What if protecting and restoring biodiversity could also create jobs, grow businesses and strengthen communities? Forty-two Saint Lucian ecopreneurs are setting out to prove exactly that.
In Saint Lucia, biodiversity is not only an invaluable natural heritage, it is also the foundation of the island nation’s economy and human wellbeing. From forested ridges and watersheds - to farmland, mangroves, sea grass and coral reefs - these connected "ridge to reef" ecosystems sustain fisheries, farming and tourism, and shield communities from erosion, flooding, storms and the worsening impacts of climate change. Conserving and restoring biodiversity is central to the government's national policies and strategies, as highlighted in Saint Lucia’s newly validated National Sustainable Blue Economy Roadmap and Rapid Readiness Assessment, completed under the SIDS Restoration Flagship.
The ecopreneurs participating are part of a much larger global shift towards nature-positive development. Under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, countries have committed to mobilizing greater investment for biodiversity conservation and restoration. According to UNEP's State of Finance for Nature 2026, investment in nature-based solutions must increase 2.5 times to US$571 billion annually by 2030 equivalent to just 0.5 per cent of global GDP to meet global biodiversity, climate and land restoration targets.
At the same time, UNEP's Becoming #Generation Restoration report found that every US$1 invested in ecosystem restoration can generate up to US$30 in economic benefits, demonstrating that investing in nature is not only an environmental necessity but also a powerful driver of sustainable economic growth.
From sea moss farming and sustainable agriculture to eco-tourism and circular economy ventures, a new cohort of ecopreneurs has embarked on a journey to build businesses that create value not only for people and local economies, but also for the ecosystems on which they depend.
For example, Belle Moss’ restoration project includes responsible sea moss cultivation and regenerative farming models to support marine biodiversity, improve soil health, and reduce erosion. Klèté Farms’ project focuses on the development of climate-smart and sustainable cocoa production, and Sarga Eco is designing innovative techniques to convert sargassum to biodegradable food-grade products.
These are just some of the innovative business models from ecopreneurs participating in the Restoration Factory, a business incubation programme delivered under the UN Decade’s SIDS Restoration Flagship that supports Small Island Developing States in accelerating ecosystem restoration while strengthening the policies, institutions, knowledge systems and partnerships needed for a sustainable blue economy transition, for long-term restoration scaling and impact.
Implemented through a partnership between UNEP, Bridge for Billions, the Department of Sustainable Development of Saint Lucia and Export Saint Lucia, the Restoration Factory sets out to support entrepreneurs turning ecosystem restoration into viable, investment-ready businesses.
Over the coming months, 42 ecopreneurs will benefit from a structured incubation programme alongside mentorship, peer-learning opportunities and business development support.
“The Restoration Factory is demonstrating that ecosystem restoration is not simply an environmental imperative - it is also a powerful engine for sustainable economic growth, helping to turn a Sustainable Blue Economy transition from ambition into action,” said Georgina Avlonitis, Global Coordinator of the SIDS Restoration Flagship. “Through the SIDS Restoration Flagship, we are investing in a new generation of ecopreneurs who are proving that restoring nature can also restore livelihoods, strengthen community resilience and unlock new economic opportunities. By placing local innovation and entrepreneurship at the heart of restoration, Saint Lucia is helping to shape a restoration economy that can inspire and be replicated across Small Island Developing States.”
“Real and lasting restoration must be locally led. The Restoration Factory is equipping Saint Lucians with the knowledge, networks and support needed to transform environmental challenges into sustainable business opportunities. It is about empowering our people to become leaders in building a resilient and nature-positive future,” said Adams Toussaint, Saint Lucia National Coordinator for the SIDS Restoration Flagship.
Beyond supporting individual enterprises, the programme aims to attract new partnerships and finance for nature while offering a practical model that can be adapted across Small Island Developing States.
Over the coming months, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will continue to follow their journeys sharing the people, ideas and businesses helping to shape Saint Lucia's growing restoration economy, one enterprise at a time. Follow this blog and these socials for entrepreneur spotlights and updates from the programme.
About the SIDS Restoration Flagship
The SIDS Restoration Flagship is one of the World Restoration Flagships under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). Led by UNEP, FAO and in partnership with UNDESA, it supports restoration across three Small Island Developing States (Comoros, Vanuatu and Saint Lucia), strengthening resilience from ridge to reef and empowering communities to lead nature-based solutions.