Investa is a real estate investment manager, operator and developer. With a commitment to ‘Transform Tomorrow’ the company has set a target of net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025. To move beyond net zero, Investa is investing in nature based solutions to achieve carbon reductions and nature restoration.

A partnership with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science project ‘Operation Crayweed’ which is looking to restore and regenerate crayweed. Crayweed which was previously abundant, has all but disappeared from Sydney’s foreshore due to urbanisation and pollution. A highly productive seaweed, it supports Australia’s most valuable fisheries, rock lobsters and abalone along with important microscopic organisms which maintain water quality and species diversity.

Crayweed also has the potential to capture carbon, and Investa is working with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and Operation Crayweed to develop natural capital investment methodologies for the project.

This project seeks to re-establish crayweed along the 70km stretch of greater Sydney’s foreshores. This is achieved by transplanting crayweed on reefs where they once occurred. After successful trials Investa is assisting in scaling this project up.

As well as providing nature regeneration benefits, this project facilitates staff engagement through volunteering.

 “’Operation Crayweed’ gives Investa early-mover advantage as the shift to nature positive gains pace.

“There is significant under-investment in the blue economy, especially the Great Southern Reef, which is largely ignored yet contributes greater ecological and biological importance than the Great Barrier Reef, so we jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with SIMS on ‘Operation Crayweed’,” said Sally Franklin, Investa Chief Operating Officer of Real Estate.