Everland is launching an Expression of Interest process to identify the first projects for financing under our joint bond initiative with BNP Paribas – which aims to mobilize $50 million in direct project financing for high-impact Indigenous-led forest conservation projects certified by the Equitable Earth standard.
Preliminary information about the Expression of Interest process is available on our website, where potential project developers are encouraged to register their interest in participating now.
The process is expected to unfold over the second half of the year. To be considered for financing under the initiative, projects must be in Amazonia and demonstrate fair and equitable benefit-sharing plans for communities – developed in full partnership with communities.
Gerald Prolman, Executive Chairman, Everland said:
“Ensuring finance reaches Indigenous and traditional communities, and that capital is available to cover the upfront costs of project development are two of the biggest barriers to forest conservation today. Everland is very proud to be providing solutions to these and launching the outcome bond partnership with BNP Paribas. Project proponents of high-impact Indigenous-led projects in search of financing should now sign up on the Everland website so that they can receive application forms as soon as they’re available.”
The bond initiative – announced in April this year – is a partnership between Everland and BNP Paribas that leverages the strengths of both organizations: BNP Paribas is structuring the financing, and Everland is ensuring that projects are high-impact, community-led and positioned for long-term success. This includes identifying and vetting projects, and conducting on-the-ground due diligence. Everland will also market the carbon credits generated by the projects’ forest conservation.
Further, projects financed by the bond initiative are expected to be amongst the first certified under the Equitable Earth standard – a pioneering forest carbon standard that integrates technical innovation and conservation best practices with the priorities of Indigenous Peoples, traditional communities and governments, particularly in the Global South.
Thibault Sorret, CEO of ERS which recently acquired Equitable Earth, said:
“This is a much-needed step towards ensuring that climate finance reaches communities on the ground. As the standard certifying these projects, Equitable Earth is proud to provide the technical foundation to help turn that financing into durable, measurable impact for forests, communities and the climate.”