Our mission

• NDBE's mission is to help rural and coastal communities create aspirational and lasting jobs.  To do this, NDBE is establishing Northern Devon as a hub for natural environment innovation, creating products in Northern Devon that can then be replicated in rural and coastal communities around the world.​
• NDBE is 100% owned by the Biosphere Foundation; as such while NDBE uses a commercial skillset in developing products, it has a not-for-profit ethos, with any profits being reinvested in the natural environment in Northern Devon via the Foundation.
• To explain more about the work we do, we have been a publishing Rural & Coastal Systems, a newsletter available on LinkedIn.​​

Smart Biosphere

What it is

• Delivering place-based environmental intelligence as a service - bringing together data for defined places (e.g. catchments, farms, estates, coastal zones, developments) into a single, quality-assured system
• Integrating multiple data types (e.g. water quality, biodiversity, carbon, land use, energy, flooding, visitor data) to create a complete, actionable picture
• Providing trusted, end-to-end support - from data integration and analysis through to public dashboards and long-term data stewardship

Why it matters
Environmental data is often fragmented, inconsistent, and difficult to interpret. This makes it harder for land managers, businesses, and public bodies to make informed decisions, demonstrate impact, and build trust. There is a growing need for clear, integrated, and transparent environmental intelligence to support regulation, investment, and effective place-based management.

Our approach
The Smart Biosphere acts as a trusted, place-based integrator - bringing together existing datasets, local expertise, and advanced data science to create a single source of truth.  We combine data integration with local ‘ground truth’, and invest time in analysis to ensure data is explainable and decision-ready.  Outputs include public-facing dashboards that set out conditions, strategies, and progress over time, alongside a long-term data platform that supports ongoing monitoring and learning.  This is underpinned by our tech partners, IGI Ltd, who bring 40 years experience in advanced data management.

Natural Capital Marketplace

What it is

• Working with land managers to unlock new revenue from high-quality environmental outcomes (e.g. carbon, biodiversity, water); both individually and by bringing groups together at landscape scale
• Partnering with businesses and investors seeking to invest in nature and environmental outcomes
• Providing trusted, end-to-end support - from project design through to delivery and verification

 
Why it matters
Opportunities to generate income from environmental management are rapidly growing. However, these markets are complex, evolving, and often difficult for landowners to access. Barriers include unclear rules, high upfront risk, and a lack of trusted local connections between buyers and sellers.
 
Our approach
​North Devon Biosphere Enterprises acts as a local, trusted intermediary - bringing together ecological expertise, financial structuring, and strong regional networks. We work both one-to-one with landowners and at landscape scale, aggregating projects to increase value, reduce risk, and open access to larger or more complex opportunities.  We ensure high-integrity outcomes, and prioritise connecting local supply with local demand.

Our workstreams

• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
• Getting river catchments to good ecological status
• Beaches & Bathing Areas
• Marine Restoration
• Flooding & Natural Flood Management

​Get in touch - [email protected]

Find out more

• Meet the Biosphere Team
  
• Find out what we do
• Look in detail at our Strategy
• Find our about our Partnership Members
• Learn about the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)