Across Europe, restoring nature depends not only on ecological action but also on creating sustainable economic opportunities for the people who live and work in these landscapes. Through the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme’s Nature Positive Enterprises project, Fauna & Flora has developed practical tools and worked with partners in Georgia and Bulgaria to strengthen collaborations that support both biodiversity restoration and local livelihoods. This article explores why nature-positive enterprises matter, how partnerships can help them succeed, and what lessons are emerging from two pilot landscapes.
Why do nature-positive enterprises matter?
Many conventional business models rely on extracting natural resources faster than ecosystems can recover. Nature-positive enterprises offer a different approach by creating economic value while restoring nature and supporting local communities.
Fauna & Flora defines nature-positive enterprises as: a viable business entity that sustainably derives value from natural and social capital in a land/seascape and attracts or generates sustainable finance that positively contributes to nature conservation and restoration while promoting fair and inclusive opportunities for local actors to benefit.
Unlike traditional enterprises, nature-positive enterprises integrate conservation, ecosystem restoration and social equity into their core operations. They are designed to generate measurable benefits for biodiversity and local livelihoods, creating incentives to restore degraded landscapes while supporting the transition to a nature-positive economy.
However, building successful nature-positive enterprises in remote but biodiversity-rich landscapes is not straightforward. Infrastructure gaps, policy barriers and competition from resource-intensive enterprises can make it difficult for these businesses to grow and deliver lasting impact. This is where collaboration becomes essential. Networks of enterprises, communities and institutions can strengthen local economies, improve ecological resilience and help nature-positive businesses thrive.
The project: enabling nature-positive economies
With support from the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, Fauna & Flora is working with the teams behind two ELSP restoration projects: Kakheti Steppes in Georgia, led by the Society for Nature Conservation (SABUKO), and Iron Curtain to Green Belt in Bulgaria, led by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB). Together, they are strengthening nature-positive economies through enterprise partnerships in two remarkable landscapes where biodiversity and cultural heritage intersect but face mounting pressures from unsustainable land use and depopulation. As young people leave these rural areas, labour shortages increase and traditional skills are lost, making it harder for local enterprises to grow, adapt and collaborate.
Despite their shared challenges and opportunities, enterprises in these landscapes rarely come together on their own. Weak coordination mechanisms, limited market information, and a lack of trust or shared platforms leave many businesses operating in isolation. Many small enterprises are also run by just one or two people, limiting the time and resources they can devote to networking or developing joint initiatives.
This is where the project plays a vital role, helping to connect enterprises, build trust, and create the structures for partnership and cooperation that can drive nature-positive growth.
Kakheti Steppes: where tradition meets conservation
Stretching across southeast Georgia, the Iori Plateau, known as the Kakheti Steppes, is a striking semi-desert and steppe mosaic within the Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot. It shelters rare species like the Persian gazelle, eastern imperial eagle, and Egyptian vulture, alongside centuries-old pastoral traditions. Tushetian shepherds still migrate seasonally, producing distinctive cheeses such as guda and chogi, while protected areas like Chachuna, Samukhi and Vashlovani safeguard fragile ecosystems.
Yet, challenges loom large. Overgrazing and climate change threaten habitats, while economic opportunities remain scarce. Competing with conventional businesses is tough. Nature-positive enterprises often face higher production costs and must rely on niche markets of eco-conscious consumers.
SABUKO is tackling these barriers by fostering partnerships among traditional pastoralists, local producers, tourism operators, and ecotourism and conservation authorities. From woollen crafts to ecotourism ventures, these collaborations aim to create a resilient, nature-positive economy that benefits both people and wildlife.
Sakar mountains: from Iron Curtain to Green Belt
Once a remote border zone along the Iron Curtain, Bulgaria’s Sakar region is now a biodiversity jewel with untapped potential for nature-based tourism. Its low mountains and river valleys host over 220 bird species, including nearly 40% of Bulgaria’s imperial eagle population. Isolation preserved its ecological integrity and cultural heritage, making Sakar ideal for sustainable development.
Promising opportunities ahead include ecotourism clusters, regional branding, and promotion of local products like ahchak cheese and sesame tahini. BSPB is leading efforts to connect smallholder farmers and guesthouses under a shared identity that celebrates Sakar’s natural and cultural richness.
But hurdles remain: depopulation, labour shortages, and fire risks linked to land management policies. Building trust-based partnerships and strengthening governance are key to unlocking Sakar’s potential.
What makes partnerships work?
Building effective partnerships between local enterprises, communities and conservation organisations takes time. In both Kakheti and Sakar, historical mistrust and limited opportunities for collaboration have made it difficult for businesses to work together. Building trust, creating a shared vision and demonstrating early successes, such as joint marketing initiatives or co-branded products, are essential for encouraging long-term collaboration. Dedicated coordination, often led by an NGO or facilitator, also helps partnerships develop and grow.
Successful partnerships depend on bringing together a wide range of local actors, including farmers, tourism businesses, municipalities, NGOs and private enterprises. Training, peer learning and support with marketing and product development help strengthen local capacity, while communication tools such as websites, QR-coded displays and social media improve visibility and market access. Fair access to funding, shared costs and equitable opportunities to participate ensure that the benefits of collaboration are widely shared.
To support this process, Fauna & Flora developed a practical toolkit to help organisations assess opportunities within a landscape, identify strategic partners and build effective collaborations. The toolkit has been tested in Kakheti and Sakar, where it has already informed partnership workshops and local action plans. In Georgia, a recent SABUKO workshop led to new collaborations between local producers and tourism operators. A follow-up workshop in Bulgaria later this year will help shape the next steps towards a more nature-positive economy in the Sakar landscape.
Towards the future
Nature-positive enterprises are more than businesses, they’re catalysts for restoration and resilience. By embedding biodiversity conservation into economic systems, they offer a pathway to a future where landscapes thrive alongside communities. The work in Kakheti and Sakar is just the beginning. Lessons learned here can inspire practitioners worldwide to harness partnerships for a nature-positive economy.
This article was written by Rasima Sabzalieva, Technical Officer (Enterprise and Finance) at Fauna & Flora. To find out more and explore the resources, visit the Nature Positive Enterprises project page.
