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Final Program


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Panel Discussion

Economics, Policy, and Law

Innovative finance in action: Strategies for developing sustainable forest management opportunities from the urban canopy to headwater forests

Innovative finance in action: Strategies for sustainable forest management from urban canopies to headwater forests

Friday, October 27, 2023
10:30am - 12:00pm PST
Location: A3
CFE 1.5 / ISA CEU 1.5 / ESA CEU .375
Forests provide significant benefits for climate, biodiversity, and human health. However, funding gaps prevent large-scale interventions. Given these circumstances, forest managers, utilities, corporations, and other stakeholders are looking to innovative financial approaches to ensure that forest priorities can be achieved.

Learning Objectives:

  • The panel seeks to promote dialogue and exchange around innovative financing approaches to conserve, manage, and restore forests at a greater scale. By analyzing and comparing four case studies, the panel will be a platform to share know-hows and evolving best practices on how to create medium- and long-term value in forest interventions, which, simultaneously, protect nature and drive economic returns.
  • Entrepreneurs, foresters, and conservation finance experts will provide details on lessons learned and challenges of each financing mechanism, with the goal of inspiring replicable models that can increase the pace and scale of forest restoration and conservation across the US.
  • Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on how forest interventions can be turned into economic opportunities as sustainable financing is leveraged to address environmental challenges and enhance economic prosperity for all. In addition, participants will gain insights on the role of public-private partnerships and how to leverage them to advance forest and nature-based solutions.
  • The panel hopes to leave the audience inspired to tap into new financing mechanisms to protect and restore forests, address climate change, and facilitate economic opportunities for urban and rural constituencies.