How markets could save the jaguar

A jaguar prowls near Laguna de Términos in Campeche, Mexico, unaware that thousands of kilometers away, its fate is being shaped in a city office. Poaching, habitat loss, and climate change threaten not only the survival of this iconic predator, but the broader ecosystem it calls home. Yet, thanks to the innovative approaches in sustainability finance, a group of about 200 people gathered in Mexico City might be key to its protection.

This group convened at the Nat5 Live Marketplace, the first positive nature marketplace in Latin America, bringing together global corporations, sustainable investment funds, government representatives, chambers of commerce, and environmental project developers. Unlike traditional networking events, Nat5 created a direct marketplace where demand meets supply for positive nature credits, enabling measurable conservation outcomes.

Launching the first positive nature marketplace

On October 6 and 7, the Nat5 Live Marketplace formally launched with an initial offering of over one million biodiversity, water, soil, and carbon credits, collectively valued at approximately $20 million. Each credit is issued and registered under the aOCP (Ases On-Chain Protocol), a blockchain-based system that provides a transparent and traceable mechanism for channeling capital directly into verified environmental projects. Smart contracts record every transaction, while satellite imagery and field audits verify results on the ground, ensuring that conservation outcomes are real, measurable, and accountable.

Projects such as Nicté-Ha’ - Xim Báalam were highlighted, protecting more than 4,500 hectares in the southern Laguna de Términos region through conservation and restoration efforts. These initiatives focus on:

• Biodiversity conservation
• Wildlife protection against poaching
• Forest fire prevention and control
• Ecological research and monitoring

These programs are operational and financed through the sale of positive nature credits, creating continuous funding for local field teams and community employment. Monitoring systems confirm the presence of key species, including jaguars, ocelots, and endemic birds, while restored forests and wetlands enhance carbon storage and water regulation.

Highlighting impactful projects

Over two days of panels, keynote discussions, and project showcases, participants reviewed 25 active developments demonstrating measurable ecological and social results such as carbon capture, biodiversity health, and community well-being indicators. A jury of experts recognised the most outstanding initiatives through the RegenerActor awards, including:

• Xim Báalam (Campeche): Narrative and quality category
• Nicté-Ha’ (Campeche): Environmental impact category
• La Solución Somos Todos (Tabasco): Social impact, addressing fires and illegal logging
• La Cañita Ejido Project (Durango): Investment readiness, promoting community forestry, habitat restoration, key species conservation, and water management
• Nuevo Malzaga (Oaxaca): Emblematic species/unique differentiator, reintroducing endangered spider monkeys

All projects were certified under Nat5’s aOCP standard, which integrates environmental, social, and governance metrics. Certified projects are eligible for resources generated through the purchase of nature credits, creating a sustainable and accountable funding model for conservation. 

A new model for conservation financing 

The Nat5 Marketplace demonstrates how urban decision-makers and financial stakeholders can directly influence the survival of species and ecosystems from afar. By connecting corporate investment with on-the-ground conservation, it offers a scalable solution to prevent environmental degradation, showing that preserving biodiversity is not only possible but economically viable. 

This event exemplifies a growing trend: leveraging market-based solutions for sustainability, empowering both communities and species alike. The jaguar, emblematic of Mexico’s biodiversity, symbolises the potential of these innovative approaches to safeguard nature – proving that effective conservation can begin in a city office, far from the jungle itself. 

Building a living legacy

As one of the first positive nature marketplaces, Nat5 Marketplace serves as a blueprint for how finance, technology, and conservation expertise can intersect to protect our planet. Through the purchase of positive nature credits, investors can contribute to meaningful ecological outcomes while fostering social and economic benefits for local communities. This pioneering approach provides hope that species like the jaguar will thrive, and that markets can be a force for regeneration rather than exploitation.

To learn more about the fast-evolving nature market, start here.

illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.

Track the real‑world impact behind the sustainability headlines. illuminem’s Data Hub™ offers transparent performance data and climate targets of companies driving the transition.