Scaling up
In 2013, Rewilding Europe entered its first phase of REC, to invest in European rewilding enterprises (called REC1). In the first years (2013–2015), we focused on small businesses that were mainly operating in the nature tourism market. We offered loans of up to 80,000 euros and provided 18 loans for the sum of in total 520,000 euros.
A big leap forward was made in early 2017, when Rewilding Europe signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank, through the new Natural Capital Financing Facility, for a new loan facility of 6 million euros. This presented an opportunity to create a second phase for REC (called REC2) as there was significant alignment between the aims of REC and the aims of this EU Facility promoting the conservation, restoration, management and enhancement of natural capital. With this second phase of REC we were able to scale up loans to a maximum of 600,000 euros per loan. Rewilding Europe Capital continues to offer loans for medium and larger enterprises to invest in.
Rewilding Europe is exploring the third phase for REC (called REC3) together with Triodos Regenerative Money Center, based in the Netherlands, open for all European countries (including non-EU). This includes a combined search for additional and larger European rewilding and nature-related enterprises which are seeking investment (debt) finance. 