Jordan Holdorf
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity
Biodiversity finance
Biography
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher with LCAB, where I study biodiversity finance and how we can better align investment with positive outcomes for nature.
I completed my PhD at Griffith University, where I developed mathematical and financial models to investigate how climate risk, nature markets and investment decisions influence the financing of ecosystem restoration. My research has always aimed to work across disciplinary boundaries. I value interdisciplinary research because it allows us to develop a broader understanding of environmental challenges and the connections between the environment, people and finance.
I joined LCAB because of its strong interdisciplinary focus and its emphasis on research that can have meaningful impact, bringing together different perspectives to develop practical approaches for addressing biodiversity challenges.
Research
My research at LCAB focuses on how biodiversity-linked financial instruments can be designed to deliver meaningful outcomes for nature and people. I am developing quantitative approaches to evaluate instruments such as biodiversity impact bonds, biodiversity credits and climate or sustainability-linked bonds across financial, ecological and social outcomes. A particular focus is understanding how investment timing, instrument design and uncertainty around ecological, market and climate conditions influence outcomes over time.
I am interested in using optimisation and modelling to identify trade-offs between financial viability, biodiversity benefits and social priorities, and in how these approaches can support the design of practical and high-integrity finance mechanisms. Working with financial institutions and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities is an important part of this research, helping to ensure that biodiversity and social outcomes are meaningful, measurable and relevant to real-world decision- making.
Publication Highlights
Holdorf, J., Roberts, M. E., Diaz-Rainey, I., & Brown, C. J. (2026). Adaptive temporal optimization of restoration investments with blue carbon returns and climate risks. Restoration Ecology, 34(3), e70261.