The idea of launching Ecosystem Marketplace was borne out of meeting by members of The Katoomba Group, an international working group composed of leading experts from forest and energy industries, research institutions, the financial world, and environmental NGOs dedicated to advancing markets for some of the ecosystem services provided by forests – such as watershed protection, biodiversity habitat, and carbon capture and storage.

Ecosystem Marketplace specializes in market-based approaches to environmental protection—in the public and private spheres—regarding greenhouse gases, water, biodiversity, and conservation.

[1] Ecosystem Marketplace's website states: "We believe that by providing solid and trust-worthy information on prices, regulation, science, and other market-relevant issues, markets for ecosystem services will one day become a fundamental part of our economic and environmental system, helping give value to environmental services that have, for too long, been taken for granted.

Water Relevant material can be accessed via the main Ecosystem Marketplace website and Watershed Connect.

Biodiversity Relevant material can be accessed via the main Ecosystem Marketplace website and the Species Banking Portal.