Gaining Ground: State of Private Investment in Nature 2026

This new report by Ecosystem Marketplace and The Nature Conservancy shows that private investment in nature has grown substantially over the past decade, reflecting a market that is far more sophisticated, transparent, and standardized than when the last edition was published in 2016.

As interest in nature investing continues to grow, there remains a lack of comprehensive, long-term analysis spanning the full spectrum of return-seeking investors and investment strategies. This report helps fill that gap, offering a data-driven view of how the market has evolved—and where opportunities and challenges remain.

Drawing on a decade of investment data, complemented by a 2026 survey of 70 market participants—including fund managers, banks, and other financial institutions—the report analyzes 1,918 investments totaling $62.7 billion across sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry, nature-based climate solutions, ecosystem restoration and protection, mixed landscape portfolios, and NatureTech.

The findings point to a market that is becoming increasingly sophisticated, but one that is still shaped by institutional familiarity and established asset classes. While financial structures have matured considerably, investors continue to face significant barriers to deploying capital, particularly regulatory uncertainty around carbon markets, biodiversity markets, and nature-related disclosure standards.