Marketplace for Nature was initiated by an informal network of nature conservation and Indigenous-focused organisations who came together as the ‘Biodiversity Credits Working Group’ led by Pollination Foundation Co-CEO, Jane Hutchinson, to explore how markets could play a greater role in safeguarding Australia’s ecosystems.

The vision was to create an online platform to connect nature market producers with buyers while building a community through facilitating field-based knowledge exchanges and convening online learning forums. The model was inspired by farmers markets – where produce is traded and community gather to connect.

Over 18 months the Marketplace for Nature mapped the landscape of organisations contributing to nature market development, scanned barriers to creating and scaling markets, convened a series of dialogues and workshops with potential market actors, convened sprints and workshops to co-design an on-line platform, researched models to quantify biodiversity conservation and restoration, and interviewed over 60 corporate and finance representatives to understand drivers of market demand. In 2022, the project merged with the ‘On Country’ Incubator into what is now the Nature Credit Project Incubator and a website that details development of biodiversity credit schemes, globally.

You can see our maps of voluntary biodiversity credit initiatives across the globe on the Marketplace for Nature website.

Pollination’s catalysing role in the Aboriginal Clean Energy (ACE) Partnership has set a new benchmark. It demonstrates how the transition to renewable energy can be achieved with First Nations as shareholders, not stakeholders. The companywide alignment on First Nations strategy has created trust and a strong reputation for Pollination amongst Indigenous communities.

Read more about the ACE Partnership here: Aboriginal Clean Energy

With Pollination’s growing reputation for unlocking potential within First Nation communities, the Foundation is in a unique position to support leaders to structure and scale community-led (not-for-profit) solutions. Our approach to Indigenous partnership is to scale deep, working at the speed of trust, standing alongside community leaders to explore, test, and launch innovative nature and climate solutions.

Over the coming year we aim to test this approach with one regional initiative in Australia before stretching to partner with other IP&LC communities in strategic locations globally.

As we explore new pathways to achieving a nature positive future, we’re thinking about the next generation of leaders. How do we create safe spaces for generative dialogue? A seed of an idea that is growing momentum is a series of convenings to connect emerging leaders within the corporate and Indigenous community sectors, to grow a shared vision for a healthy, nature positive future. Next year, we hope to share plans and a pathway to bring this seed to life.