Every euro invested in the ASN Biodiversity Fund leads to the protection or restoration of 1 square meter of biodiversity!
ASN Impact Investors is the first asset manager in the world to measure the positive impact of their investments in the restoration and protection of the biodiversity.
Every euro invested in the ASN Biodiversity Fund leads to the protection or restoration of 1 square meter of biodiversity. This is evident from the first impact report of the ASN Biodiversity Fund. “This is a double first: it is the first impact report from the ASN Biodiversity Fund, but also the first time worldwide that the positive impact of investing in biodiversity is measured and calculated by a fund,” says fund manager Karin van Dijk.
Impact Report ASN Biodiversity Fund
To measure the positive impact on biodiversity, ASN Impact Investors, together with PRé Sustainability, has applied a measurement method based on data from investment projects and scientific insights into natural ecosystems.
Download the Impact Report here:
Van Dijk: 'The positive impact of the fund comes from reforestation in the Amazon to the recovery of the rhino population in African game parks and it is a challenge to translate this into figures. We learn a lot from this, together with the companies and projects in which we invest; they are also working towards more in-depth accountability for their impact.'
The ASN Biodiversity Fund is still in the start-up phase and regularly makes new investments. As a result, the impact of not all the projects over the entire year of 2022 could be taken into account. 'Nevertheless, it appears that for the first 30 million euros invested in the fund in 2022, every euro invested produces 1 square meter of protected or restored nature. That is very hopeful, especially because we already see further improved results in the first quarters of 2023 as also shown in the report. This is an initial and conservative calculation of the impact, because the measurement methodology is still under development. We have only counted the impact that we can fully substantiate. It's not black and white, it's not math. But it indicates that things are going in the right direction.'
Karin van Dijk,
Fund Manager of the ASN Biodiversity Fund
Accelerate by investing
ASN Impact Investors wants to inspire other investors with the publication of the concrete impact figures, says Van Dijk. 'You can wait before investing in biodiversity because the impact cannot yet be measured perfectly. We like to turn it around: by investing, we accelerate the development of impact measurement. Moreover, we work open source: we like to share our knowledge and experience with others, so that nature can also benefit more quickly from investments in biodiversity. Because we see more than enough opportunities worldwide to scale up enormously.'
Wealth of opportunities
What this first year has taught us – or rather, what we have experienced – is that there is a wealth of opportunities owing to the growing number of pioneers worldwide. Those pioneers take up challenges, achieve results, share their knowledge and commit fully to growing their positive impact. It is genuinely a pleasure to maintain ties with them. It will be even more of a pleasure to help them continue to grow, thanks to private investors and preferably also increasing numbers of institutional investors. There is a world to be won.