The session “Finance and Values: Leveraging the Values of Nature” was co-organized by the NATURANCE project as part of the Arcadia project Festival on Transformative Nature-based Solutions, held in Zagreb on April 9th. The session was moderated by Jaroslav Mysiak, coordinator of the NATURANCE project, and featured two additional NATURANCE team members among the speakers.

The session was structured in two parts: a morning plenary with keynote presentations, followed by an afternoon World Café format, offering participants the opportunity to dive deeper into the themes through facilitated table discussions.

In her keynote, Marta Vicarelli (University of Massachusetts Amherst) presented global evidence showing that NbS are not only environmentally sound but also more cost-effective than traditional engineered solutions in around 65% of cases. She emphasized the need for better data and broader financing mechanisms to fully realize the economic potential and co-benefits of NbS.

Vasco Barbosa (Inova+) showcased an overview of perspectives and challenges in NBS financing. Presenting results from the DesirMED project, he discussed barriers to financing of NBS, current gaps and future opportunities.

Tudor Stăncioiu (ADR Centru) highlighted the critical challenge of sustaining public ecosystem functions in Romania’s forests. He stressed the financial imbalance between strict conservation requirements and low compensation to landowners, calling for improved funding models that reward ongoing stewardship and ensure long-term sustainability.

Stefano Ceolotto (CMCC) explored the emerging synergy between NbS and insurance. He illustrated how ecosystems act as natural buffers against climate extremes and how insurance schemes can both fund nature restoration and benefit from it, by integrating nature-based risk reduction into premium structures and payout designs.

Alessandro Bosso (ART-ER) introduced the concept of Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP), presenting an Italian case study that estimated regional ecosystem services at €83.5 million per year. He argued for including GEP alongside GDP to better inform regional and national development planning.

The session brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers around a shared goal: unlocking the economic value of ecosystems to enable more effective and equitable climate adaptation through NbS. Through keynote insights and hands-on dialogue, the session laid the groundwork for innovative strategies at the intersection of finance, policy, and nature.