Today, after four years of intensive design, testing, collaboration and verifying, Ekos, partnering with Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, are launching credits under their BioCredita Programme – a biodiversity market programme.

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari CEO Helen Hughes said that biodiversity credits are an innovative way to diversify revenue for the sanctuary, at a time when traditional funding streams become harder to find. “We have been actively looking for ways to adapt how our funding is secured, in order to guarantee that the sanctuary is here for generations to come” she said. “Consequently, we reached out to Ekos and they helped us develop biodiversity credits on their new BioCredita programme”.

Ekos CEO Sean Weaver said that there is an increasing gap between the funding needed for conservation in New Zealand versus the funding available from philanthropy and/or grants. “This is why we developed the BioCredita programme. Biocredtia presents a far greater opportunity to connect with more organisations and individuals that value world-class environmental and social outcomes.”

Hughes says the credits are unique because they support completed conservation work, ensuring zero risk for buyers. “Like a wine vintage, we’re releasing the 2024 vintage of biodiversity credits — an innovative way to fund exceptional environmental outcomes” she says.

Ekos CEO Dr. Sean Weaver explains that Ekos biodiversity credits don’t put a price on nature, but instead put a price on the resources and technology required to protect it. The BioCredita programme ensures all credits are real, measured, additional, and independently verified to the internationally peer-reviewed Ekos SD Standard.

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“It’s a disciplined and transparent form of buying nature outcomes” says Weaver. “And because the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari credits are issued by a registered charity, they’re tax deductible.”

Hughes adds that innovation like this has always been central to the sanctuary’s mindset. “This initiative allows the private sector to engage meaningfully in conservation while enhancing their social licence to operate,” says Hughes.

Waikato-based Profile Group, a long-time supporter of the sanctuary, have been the first to adopt this ground-breaking programme by purchasing credits over the last three years—directly supporting the 3,363-hectare sanctuary.

Mikayla Plaw, Executive Director, Sustainability at Profile Group, highlights the accountability built into the system. “It’s audited, third-party verified, transparent and takes a long-term view to conservation — exactly the kind of change we need to protect the future of our most precious eco-systems and critical natural environments.”

Credits are now available through the Ekos website either as biodiversity credits on their own or bundled with carbon credits for voluntary carbon management: https://www.ekos.co.nz/cognito-form-smm-buy-now

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