Master’s degree1,500 h · Online · 11 modules

Master's in Marine Biodiversity Economics and Nature Credits

This master's prepares you to measure, value and finance marine nature. You will study the economic valuation of ecosystem services, natural capital accounting, the assessment of business risk and dependence on biodiversity, and the mechanisms used to fund conservation. You will also take a critical look at blue carbon and biodiversity credits, a market that is still emerging, so that you can tell projects with integrity from those without it.

Duration1,500 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules11
Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.

Your diagnosis
6of 6 to cover

You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Master's in Marine Biodiversity Economics and Nature Credits?

This master's prepares you to measure, value and finance marine nature. You will explain why the loss of nature is an economic problem, apply market-price, revealed-preference and stated-preference valuation methods, build natural capital accounts for marine and coastal ecosystems using environmental accounting frameworks, analyze the dependencies, impacts and risks that nature poses for companies and financial institutions, assess the integrity of blue carbon and biodiversity credits and structure instruments to fund marine conservation and restoration.

What sets this master's apart: an approach that brings ecosystem science and economic analysis together; work with the most widely used natural capital accounting and nature disclosure frameworks; a critical view of integrity, additionality and greenwashing risk in credit markets; a financial focus on nature-related risk for banks, insurers and investors; and a Final Project in which you carry out an economic assessment of a real marine ecosystem and propose a mechanism to fund its conservation.

Program typeMaster’s degree
ModeOnline
Duration1,500 hours
Modules11
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Economics and ecology: an approach that joins ecosystem science with economic analysis.
  • International frameworks: the most widely used natural capital accounting and nature disclosure frameworks.
  • Critical view: integrity, additionality and greenwashing risk in credit markets.
  • Financial focus: nature-related risk for banks, insurers and investors.
  • Conservation finance: blue bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, trust funds and blended finance.
  • Final Project: an economic assessment of a marine ecosystem and a funding mechanism for a real case.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Master's in Marine Biodiversity Economics and Nature Credits

11 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Marine Biodiversity and the Economy

  • 1.1. Marine biodiversity and its status
  • 1.2. Ocean ecosystem services
  • 1.3. Environmental economics and ecological economics
  • 1.4. Externalities and public goods
  • 1.5. The tragedy of the commons at sea
  • 1.6. Natural capital as an economic concept
  • 1.7. The blue economy and sustainability
  • 1.8. The IPBES platform and its assessments
  • 1.9. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
  • 1.10. Biodiversity on the economic agenda
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Economic Valuation of Marine Ecosystems

  • 2.1. Total economic value
  • 2.2. Market price methods
  • 2.3. Substitute cost and avoided costs
  • 2.4. Travel cost
  • 2.5. Hedonic pricing
  • 2.6. Contingent valuation
  • 2.7. Choice experiments
  • 2.8. Benefit transfer
  • 2.9. Ethical limits of valuation
  • 2.10. Valuing fisheries, tourism and coastal protection
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Natural Capital Accounting

  • 3.1. Foundations of environmental accounting
  • 3.2. The United Nations SEEA framework
  • 3.3. Ecosystem extent accounts
  • 3.4. Condition accounts
  • 3.5. Ecosystem service accounts
  • 3.6. Monetary accounts
  • 3.7. Data and mapping for accounting
  • 3.8. Ocean accounting
  • 3.9. Corporate natural capital accounting
  • 3.10. Case studies of marine accounts
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Nature-Related Risk for Business and Finance

  • 4.1. Dependencies and impacts on nature
  • 4.2. Physical, transition and systemic risks
  • 4.3. TNFD recommendations
  • 4.4. The LEAP approach
  • 4.5. Sectors highly dependent on the ocean
  • 4.6. Biodiversity metrics for companies
  • 4.7. Nature-related risk assessment tools
  • 4.8. Integration into risk management
  • 4.9. Sustainability reporting in Europe
  • 4.10. Investment portfolio analysis
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Biodiversity Metrics and Measurement

  • 5.1. What can be measured in biodiversity
  • 5.2. Species and habitat indicators
  • 5.3. Ecological condition indices
  • 5.4. Biodiversity units
  • 5.5. Baselines and counterfactual scenarios
  • 5.6. Environmental DNA and new technologies
  • 5.7. Remote sensing for measurement
  • 5.8. Measurement uncertainty
  • 5.9. Independent verification
  • 5.10. Limitations of simplified metrics
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Blue Carbon and Carbon Markets

  • 6.1. Blue carbon ecosystems
  • 6.2. Measuring carbon stocks and flows
  • 6.3. The voluntary carbon market
  • 6.4. Blue carbon methodologies
  • 6.5. Additionality and permanence
  • 6.6. Leakage and double counting
  • 6.7. Standards and registries
  • 6.8. Integrity in the voluntary market
  • 6.9. Reputational risks
  • 6.10. Lessons from blue carbon projects
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Biodiversity and Nature Credits

  • 7.1. The concept of a biodiversity credit
  • 7.2. Differences from carbon credits
  • 7.3. Emerging international initiatives
  • 7.4. Designing credit units
  • 7.5. Offsetting versus contribution
  • 7.6. The mitigation hierarchy
  • 7.7. Biodiversity net gain
  • 7.8. Governance and the rights of local communities
  • 7.9. Market and integrity risks
  • 7.10. Outlook for a developing market
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Financing Marine Conservation

  • 8.1. The biodiversity finance gap
  • 8.2. Public funds and international cooperation
  • 8.3. Conservation trust funds
  • 8.4. Debt-for-nature swaps
  • 8.5. Blue bonds
  • 8.6. Blended finance
  • 8.7. Payments for environmental services
  • 8.8. User fees and contributions
  • 8.9. Impact investment
  • 8.10. Designing financial instruments
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 9

Public Policy and Economic Instruments

  • 9.1. Environmental economic instruments
  • 9.2. Harmful fisheries subsidies
  • 9.3. Marine protected areas and the economy
  • 9.4. Maritime spatial planning
  • 9.5. Environmental liability
  • 9.6. Mandatory environmental compensation
  • 9.7. Green public procurement
  • 9.8. Cost-benefit analysis of policies
  • 9.9. High seas governance
  • 9.10. Evaluating biodiversity policies
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 10

Data Analysis and Economic Modeling

  • 10.1. Economic and ecological data
  • 10.2. Bioeconomic fisheries models
  • 10.3. Ecosystem service models
  • 10.4. Scenario analysis
  • 10.5. Multi-criteria analysis
  • 10.6. Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis
  • 10.7. GIS tools for environmental economics
  • 10.8. Visualizing results
  • 10.9. Communicating with decision-makers
  • 10.10. Ethics and transparency in models
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 11

Final Project

  • 11.1. Choosing the case study
  • 11.2. Literature review
  • 11.3. Identifying ecosystem services
  • 11.4. Data collection
  • 11.5. Applying valuation methods
  • 11.6. Analyzing risks and dependencies
  • 11.7. Proposing a funding mechanism
  • 11.8. Integrity and risk analysis
  • 11.9. Writing the project report
  • 11.10. Presentation before an assessment panel
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Master's in Marine Biodiversity Economics and Nature Credits

It is 1,500 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
29
months to finish
125 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Master's in Marine Biodiversity Economics and Nature Credits

01Understand biodiversity economics.
02Value ecosystem services.
03Build natural capital accounts.
04Assess nature-related risk.
05Analyze credit markets.
06Design funding mechanisms.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Master's in Marine Biodiversity Economics and Nature Credits

01Natural capital analystecosystem valuation and accounting in consultancies and public bodies.
02Nature-related risk specialistassessing dependencies and impacts for banks, insurers and investors.
03Sustainability consultantbiodiversity reporting and nature strategies for companies.
04Conservation finance managerdesigning funding and raising capital for marine projects.
05Environmental policy officerdesigning and evaluating economic instruments.
06Environmental markets analystassessing the integrity of credit projects.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Master's in Marine Biodiversity Economics and Nature Credits

It is not essential. The program includes the foundations of environmental economics you need to follow the modules, starting with externalities, public goods and the concept of natural capital.

No. They are an emerging, evolving market. The program analyses them rigorously and critically, without presenting them as a guaranteed solution.

No. The program teaches how integrity and verification work, but acting as an independent verifier requires the specific approval that each standard sets out, which this program does not replace.

Yes. You use open ecological and economic data and documented cases of valuation and conservation finance.

You carry out an economic assessment of a real marine ecosystem, from identifying its ecosystem services and applying valuation methods to proposing a mechanism to fund its conservation, presented before an assessment panel.

Fully online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The program has a workload of 1,500 hours, and you can progress at your own pace within the schedule you are given when you enroll.

Yes. Module 6 covers blue carbon ecosystems, measuring carbon stocks and flows, the voluntary carbon market, additionality, permanence, leakage and double counting.

Related programs

More programs in Biology and conservation

View the whole area →

Master’s degree · 1,500 hMaster's in Marine Biology and Ocean Conservation$2,820 · View program →Master’s degree · 1,500 hMaster's in Sustainable Aquaculture and Biotechnology$2,190 · View program →Professional diploma · 800 hProfessional Diploma in Seawater Agriculture and Saline Crops$1,070 · View program →
Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at graduates in economics, business administration, finance, environmental sciences, biology, marine sciences or a related field, banking, insurance and sustainable investment professionals, corporate sustainability managers, public administration staff and NGO and foundation professionals; professional experience in sustainability or finance is also a valid route.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $1,292 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

Any questions?

Ask us before you enroll

Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.

Enroll now

Consent
Scroll to Top