Union Bancaire Privée has launched a biodiversity restoration strategy aimed at investing in providers that protect and restore species and natural habitats.

The global all-cap portfolio is composed of 45 to 55 stocks and invests in seven industrial areas such as the sustainable management of natural resources, green cities and sustainable food production.

The strategy applies UBPs proprietary impact assessment tool, the IMAP (for Intentionality, Materiality, Additionality and Potential), and its Impact Engagement Framework (IEF). It is co-managed by Victoria Leggett, Head of Impact Investing, Charlie Anniss, Senior Portfolio Manager and Adrien Cambonie, Fund Manager and Impact Analyst.

UBP has teamed up with biodiversity partner the Peace Parks Foundation and plans also to collaborate with the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) with 25% of the management fee to be invested directly in their conservation and policy-making.

Victoria Leggett, Head of Impact Investing at UBP says, “It’s time to broaden the focus from ‘carbon-neutral’ to include ‘nature-positive’. The level of awareness of the biodiversity crisis is where climate change was 5–10 years ago, and there is now a huge amount of momentum behind it, including the UN’s ‘Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’ and COP15 on biodiversity. The associated regulatory shift and capex support should drive change in the investment opportunity set and with it returns for investors.”