Cornwall Council launch natural capital market for landowners

Farmers in Cornwall could be eligible for payments for environmental projects on their land through a new online marketplace.

Cornwall Council have partnered with nature recovery platform EnTrade and sustainability consultant Arup to launch the new initiative, which aims to capture carbon, improve water quality, and create wildfire habitats.

The marketplace is designed to connect organisations looking to invest in natural capital and offset emissions with landowners seeking additional income.

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Businesses will be able to buy environmental credits through the platform directly from landowners, who will then carry out the agreed nature recovery projects.

EnTrade claims the platform makes it easy for businesses to trade certified environmental services such as nutrient reduction and biodiversity gain through the “transparent and data driven” digital marketplace.

Cornish councillor Martyn Alvey said: “This is a great opportunity for landowners to contribute to Cornwall’s environmental goals while also benefiting financially.

“We encourage everyone to explore how they can get involved.”

Similar projects matching developers and farmers around Bristol, Somerset and the Solent have already been launched by EnTrade.

Guy Thompson, EnTrade managing director, said: “Nature is in crisis, and we need a fundamental rethink on how we fund nature recovery.

“By bringing the EnTrade market mechanism to the Cornwall Natural Capital Exchange we will unlock private investment to restore local ecosystems, support farmers and drive sustainable land management, ensuring long-term environmental and economic benefits for the region.”

However, a number of sceptics remain within the wider agricultural industry over natural capital schemes.

Farm businesses may want to seek professional advice before committing to taking land out production.