The Kilimanjaro Project reposted this
The Kilimanjaro Project is a brilliant example of community-led ecosystem restoration. We need many many more of these projects, yet finance is unbelievably hard to come by. Please support if you can.
Partnership builder | Regenerator & Bioregionalist | Carbon & Biodiversity Project Developer | Public Speaker | AVPA Fellow | Founder, Kilimanjaro Project | Co-founder, Art of Forest Alliance
It is with slight trepidation and much hope that I share this post today. I know we’re not the only organization in this position. As investors & partners are thinking about how to build a pipeline of high quality #NbS projects, we also need to solve for early stage project financing, #catalyticinvestment that helps grow bankable projects. Many developers are struggling to keep the lights on while we are trying to figure out standards, guidelines, best practice and financial flow to nature. These often create paralysis and fear of getting it wrong. Finance is flowing into #MRV and other NbS supporting industries, which is important, but so is our work on the ground. Regenerating #ecosystems and #biodiversity takes decades; it's complex, with returns that don’t always fit investor timelines and IRR, but it’s necessary—trees are essential for the health and wellbeing of our planet. Projects also need fair deals - finance in service of life! where communities thrive from #carbon or #nature investments, where profits are distributed proportionally, without exploitation and extraction, where we share a mindset of abundance, not scarcity - where there is enough on this earth for all to thrive. The Kilimanjaro Project has been operating for 7 years. We have had triumphs & setbacks, we have persevered, built resilience, both within ourselves as an organization and within the communities we serve. Now, at the precipice of transformative scale, literally the last yards (months) until we secure substantial investment, we have run out of financial runway. We need the last burst of energy, through catalytic financial support, to get the project over the line. We are seeking urgent bridging finance through philanthropy or grants, and are ready for early-stage investments in our community-driven carbon project. Our journey includes a feasibility study with The Nature Conservancy (AFCC), participating in Africa's first biodiversity accelerator BIRA, and becoming a The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST) DIY project partner. Our mission is clear: to make a meaningful impact on our planet, starting with the land and communities around #Kilimanjaro. We believe that with your support, we can bring this vision to life. Will you help us make this final push? For a quick contribution, visit our GoFundMe campaign: https://gofund.me/d5f16298. To learn more about becoming a project partner or investing in our carbon project, drop me a message and I'll share supporting documentation and set up a call. Michael Musgrave Jamie Micah Lawrence Cheryl Margoluis Suzanne Holmberg Kat Bruce Nina Alexandersen Nina — Nabiha Megateli-Das, MS/MBA Ross Bernet Natalie Urban Annie Guo Karl "Charly" Kleissner Reshma Shah Johannes van de Ven Simon Siantidis Harry MacKenzie Harry Grocott Justin Adams OBE Lina Ratansi Eric Wilburn Benjamin Cohen James Lloyd Victoria Kay Carl Reynolds Ed Hewitt Caroline Van Tilborg Caroline Pakel Ricardo J Flores