Iora Ecological Solutions (IORA) has received INR 8.5 crore (~USD 1 million) in debt funding from Caspian Impact Investments (Caspian Debt) to expand its flagship MegCare agroforestry and land restoration program in the state of Meghalaya.
Founded in 2009 by Swapan Mehra, IORA is a pioneer in environmental advisory and implementation services in climate mitigation, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. The company has a robust portfolio with over 200 projects across 27 Indian states, 2 union territories and internationally in Southeast Asia, Africa and South America. Its interventions cover more than 20 million hectares globally.
Scaling MegCare: A Green Vision for Meghalaya
The MegCare program, IORA’s flagship program in Meghalaya, combines agroforestry, carbon finance and community engagement to address the dual challenges of ecological degradation and rural poverty. The newly secured funding will help IORA to scale up restoration work and impact the lives of 80,000 smallholder farmers.
The project is based on a carbon finance model where Carbon Removal Units (CRUs)—verifiable, tradable carbon offsets—will be generated through agroforestry and reforestation. These CRUs will be verified against rigorous environmental protocols to be aligned with emerging climate markets and carbon accounting standards.
The project is supported by Rabo Foundation and Rabobank’s ACORN platform, which will facilitate marketing, trading and value realisation of the CRUs and provide advisory support for structuring the financial framework.
Innovative Climate Finance for Lasting Impact
Called a first-of-its-kind financial model globally, the partnership combines innovative debt financing with nature-based carbon removal and can be a precedent for future climate finance in India and beyond.
“We are excited to work with Caspian and Rabobank to launch a new carbon-backed finance product that will help us to further our partnership with the state government, communities and landowners of Meghalaya,” said Swapan Mehra, Founder and CEO of IORA. “This will increase the density and carbon stock of agroforestry and lead to climate resilience and water security.”
Caspian Debt, a seasoned impact investor, sees this as part of its broader mission to support climate solutions.
“This is an important milestone for Caspian in creating innovative financial solutions that drive climate action,” said Sai Pramodh, Business Head at Caspian Debt.
A Timely Boost for Climate and Communities
The transaction highlights the global and local need for climate action. According to Bram Spann and Harm Haverkort from Rabo Foundation and Rabo ACORN, “this is a vital move for climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods” for farmers with training, income opportunities and environmental stewardship.
By combining financial innovation with ecological integrity and community empowerment, the partnership between IORA, Caspian Debt, Rabo Foundation and ACORN is a game changer for sustainable development.
As the world races to meet climate goals and restore degraded ecosystems, IORA’s scalable, science-based solutions offer a blueprint for inclusive, carbon-positive growth, rooted in the power of nature and the resilience of rural communities.
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