The initiative, known as Farming Nature Derwent: A place-based Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme for farmers and land managers, has undertaken extensive research to develop investment-ready business models applicable to a broad range of land management contexts.
It has generated important insights into how land managers can diversify their income by capturing the value of ecosystem services delivered through nature recovery.
Supported through £100,000 from Defra’s Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF), the Trust was able to develop new tools and processes that make it easier for landowners to identify, understand and engage with nature market opportunities.
The project focused on breaking down barriers to participation in nature markets, such as challenges of scale, uncertainty over available options and the complexity surrounding eligibility for different codes and standards.
The Trust has developed interactive tools that make the Green Finance Institute’s Farmer Toolkit more accessible to landowners, offering a site-based, practical approach to identifying and evaluating opportunities for nature-market engagement.
Financial modelling carried out with Triodos Bank produced a framework for comparing revenue potential and risk across different ecosystem markets. The model will allow the Trust to support farmers and landowners in understanding the economic opportunities associated with biodiversity, climate and water improvements on their land.
By focusing on accessibility and practical decision-making support, the project shifts innovation away from creating new financial products and towards ensuring existing ones are more accessible, a key step in growing participation in nature markets.
