What we do
Our Purpose
The Natural Capital and Environmental Markets Initiative (NCEMI) offers course, programs and networks to inspire and support:
land managers and farmers - to play a leading and entrepreneurial role in natural capital, nature repair and environmental markets
advisors, policy and program professionals - to play an advisory, policy and programmatic role in natural capital, nature repair and environmental markets.
“When land managers and farmers invest in the environment, and society invests them, everyone benefits.”
— Meaghan Burkett, Director EMLP
Our Vision
Our vision is that land managers and farmers are:
Supported and encouraged to:
build their knowledge, skills and confidence to identify, market and benefit from sustainable land management and environmental services
adapt and evolve their operations and business to maintain and enhance natural capital and ecosystem services while continuing to provide high-quality products and services
Recognised for the important contribution they make in protecting, restoring and enhancing Australia’s natural capital assets and ecosystem services that support life for all of us
Financially recognised and rewarded for the environmental services they provide
Playing a leading role in natural capital and environmental markets, influencing and participating in existing markets, and driving the development of new market opportunities.
Our long-term vision is an Australia with a healthy and thriving natural environment that supports human life, and all other forms of life on earth.
Background
Australia has a rich and diverse environment with natural capital and ecosystem services that provide the essential conditions needed for our existence. Australia is also known for producing high-quality, safe and diverse agricultural products. Our well-being is reliant on both a healthy and thriving environment and productive, resilient and sustainable land management and agriculture sector.
Around the world, the demand for natural capital, ecosystem services and environmental services is on the rise. We define environmental services as activities undertaken by humans that deliver value and benefits to society (and the wider web of life) by enhancing the quality and health of natural capital, improving ecosystem services, resource efficiency and mitigating negative environmental impacts. In this context it's the activities undertaken by land managers and farmers, such as soil nutrient replenishment, protection of native habitat and species, carbon storage, reforestation and many others.
Society understands the need for and value of natural capital and ecosystem services and is increasingly recognising that there is an imbalance in how we use these resources. Most importantly, they know that action is required to meet this need and are willing to financially value and reward the people who produce environmental services. Environmental markets provide a mechanism for land managers and farmers to be recognised and receive financial and other benefits for providing environmental services to society.
There is an increasing range of environmental services that Governments, private parties and others are requesting and are prepared to pay for. There is also a wealth of untapped innovative micro trading opportunities that provide market entry options to small and medium-sized businesses that are impeded by the financial risk and costs of participating in larger markets. Recent global growth trends in the environmental markets sector have far exceeded those of the wider economy. Realising the transformational opportunity environmental markets offer relies on getting land managers ready and motivated to optimise participation and effectiveness.
That’s where the Natural Capital and Environmental Markets Initiative comes in…
