outcomes of projects and programs. He gained on-site experience in more than 23 countries on five continents and has provided advisory services to the public, the private, the multilateral and the civil sector.

Pablo holds a Master of Science in Tropical and International Forestry from University of Gottingen (Germany), a Master of Science in Energy Efficiency and Sustainability from University Jaume I (Spain) and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain).

Marie-Ange Baudoin

Lead, Land Use Projects Africa

Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Marie-Ange leads Natural Strategies' project portfolio in Africa. She has 10+ years of experience on climate change with a focus on adaptation in least developed countries (LDCs).

Her expertise includes project design for the GEF and the GCF, project evaluation (MTR), capacity building and technical assistance to access and use climate finance (especially through the GCF). Marie-Ange worked extensively in Africa, including in Benin, Burkina-Faso, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Swaziland. Previously, she worked as a university researcher and lecturer on climate change and sustainable development.

Marie-Ange holds a PhD in Environmental Science, a postgraduate degree in Development Studies, and a Master's degree in International Policy from the Free University of Brussels, Belgium.

Oliver Canosa

Finance and Markets Analyst

Oliver is Finance and Markets Analyst at Natural Strategies. He analyzes investment opportunities through public-private partnerships for sustainable land use, conducts research on greening commodity supply chains in Latin America, Asia and Africa and helps mobilize sustainable finance for landscape conservation in central Africa.

Oliver has a strong background in the environmental economics field, with an academic profile focused on the link between economics, finance and biodiversity conservation. Among others, he has conducted research in the Input-Output framework at the Spanish national level and its environmental implications (emissions and energy consumption patterns).

Oliver has also been part of the sustainable finance ecosystem, working to accelerate sustainable finance engagement of the public and the private sectors.

OUR TEAM

Jillian Dyszynski

Senior Consultant

Jillian is a global climate finance professional with 12+ years of experience supporting access to climate finance in the Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East regions for governments and international organizations.

For over four years, Jillian supported the largest global climate fund, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), helping operationalize its Readiness programme to access the Fund.

For over 10 years she supported the Government of Rwanda in establishing its environment and climate fund, with over USD 55 million in seed financing.

She holds a Masters in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University, and Bachelors Degree from Georgetown University in Science, Technology and International Affairs. She is also pursuing her Masters in Finance from Georgetown University.

Jesica Andrews

Senior Associate Consultant

Jesica is a global climate finance & governance expert. She has worked with project developers, governments, development banks and the UN across 35 countries to support climate-friendly finance flows and institutional governance and develop institutional capacities, climate-related projects & strategies and risk/opportunity frameworks.

Her recent tasks include developing Green Climate Fund Proposals, structuring blended finance opportunities, supporting national development banks to build Environmental and Social Safeguards, supporting countries in Green Climate Fund readiness and supporting strategy development for TCFD inclusion in ESG products.

Jesica holds a Master’s in Finance from University of Cambridge and a BA in International Politics from University of New Mexico.

Monika Bertzky

Associate Consultant

Monika Bertzky has worked in international nature conservation for 15 years, using her academic background in natural & social sciences to generate knowledge products for environmental policy & decision-making. She has a record of accomplishment at developing and contributing to projects with UN bodies, governments, NGOs, academia & civil society in Africa, Asia & Latin America, as an employee & independent consultant.

Her main areas of expertise include social & environmental safeguards & standards (Cancun, UNDP, UNEP, GCF/IFC), risk assessment, SESA, ESMF, the role of biodiversity & ecosystems in climate change mitigation & adaptation, and protected area mgmt & governance, among others in the context of the GCF.

Monika holds a PhD in Human Geography, a University Diploma in Biology & has completed additional trainings, e.g. in Environmental Security & Sustaining Peace, Climate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries & Protected Area Management in Africa.

NATURAL STRATEGIES

PROJECTS

MOBILIZING FINANCE FOR BIODIVERSITY

In support of BirdLife International, Natural Strategies develops a country-wide sustainable finance plan for protected areas and biodiversity in São Tomé & Príncipe.

DEVELOPING PROTECTED AREAS INVESTMENT PLAN

Natural Strategies develops a country-wide finance and investment plan for protected areas in Papua New Guinea. In support of UNDP, we identify sources of conventional and innovative finance to generate revenues for the sustainable management of the country's biodiversity.

ACCELERATING PRIVATE IMPACT INVESTMENTS

Natural Strategies supports a leading private sector impact investor in identifying and assessing the sustainability of potential investments globally, to maximize environmental and social impacts.

UNLOCKING FINANCE FOR AGRO-FORESTRY

UNEP will set up a Seed Capital Assistance Facility to unlock private investments for forest and landscape restoration. Natural Strategies develops UNEP's funding proposal to BMU IKI.

EVALUATING INVESTMENT READINESS

Natural Strategies supports Conservation International in phase I of its Forest Finance and Investment Incubator (FFII). The FFII aims to increase investments into forest and land-use projects that contribute to national climate goals in ten countries globally.

ANALYZING BENEFIT SHARING MECHANISMS

Natural Strategies conducts a comparative analysis on benefit sharing under REDD+ globally. In support of the WWF Climate and Forests team, we assess lessons learned and best practices on the design, implementation and scale up of REDD+ benefit sharing.

CONSERVING THE CONGO BASIN

In support of the WWF Landscape Finance Lab, Natural Strategies mobilizes sustainable investments to conserve Central Africa’s rainforests.

STRENGTHENING CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT IN DRC

Natural Strategies supports GIZ in the Democratic Republic of Congo to mainstream climate change into their development portfolio. Through this, we seek to strengthen GIZ's strategic approach to climate change in DRC while identifying concrete climate finance opportunities.

BUILDING PPPs FOR FORESTS

Natural Strategies supports the EU REDD Facility on a public-private partnership strategy to reduce deforestation. The partnerships seek to enable investments in sustainable commodity production in developing countries.

PROTECTING THE WORLD'S TOP WETLANDS

In support of the WWF Landscape Finance Lab, Natural Strategies mobilizes finance for landscapes programmes in Paraguay and Zambia, to preserve some of the world's critical wetlands.

ENABLING GREEN FINANCE

The Paris Agreement calls for action to green the financial system. Natural Strategies, in collaboration with the Frankfurt School - UNEP Collaborating Centre, analyzes the enabling environment for green finance in Spain to contribute to the <2-degree target of the Paris Agreement.

MOBILIZING GCF FUNDS FOR GALAPAGOS

SUPPORTING THE REDD+ FUND IN DRC

Helping access the GCF in 18 countries

Natural Strategies helps 18 countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa access the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The objective is to enable countries to mobilize GCF funding for high impact projects in the forest, energy and agriculture sectors.

BUILDING A FUND FOR BIODIVERSITY

Natural Strategies’ Director Alexander Koch co-leads the establishment of a new international investment fund, Natural Capital, which aims to mobilize private sector finance for sustainable land use in developing countries.

HELPING JORDAN MOBILIZE GCF FUNDS

Natural Strategies helps Jordan access GCF funding. In providing technical support to UN Environment’s GCF Readiness Programme in Jordan, Natural Strategies develops key elements of the national GCF architecture.

SUPPORTING PRIMATES CONSERVATION

ANALYZING DEFORESTATION IN GUYANA

In a team of international consultants, Natural Strategies' Director Alexander Koch co-developed the draft strategic framework for the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment of Guyana. Alexander led the section on the forest sector.

ASSESSING GCS PROJECTS

The Global Conservation Standard (GCS) seeks to make environmental conservation pay for landowners and local populations worldwide, based on measurable ecosystem benefits. Natural Strategies’ Director Alexander Koch served as an alternate member of the technical panel of the GCS.