Realms to Watch
The Realms to Watch program features seven realms from around the world that we believe demonstrate a high likelihood for increased value over the next year.
Use this link to apply. Applications closed 25th April, 2024.
What is a Nature Realm?
A Nature Realm is a digital twin of the real-world biodiversity and bio-cultural knowledge associated with that location (see GuardiansofEarth.io). Its value is not about the land itself. Rather, it's about the recorded and verified information associated with the land, which is necessary for its well-being, and for the well-being of its custodians. A Nature Realm can be associated with any property, be it an eco-resort, a wilderness reserve, an urban green space, a campus, even your own backyard. Realms are designed to be interactive digital spaces where participants can easily explore, analyse, document species, and record stories about the culture and the land. You can think of them as "proof of environmental health" for a specific location.
If I invest in a Nature Realm, what do I get?
You get an equity stake (a share certificate) in the Realm equal to your investment in the post-investment value of the Realm.
So, for example, suppose a Realm is worth US$20,000. If you invest US$10,000, you would get a 21.9% equity stake in the Realm.
Why this percent?
That’s because the Land (51%) and the Validators (10%), shareholders themselves, contribute equal value to maintain their locked equity holding. The land always returns value and holds majority control.
The Realm would now be be worth US$45,641.
Of course, you not only get the equity stake. You also get the assurance that 61% of your money has gone to a community dedicated to increasing the environmental health of that location. And the other 39% has gone to the Earth Song Fund, which is launching the Earth Song Nature Marketplace to unlock the capital flows and allow the model to rapidly scale and have a transformative impact on nature restoration around the world.
How does my shareholding gain value?
Shares are currently valued according to a BioScore metric, which you can watch on GuardiansofEarth.io. The metric is based on the research of the latest valuations for equivalent monitoring activity, taking into account species diversity, community engagement, data quantity and quality relative to the greater region. Data is scored and verified by 3rd party verifiers (see Bioexpertise.org). Each Realm's projects are designed to increase the BioScore. That said, the price you receive for your share will be determined by the Earth Song Nature Exchange, based on what buyers and sellers are trading at.
Do I get a tax benefit for making a charitable contribution?
No. This is not a donation. This is an investment with an aim for rapid appreciation and high returns. You may need to pay taxes on your capital gain, depending on your jurisdiction.
Can I track my shareholding value and exit whenever I want?
You can monitor your shareholding value on GuardiansofEarth.io. However, you can only exit upon the launch of the Earth Song Nature Exchange. This Exchange is scheduled to launch in August, with open trading across the entire marketplace by November 10, 2024. However, we offer no guarantee of the timeline or exit.
Will my equity percentage dilute as other investors come in?
Yes. In fact, people who contribute data to the Realm will be earning shareholdings for their contribution, which in turn raises the BioScore (and thus the dollar value) of the Realm. So if your Realm value is going to increase, your equity percentage will naturally reduce. But, of course, the overall value of your shareholding will be going up.
As a shareholder, do I get voting rights, and what would shareholders be voting on?
Yes, every shareholder in a Realm receives voting rights at a weightage equal to their percentage ownership. Shareholders may now and then be asked by the Realm administrator if they disapprove of a capital expenditure for a newly proposed nature restoration project, or if they're opposed to a new injection of significant capital.
What is the landowners, or stakeholders, don't agree with a proposed project?
The Realm administrator will need to ensure the project is approved by the relevant stakeholders, including landowners. In the case of these seven Realms to Watch, all projects have been approved.
What's the difference between Guardians of Earth and the Earth Song Fund?
Guardians of Earth (GuardiansofEarth.io) develops the technology that aggregates the environmental data, engages people in supplying, verifying, and scoring the data, and visualises the Nature Realms. The Earth Song Fund is responsible for developing the Nature Marketplace in which shares will trade. The Earth Song Fund will inject US$7 million into the marketplace, including $3.5 million liquidity to allow open trading. The Fund will officially kick-off during an Indigenous ceremony in the heart of the world's oldest living rainforest, the Daintree in Far North Queensland, Australia. The Fund will sustain itself through a small transaction fee on each trade in the Nature Exchange.
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