Sustainable forest management creates conservation value but often has difficulty attracting capital to manage production. Meanwhile, institutional investors often see forest land investment as an attractive portfolio element.
How can forestry manage for conservation and at the same time attract financial capital?
Introduction
Community Forest Enterprise Competitiveness, Mexico
Fred Cubbage,
Professor, North Carolina State University
Dr. Cubbage is a renowned scholar in international forestry, policy, and economics. He is also the editor of the Encyclopedia of Forests and Forestry in the Americas.
Speakers
Investing in International Forestry
Esben Brandi,
Investment Manager, International Woodland Company
The International Woodland Company is a global provider of forest investment services founded on combined forestland management and investment experience, with approximately $3 billion invested in forest land properties around the world, including Peru, Panama, Brazil, Mozambique, and Uganda.
Economically sustainable reforestation
Andreas Eke,
Director and co-founder, Futuro Forestal, Panama
Founded in 1994 by Iliana Armién and Andreas Eke, Futuro Forestal S.A. is considered the tropical forestry industry’s first ‘impact’ investment manager, benefiting from 18 years of experience in the field.
Timber backed bonds in Costa Rica
Max Tattenbach
Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
For reforestation and plantation projects, a proposed mechanism to securitize timber futures to access finance from capital markets.
Political Risk Insurance for Forestry Investment
Jon Sullivan,
Vice President of Certification, Eco Planet Bamboo
Eco Planet Bamboo is a large commercial forestry operator of bamboo, with locations in Nicaragua and South Africa. Eco Planet bamboo also holds carbon offsets and is validated by VCS. This presentation will address the experience of EcoPlanet Bamboo in their use of political risk insurance from the World Bank to raise capital for their international forestry projects.
Moderator:
Roberto Waack,
CEO, Amata Company, Brazil
Amata is a Brazilian forestry and forest products company that works closely with FSC in Brazil to promote the use of low-impact forestry techniques. Amata is a recently elected board member of FSC Brazil.