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Lunch & Learn 2026: Making the Business Case for Nature: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

Is nature in your development a cost – or an investment?

For many residential projects, biodiversity is still viewed as a compliance requirement – something that adds cost and complexity.

But what if nature-based solutions (NbS) could deliver measurable financial returns, alongside environmental and social benefits?

This IGBC Lunch & Learn, delivered in collaboration with Natural Capital Ireland sponsored for NPWS, will explore the real cost-benefit case for integrating nature into residential developments.

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Why Attend

This session will present new research examining the costs and benefits of protecting and enhancing biodiversity in housing developments.

Focusing on commonly used nature-based solutions (NbS), we will explore their impact across:

    Biodiversity and ecosystem health
    Climate adaptation and resilience
    Human health and wellbeing
    Long-term asset value and project performance

The session is designed to move beyond theory and provide practical, data-driven insights to support better decision-making.

Speaker
Karl Byrne

Designer & Researcher – Natural Capital & Nature Finance

Karl Byrne is a designer and researcher specialising in natural capital, biodiversity finance, and nature-based solutions.

He holds postgraduate qualifications in Design Thinking for Sustainability and Sustainable Finance, and is currently completing an MSc in the same field. His expertise spans biodiversity finance, regenerative economics, and climate modelling, alongside experience in UX design, facilitation, and business strategy.

Karl works with organisations including:

    Natural Capital Ireland
    Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
    Bioregioning South East Ireland
    Peatland Finance Ireland

He brings a data-driven and design-led approach to helping organisations understand and apply the value of nature in decision-making.

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