First Name: Thibaut Santier

Email: thibaut.santier2@gmail.com

Message: Seeking Guidance on Visiting NbS Projects in Eastern Sri Lanka

Dear Network for NbS Sri Lanka Team,

My name is Thibaut — I’m a 26-year-old Environmental and Finance Professional from France, specializing in nature capital markets, the voluntary carbon market, partnership-building, qualitative research, and carbon project origination.

My partner and I are planning a trip to Sri Lanka in July 2025, and I’m hoping to extend my stay to explore and learn more about nature-based solutions being developed across the country. While researching initiatives in Sri Lanka, I came across your network and was truly impressed by the work you're doing to promote and support NbS development nationally.

I understand that your team may not directly implement projects, but I imagine you have a unique overview of the landscape of active NbS efforts in the country. I’d be especially grateful if you could point me toward any projects along the East Coast — in places like Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Mullaitivu, or elsewhere — that I might be able to visit or engage with while I'm there.

I’ve worked in the Voluntary Carbon Market for two years now, supporting the funding of mangrove and forest restoration initiatives in Myanmar, Madagascar, and Costa Rica — but I haven’t yet had the chance to visit a project site in person. This trip feels like a golden opportunity to connect my work with real on-the-ground learning.

My goal is to better understand how NbS projects are governed, how their quality is assessed, and to witness firsthand the impact that climate finance can bring to ecosystems and communities. I’d also be happy to offer something in return — for example, a short presentation on trends and insights in the Voluntary Carbon Market, especially with a European perspective. I’ve previously spoken with organizations like GRDF and Carbon Gap, and you can find more details on my past public interventions here:
https://www.notion.so/Public-appearances-1d634107dc1380af8054ddc760c7a851?pvs=4

If there’s anyone in your network you recommend I speak with, I’d be incredibly thankful for the connection. And if there’s any opportunity to meet with someone from your team while I’m in Colombo or nearby, I’d be delighted.

Thank you very much for your time and the important work you do.

Warm regards,

Thibaut