Following the success of the inaugural Biodiversity & Ecosystem Finance event which took place in New York on 27-28 March 2008 and was attended by over 100 participants from 19 countries, Green Power Conferences will once again bring together the corporate and finance communities with the biodiversity and ecosystem industry to drive this critical early stage market forward.

The March event investigated the concepts surrounding financial instruments aimed at conserving and preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services and delegates at the event came together to discuss methods to change the way the economy values the environment. The need for patient capital was the key theme across the two days as traditional banks, corporate and venture funds normally seek returns within a short time frame but these projects generally require time frames of five, ten, twenty or many more years to come to fruition.

Many companies still have trouble seeing the bottom line relationship of Biodiversity & Ecosystem services. Financiers investing in companies or projects that may have biodiversity or ecosystem impacts and businesses such as oil, gas and mining that have an impact have traditionally focused on the risk elements such as reputational risk from negative publicity but companies now need to start looking at the opportunities that can be derived from Biodiversity & Ecosystem services. This two day conference will do just that.