NatureMetrics Announced as Earthshot Prize Finalist: A Decade of Impact and a Strong Vision for the Future

The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William in 2020, is one of the most esteemed global environmental awards, inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” challenge in 1962 to land a man on the moon within a decade. The mission of The Earthshot Prize is to search for and scale the most innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges, unleashing the urgent optimism needed to repair and regenerate our planet within the next decade.

Prince William’s words encapsulate the urgency of this mission:

“The Earth is at a tipping point. We face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet, or we remember our unique power as humans and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve. People can achieve great things. The next ten years present us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of action to repair the Earth.”

The Earthshot Prize brings together urgency and optimism, setting the stage for transformative action. Despite the escalating climate crisis, slow political interventions, and increasing levels of climate anxiety, the Prize offers a beacon of hope, recognizing that change is possible when we tap into the innovative solutions that will regenerate the planet. The urgency of our situation, combined with optimism and action, is key to unlocking the future we need—one that regenerates nature, restores ecosystems, and ensures a sustainable future for all.

This recognition of NatureMetrics as a finalist for The Earthshot Prize is not just an honour, but a validation of our mission to make biodiversity measurable and accelerate finance into nature. As we continue to work towards a nature-positive future, this nomination highlights the pivotal role eDNA technology plays in driving conservation and biodiversity efforts worldwide. It’s a milestone that aligns perfectly with the broader global goals we are all striving to meet, particularly as we approach COP16, a crucial moment for global nature discussions.

A Decade of Impact: Measurable Biodiversity Outcomes

Over the past ten years, NatureMetrics has made significant strides in biodiversity conservation and monitoring across the globe. Through our pioneering eDNA technology, we have transformed how biodiversity is measured, providing critical insights that inform conservation actions and drive positive outcomes for nature.

• 300 threatened species detected, supporting conservation and restoration efforts globally. These detections have been crucial in prioritizing actions for species on the brink of extinction.

• 1,500 projects across 110 countries, enabling and supporting ongoing monitoring, restoration, and conservation efforts. Our global reach has allowed us to build extensive biodiversity baselines that are vital for the future protection of ecosystems.

• 5,000 km² sampled, equivalent to 700,000 football pitches, providing essential baselines of biodiversity that will guide future conservation efforts.

• To date, we have partnered with 29 TNFD Early Adopters, ensuring robust data underpins the future of global nature reporting to meet the Global Biodiversity Framework's goals for nature.

• Our eDNA technology has mapped 8.48% of the earth, creating an unprecedented picture of biodiversity at site-level.

• We’ve supported customers with biodiversity measurement and baselining across multiple industries around the world – those with the opportunity to drive the biggest change for nature - from Nestle and Unilever to EDF Renewables and Anglo American.  

• We continue to support important conservation work with the world’s most prestigious conservation groups, including WWF, RSPB and FFI.

Driving Positive Change: Our Work Around the World‍

Our eDNA technology has been instrumental in important projects worldwide. We have helped protect critically endangered sharks off the Sussex coast, accelerated the race to net zero with EDF Renewables, and measured the success of reef protection efforts in the Philippines. We have uncovered hidden freshwater biodiversity in Myanmar, supporting conservation and fisheries planning, aided the prioritization of protected areas with species data in Liberia with Fauna & Flora, and mitigated invasive species risks in UK rivers.

Each of these projects represents our dedication to delivering actionable biodiversity data that drives informed decision-making and fosters accountability for biodiversity outcomes. Our efforts have not only informed conservation strategies but have also demonstrated the practical application of eDNA technology in restoring and protecting ecosystems across the globe.

Our ongoing commitment to high quality data

NatureMetrics has built a reputation for excellence in delivering comprehensive biodiversity monitoring solutions. Our premium eDNA services offer an end-to-end solution, from nature strategy development and survey design to sample training and report interpretation. With unmatched commercial eDNA lab infrastructure and an advanced bioinformatics pipeline, we are setting the global standard for biodiversity monitoring.

We pride ourselves on our rigorous control and quality assurance processes, ensuring the highest levels of data integrity. Our fast eight-week turnaround from sample receipt to data return via the NatureMetrics Intelligence Platform ensures that our clients receive critical insights when they need them most. With user-friendly sampling kits and video tutorials, we have made biodiversity monitoring accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical expertise.

Looking Ahead: NatureMetrics and the Future of Nature-Positive Practices

As we look toward the next decade, we are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of biodiversity measurement and eDNA technology; and incorporating other data sets into our offering, including Earth Observation and bioacoustics. Our ambition is to empower businesses and organizations worldwide to utilise robust, site-level biodiversity data into their strategies, helping them drive sustainable and resilient practices.  

NatureMetrics’ CEO, Dimple Patel, states: “The impact of biodiversity loss is undeniable, yet it’s often overlooked in business strategies. Now, with evolving regulations and a growing understanding of nature-related risks, companies can no longer afford to ignore their impact on ecosystems. Addressing these risks isn't just about compliance—it's about future-proofing business operations and making meaningful contributions to a sustainable future.”

NatureMetrics’ founder, Dr. Kat Bruce, reflects on the transformational potential of eDNA technology: “For too long, nature was ignored as too complex and niche to truly understand. We are dispelling the myths around biodiversity measurement—that it’s too complex, too vast, or irrelevant to business. In today’s world of AI, we know that complex data can drive simple, accurate metrics and insights, so complexity itself is no barrier. Rather, the barrier has been how to turn nature into data at sufficient scales to use these powerful analytical approaches. eDNA technology overcomes this, unlocking data at scale and paving the way for a whole new generation of simple, accurate metrics driven by the full complexity of the natural world and reflecting actual changes on the ground.”

Our vision for the future

We are immensely grateful to our team, customers, partners, and supporters who have been with us throughout this incredible journey. Your belief in our mission and your dedication to demonstrating the power of eDNA in driving the best outcomes for nature have been instrumental in our success. Together, we have pioneered new approaches to conservation, biodiversity monitoring, and restoration, shaping a more nature-positive future.

As we prepare for COP16 and continue our work beyond, we remain committed to making biodiversity measurable at scale to drive global goals for nature.  

We hope that The Earthshot Prize will help to elevate eDNA technology and NatureMetrics’ solution on the global stage, so we can reach more organisations that need a viable and scalable biodiversity solution.  

Here's to the next decade of innovation, impact, and transformation!

Reach out if you’d like to find out more.

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