PROJECTS
 MOBILIZING FINANCE FOR BIODIVERSITYIn support of BirdLife International, Natural Strategies develops a country-wide sustainable finance plan for protected areas and biodiversity in São Tomé & Príncipe. | |||||||||||||||||
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 DEVELOPING PROTECTED AREAS INVESTMENT PLANNatural 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 INVESTMENTSNatural 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-FORESTRYUNEP 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 READINESSNatural 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 MECHANISMSNatural 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 BASINIn support of the WWF Landscape Finance Lab, Natural Strategies mobilizes sustainable investments to conserve Central Africa’s rainforests. |  STRENGTHENING CLIMATE CHANGE ENGAGEMENT IN DRCNatural 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 FORESTSNatural 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 WETLANDSIn 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 FINANCEThe 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 GALAPAGOSThis 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 DRCNatural 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 countriesNatural Strategies' Director Alexander Koch 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 BIODIVERSITYNatural 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 FUNDSNatural 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 CONSERVATIONNatural 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 GUYANAIn 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 PROJECTSThe 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. |
Alexander Koch
Founder & Director
Alexander is the Founder & Director of Natural Strategies. He has supported ecosystem conservation & sustainable land use in more than 49 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.
Bruno Paino
Global Lead, Nature-based Solutions Finance
Bruno is Natural Strategies' Global Lead on Sustainable Land Use Finance. He advises our clients on innovative financing solutions for forest friendly commodity production and ecosystem conservation. As such, Bruno leads our work on financing nature-based solutions on four continents.
With 10+ years of work experience on sustainable land use, he supported Ecosphere+, a branch of leading impact investor Althelia Ecosphere (now Mirova Natural Capital) in delivering the largest single REDD+ transaction in the voluntary carbon market globally, more than 6 million tCo2eq; co-designed UNDP's first ecosystem-based adaptation project with indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon; and evaluated impact investing opportunities for Conservation International's Forest Investment Incubator. He also has strong expertise on engaging indigenous people and on protected area finance in Asia and Latin America.
Bruno holds a Master's Degree in International Agribusiness Management and a Bachelor's in Economics.
Marie-Ange Baudoin
Regional Lead, Nature-based Solutions 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.
Catalina Becerra
Regional Lead, Nature-based Solutions Latin America
Based in Cartagena, Colombia, Catalina leads Natural Strategies’ project portfolio in Latin America. With more than 9 years of experience, she supported the design and implementation of more than 40 land-use projects and programs in Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Guatemala, and Chile, but also in Australia, Southeast Asia and Northern Africa for the issuance and trading of ecosystem services and carbon credits from REDD+, reforestation, afforestation and agroforestry initiatives.
She worked as a third-party validator and verifier of GHG projects and coordinated the validation and verification of several subnational FCPF REDD+ and ISFL Landscape Programs led and funded by the World Bank. Catalina has strong expertise in identifying and leading natural-based solutions projects in the forestry and agricultural sector.
Catalina is a forestry engineer and holds a Master's Degree in International Development Studies.
OUR TEAM
Florian Vernaz
Regional Lead, Nature-based Solutions South East Asia
Based in Indonesia, Florian has been working on governance and sustainability issues in South East Asia for 15 years. With private sector and GGGI, he developed deep experience on sustainable land-use, integrating
small-holder farmers into sustainable value chains and on business planning for social forestry.
Among others, Florian
facilitated communal Plan Vivo Projects in South Sumatra to restore & conserve over 5,000 ha of peatland; supported spatial planning and green investments in Papua & West Papua; and advises private sector and indigenous groups on organic production of palm sugar, spices & nuts.
Florian graduated from Copenhagen Business School in 2005 with a MSc
in Development Economics. He was a member the Danish University Consortium for Environment and Development.
Ludwig Liagre
Senior Associated Consultant
With more than 12 years of work experience on economics and financial analyses related to nature and biodiversity, Ludwig leads our work on developing investment plans for protected areas and national parks. Ludwig is an in-depth expert for cost - benefit analysis of nature and land management strategies, the design of biodiversity - & climate funds and PES schemes.
He is also a highly skilled trainer with more than 20 trainings organized and facilitated in the last five years for UN, NGOs and private sector, including on economic valuation of nature conservation. He has co-authored more than 20 high profile publications about climate finance, innovative financial mechanisms for land-use conservation and financial flows to combat climate change.
Ludwig holds an MBA from the Collège des Ingénieurs (France-Germany-Italy), an MScs in Environmental Economics and Rural development from AgroParisTech, France and is currently pursuing his PhD on National Funds for Forests, Biodiversity and Climate Action.
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.
