France's Kering & Conservation International announce fund grantees

The recipients are The Good Growth Company (GGC), Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA), Solidaridad, Fundación Global Nature, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and The Wildlife-Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN), Epiterre and Conservation South Africa.

The first recipients of the Regenerative Fund for Nature form a diverse and influential portfolio across critically important landscapes in need of improved stewardship. They will initially support over 840,000 hectares transitioning to regenerative approaches, directly benefiting 60,000 people engaged in small and larger scale farming system, the two entities said in a media release.

Under the guidance of a leadership council, the first Regenerative Fund for Nature recipients were chosen following a rigorous selection process of grant applications by the Fund’s Technical Advisory Board’s selection committee. The applications were assessed based on alignment with the Fund’s objectives, key environmental indicators, opportunities to scale the regenerative programmes and game-changer potential.

Key focus regions had previously been identified through a scientific analysis to optimise opportunities to contribute to positive outcomes for climate, nature and livelihoods through luxury and fashion’s supply chains. The initial open call for proposals resulted in 73 applications from 17 countries and a final 7 grantees were chosen across South America, Central Asia, India, Europe and Africa.

“This next phase of our Regenerative Fund for Nature’s rollout is integral to the attainment of Kering’s goal to have a net positive impact on biodiversity by 2025” said Marie-Claire Daveu, chief sustainability and institutional affairs officer, Kering. “We had a tremendous response, and the first grantees were selected from excellent proposals, showing both the appetite and the opportunity to scale regenerative farming practices globally. We are exploring and leveraging different actions to support further projects under the Fund that will maximise a positive impact on biodiversity restoration in luxury and fashion’s supply chains.”

“Global change always begins at the local level, which is why we’re excited to support grassroots conservation efforts on four continents with Kering under the Regenerative Fund for Nature.” said Dr M Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International. “We know that the path to a sustainable, nature-positive future must include Indigenous peoples and local communities, so as we move into the next phase of the Fund, progress will be continually monitored together with Kering to ensure that initiatives are delivering measurable outcomes for the environment, and just as critically, for local livelihoods.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)