When Better World Now! (BWN!) was looking for a method to balance its profit driven conservation models it had to seriously consider how carbon trading would affect its business model.
BWN! approached Quid Novi in February this year to find a way to effectively use Carbon Credits to balance their profit-driven conservation models. The initial meetings culminated in Tree Growth Management, a joint venture company. In addition, BWN has identified revenue streams from Carbon Credits which will benefit the sustainability and growth of all of its profitable venture philanthropy projects.
BWN! has identified interesting business opportunities in developing countries that can be extremely profitable, help build local economies and enhance the environment.
Its business model is comprised of identifying sustainable opportunities and using profits from business to support wider conservation projects as well as offering financial returns to investors.
Its founders believe that the only way to ensure the future wellbeing of local communities and wildlife is through sustainable long-term revenues. As such, BWN! was created to provide a financial return from threatened areas of the developing world where people and wildlife cohabit.
Profitable venture philanthropy
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Through its network of venture philanthropists, BWN! provides solutions to the charity and conservation dilemma. The company has found a way to profitably: preserve rainforests, conserve wildlife, plant huge amounts of trees, empower local communities, create employment, improve education, provide better access to healthcare, provide finance to hundreds of charities, encourage sustainable development, support global carbon emission reduction programme, and replicate success stories to other regions. |
In doing so, BWN! develops, finances and supports:
• Wildlife sanctuaries, eco-factories and retail outlets.
• Reforestation: large scale, sustainable forest management projects (in conjunction with Carbon Capital).
• Charity: improving access to education, healthcare, drinking water, sanitation and sustainable development solutions.
BWN! operates to internationally accepted best practices, such as the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) and the UN Clean Development Mechanism.
Wildlife conservation business
Through its subsidiary, Wildlife Works, it has purchased and restored an 80,000 acre wildlife sanctuary in Kenya, which has 54 different large mammal species where more than 250 elephants roam free. Over eight years, the concept has become proven. Its purpose-built eco-factories produce clothing that is sold through in wholesale and retail outlets in the US. It uses consumer power and job creation to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the conservation of wildlife and nature.
Forestation, carbon and energy business
BWN and Quid Novi have recently embarked on the Tree Growth Management joint-venture project to aquire long-term rights to land suitable for sustainable commercial forestry, thereby obtaining carbon credits under the Kyoto protocol CDM.
As well as establishing and operating sustainable commercial plantations, it is maintaining areas of sustainably managed and harvested indigenous species to help preserve the environment and re-establish biodiversity.
By promoting sustainable economic and social development in local communities (such as establishing saw mill facilities for projects and third party timber), it has established long-term contracts for the supply of woodfuel for power generation, selling round-wood and sawn timber to domestic markets and carbon credits on the world market.
Charity
BWN! established a charity to contribute to local communities working with and/or living near sponsored projects. Supporting 200 exemplary children’s projects each year to help children of Aids, disease, exploitation, war and poverty, it aims to support clinics, schools, clean water, inoculation, orphanages, street child centres and the rehabilitation of child soldiers. Misha Baumann Co-founder, executive officer +44 (0)20 7117 0505 misha@betterworldnow.com Nicholas Mavroleon Co-founder, investment officer +44 (0)20 7117 0505 nicholas@betterworldnow.com
