Sea otters are a keystone species whose presence promotes recovery and stability of kelp, seagrass, fish stocks, and salt marsh ecosystems.

By improving these vegetated ecosystems, sea otters can indirectly enhance carbon storage and nutrient cycling, improve fish habitat, and increase biodiversity. Additionally, given the public's love of sea otters, they boost local economies through nature-based tourism.

This project greatly benefits from the fact that sea otters are one of the most studied and data-rich species. Partnering with Dr. Brent Hughes, coastal ecology and conservation expert, along with expert modelers, BGF utilizes science to pioneer a new methodology to quantify and finance sea otter-driven ecosystem services, unlocking natural capital markets to fund the recovery of otters and coastal ecology.

This framework will enable grants, sponsors, and market-based finance mechanisms to support marine protected areas (MPAs), restore coastal ecosystems, mitigate threats, and restore and protect sea otter populations.

Scientific Collaboration

Developed in partnership with Dr. Brent Hughes and leading marine ecologists, this methodology draws from decades of peer-reviewed research and modeling expertise to quantify the cascading ecological and carbon impacts of sea otter recovery.

Outcome

• Quantifies ecosystem services and carbon benefits from sea otter recovery
• Supports restoration of kelp, seagrass, and salt marsh ecosystems
• Unlocks market-based finance for marine protected areas
• Enables blue carbon credit methodologies linked to keystone species
• Promotes nature-based tourism and local economic resilience

If you're interested in supporting the development of this methodology, please contact +Nature.

BGF is pioneering an initiative to protect whales and ocean biodiversity by developing a biodiversity credit methodology. This effort integrates ecosystem science, economic valuation, and nature-based finance, providing the foundation for sustainable investment in marine conservation.

The project will model whales' contributions to ocean productivity, nutrient cycling, and carbon storage, transforming ecological value into financial instruments that drive conservation action. Additional valuations include whale ecotourism and fisheries productivity.

Financial mechanisms can be developed for whale protection, including insurance incentives and technology that supports the recovery of whale populations by reducing ship strikes, fishing gear entanglements, and climate impacts.

Why Now?

• Critical whale populations — North Atlantic right whales and Pacific blue whales face urgent threats from ship strikes and entanglements.
• Emerging finance mechanisms — Growing demand for blue natural capital credits aligns with global climate and biodiversity commitments.
• Technological readiness — Anti-collision systems and ropeless fishing gear are available but need scaled funding.

If you're interested in supporting the development of this methodology, please contact +Nature.

This project seeks funding for the development of the first carbon and biodiversity credit framework anchored in bison and other ruminant ecosystem services. This framework will enable grants, investments, and market-based finance mechanisms to support the restoration of grasslands through holistic management of bison across the Great Plains of the US and Canada.

Grounded in the Savory Institute's Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) protocol, this megafauna model, together with BGF's valuation methodology, integrates both leading and lagging indicators to guide management decisions that regenerate land. This methodology can also be applied globally to other ruminants, including cattle, sheep, and goats.

Properly managed ruminants play a vital role in healthy grasslands, which cover nearly one-third of the Earth's surface. These vast and fragile landscapes play a crucial role in ensuring a healthy future for us all.

Holistic Management & Impact

Beyond land regeneration, the presence of bison enhances water infiltration and efficiency, greater resilience to drought, and expanded economic opportunities in Indigenous communities. Holistic management practices can increase soil water-holding capacities by 30% and raise land productivity by up to 40%.

Rigorous economic valuation assessments of bison-based ecosystem services — including food security and biodiversity regeneration benefits — underpin the nature credit issuance.

If you're interested in supporting the development of this methodology, please contact +Nature.