Summary report, 10–13 October 2025

“Finance must evolve to address the planet’s most pressing challenges.” With calls to urgently solve the ever-worsening environmental crises and their devastating social and economic impacts, the first International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Business Summit assembled private and public sector actors to share insights and solutions for delivering nature-positive outcomes. 

The 2025 IUCN Business Summit met with the aim of advancing collective ambition and action for accelerating the transition to nature-positive economies and societies. Building on the CEO Summit held under the auspices of the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France, in 2021, participants engaged in over fifty sessions across four days. These commenced with a high-level opening plenary with dignitaries and conservation and business leaders, who underscored that time is of the essence, with all hands needed on deck. The Business Summit featured a plethora of thematic sessions, fireside chats with business leaders, and interactive dialogues between stakeholders. Among many other topics, discussions addressed: 

• resource mobilization strategies; 
• strengthening policies on nature to promote business action;
• emerging technologies advancing conservation efforts; 
• outcome-based mechanisms driving area-based conservation; 
• innovative financing mechanisms for scaling up nature-based solutions (NbS); and 
• approaches for measuring and applying natural capital in business decision making. 

Delegates underscored the need to transition away from a time of pledges to one of implementation, with many welcoming the outcome-driven focus of dialogues throughout the Summit. Mirroring the need for a whole-of-society approach to meet the 2030 objectives of global environment and sustainable development agendas, businesses were highlighted as critical stakeholders and partners in scaling and accelerating investment for conserving and restoring nature. 

The Summit further served as a platform for highlighting partnerships and initiatives working at a landscape level to improve the state of nature. On the urgency of the challenge, participants stressed several paradigm shifts, from using high-emission, short lifecycle materials in the built environment, to reforming and redirecting financial flows and subsidies harming the environment. 

Thematic sessions delved into the “how” of integrating nature into business, with focus given to changing how nature-related impacts and dependencies are considered by businesses. Business leaders emphasized that the effects of nature degradation are increasingly impacting operations and bottom lines across sectors and industries. They stressed that foregoing integrating nature in business strategies is no longer a viable or responsible business plan. The Summit highlighted approaches to developing metrics to quantify and value nature to support “making the business case for nature.”  

Among high-level initiatives and partnerships spotlighted at the Summit, delegates attended the launch of the IUCN Rapid High Integrity Nature-positive Outcomes (RHINO) approach. The approach aims to support businesses in identifying high-impact opportunities for conservation, measure their impacts on biodiversity, report and disclose nature-related risks, and ultimately align with global biodiversity targets to meaningfully contribute to reversing nature loss.  

The 2025 Business Summit reflects the long history of IUCN’s work building multi-stakeholder partnerships for nature-positive outcomes. IUCN developed its first business engagement strategy at the turn of the century, and has since provided a wealth of policies, guidance, and tools on valuing nature and aligning investments and business strategies with conservation objectives. The IUCN Congress in 2021 emphasized the need for the conservation and business communities to learn each other’s language, and model financing and investment pathways for nature-based recovery. At the CEO Summit held in Marseille, businesses were welcomed as solution providers.

The 2025 IUCN Business Summit sessions were integrated across the IUCN Congress in the Forum, as well as in thematic Pavilions. The Business Summit took place from 10-13 October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

IUCN Business Summit Report

Opening Plenary

Nature is Everyone’s Business: Mobilizing Capital for Biodiversity and Resilience: Opening the IUCN Business Summit on Friday, 10 October, Razan Al Mubarak, IUCN President, underscored that the cost of biodiversity loss is no longer abstract but unfolding “here and now,” disrupting supply chains and posing significant risks to businesses. She called on private sector delegates to drive innovation to tackle urgent conservation issues at scale.

Humphrey Kariuki, Executive Founder, Janus Continental Group, was named as IUCN’s first African Patron for Nature. He emphasized that to invest in Africa is to invest in the Earth, and outlined his vision to see Africa take the lead in shaping conservation on a global scale.

In the ensuing panel, moderator Becky Anderson, CNN, invited speakers to share how they are unlocking new opportunities for investments in nature. Kazuhiko Kamada, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Oji Holdings Corporation, shared experiences in monitoring and collecting data for nature-positive forest management.

Laurence Pessez, Global Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), BNP Paribas, stressed the importance of credible metrics for derisking private sector investment. Frances Camille Rivera, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Oceanus Conservation, urged directing finance toward data collection in conservation areas, specifically noting the importance of building capacity within local communities.

Among others, panelists further discussed: how innovative finance can scale biodiversity action; approaches for supporting sustainability investments and making the business case for nature; and the role of philanthropic and catalytic capital for overcoming risk.

Forum Sessions

On Friday, 10 October, and Saturday, 11 October, the Business Summit featured sessions held in the Forum alongside the IUCN World Conservation Congress. An extensive knowledge platform on conservation and sustainable development, the Forum hosted nearly 300 sessions across the Congress. These addressed the economic, social, scientific, and technical aspects of nature conservation-related issues, from wildlife, the Ocean, and protected areas to sustainable businesses and human rights. Among others, the Business Summit sessions that were integrated into the Forum focused on: enabling policy environments for bringing businesses on board; key partnerships; and approaches for scaling and accelerating investment in nature.

Advancing Nature Policies to Fast-track Business Action: On Friday, in a roundtable session hosted by the World Economic Forum (WEF), panelists conversed on the enabling conditions for system-level change, approaches to harmful subsidy reform, and the need for stronger coordination among biodiversity-related conventions and stakeholders.

Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of the Environment, Panama, pointed to Panama’s proposed “Nature Pledge,” a strategic framework for centralized negotiations across the Rio Conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity, and desertification.

Daudi Sumba, Chief Conservation Officer, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International, called for harmful subsidies to be “redirected” rather than “eliminated.” Ewan Livingston-Docwra, The B Team, noted many supply chains rely on harmful subsidies, and called for engagement with policymakers to improve subsidy reform.

Thorsten Arndt, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) International, underscored the role of certification in contributing to biodiversity targets, alongside its social development value. Adonai Herrera-Martínez, Director of Environment and Sustainability, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, encouraged development banks to explore opportunities for biodiversity enhancement in their projects, and urged developing revenue streams to compensate businesses “doing good for nature.”

Claudine Blamey, CSO, Aviva, stressed robust governmental transition plans that businesses can emulate to create sector transition pathways. Juha Siikamäki, Chief Economist, IUCN, called for credible metrics, such as in natural capital accounting, to encourage nature-positive actions, and underscored the potential of tax instruments in addressing fiscal concerns.

Mher Margaryan, Armenia, pointed to the upcoming meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as an opportunity for bringing businesses on board to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Astrid Schomaker, CBD Executive Secretary, underscored the need to “broaden the action onus” and highlighted business-specific GBF targets, including Target 15 on disclosures. She noted the potential of greater alignment among multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) secretariats for streamlined action, including on national reporting requirements.

Unusual Coalitions: Indigenous Peoples, Communities and Private Sector Unite for Biodiversity: This interactive conversation, hosted by Fauna & Flora on Friday, brought together stakeholders to consider how landscape-level collaboration can improve the state of nature.

Craig Tribolet, Deputy Director, Sustainability, Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) Group, outlined the APRIL Group’s work delivering its sustainable forest management policy. He stressed the importance of early, continuous, and respectful engagement of partners including local stakeholders, and using accessible terminology.

Leticia Guimarães, Vale, shared the mining company’s forestry stewardship activities in the Brazilian Amazon, with targets to protect and recover areas of the forest. Amrei Von Hase, COMBO+ Programme Director, Wildlife Conservation Society, noted field-based training as an effective approach to building multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Puthea Suon, Fauna & Flora, highlighted how sound management practices contributed to biodiversity conservation and illegal activity reduction in a Cambodian community protected area. He showcased how building capacity for sustainable forest product harvesting led to localized revenue generation, and underlined the need to forge business partnerships to stabilize this income. Steve Edwards, Independent Consultant, called for conversations that seek mutual understanding, particularly across the public-private divide in perspectives and objectives.

Participants highlighted, among others: the benefits of using the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework to make the business case to shareholders; and the importance of respecting traditional and Indigenous knowledge.

Unlocking Transformative Ocean Finance at Scale: In a deep-dive conversation on Friday, Minna Epps, Global Ocean Policy Director, IUCN, and Ilana Seid, Permanent Representative of Palau to the UN, focused on the need for catalytic capital deployment for the Ocean, noting that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 (life below water) remains the most underfunded SDG. Seid underscored that the blue economy is already under way and investable. She called for strengthened global governance and coherence for ocean finance strategies.

Continuing in a roundtable discussion moderated by Thorsten Thiele, Founder and Executive Director, Global Ocean Trust, panelists introduced One Ocean Finance, a global coalition shaping an inclusive ocean finance architecture, in which the Ocean is protected as a shared asset.

Speakers addressed the importance of derisking and scaling opportunities, highlighting blue bonds as one such opportunity. Thiele noted that accelerating financing also requires support from longer-term patient capital (investment without a quick return). Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Secretary, UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), highlighted the UNCDF’s ability to absorb risk as a “first loss layer,” to allow traditional financing to follow and to ensure countries in the Global South have access to necessary financing.

Erika Harms, Global Director of Sustainability, Iberostar, underscored that the tourism sector, which has a large impact on the marine environment, can be an implementing partner in nature restoration and accelerate financing for development.

Chris Gorell Barnes, Founding Partner, Ocean 14 Capital, stressed impact investing, pointing to the “missing middle” of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He said these constitute around 90% of industries in the blue economy, but fall into a financing gap due to their economic size.

In ensuing discussions, participants heard options for blended finance and discussed associated difficulties and regional needs. They emphasized the importance of flexibility, agility, collaboration, and risk management. Panelists drew attention to the ocean finance pipeline and to the importance of collecting reliable, independent data to inform investments. Sharing closing remarks, Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, illustrated the discrepancy between funding availability and project alignment.

Technology at the Service of Conservation: Innovations Driving Shared Impact: On Saturday, 11 October, Alex Dehgan, CEO and Co-Founder, Conservation X Labs, called for technological solutions to match the speed and scale of conservation problems. He noted job creation opportunities and capacity for technology to draw species back from the brink of extinction. He highlighted emerging technologies such as edge artificial intelligence (AI) applications that do not rely on the cloud. Dehgan said “the biggest risk is not the technology itself, but that of choosing not to innovate in conservation.”

Tom Quigley, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Superorganism, called for technological solutions that can “drive value today” and rapidly scale up. He provided examples of practical applications, including Inversa Leathers, which produces fashion items from invasive species, using AI in their supply chain.

Rebecca Stern, Dunya Analytics, presented Savimbo, an inaugural certified biodiversity credit scheme developed with Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) involved in grassroots conservation in the Colombian Amazon. She outlined the methodology and its direct payments to local communities.

Lilian Pintea, Vice-President, Jane Goodall Institute, underscored the importance of developing technological applications specifically for conservation from the onset. He stressed the importance of engaging with and listening to IPLCs to ensure they are the owners and drivers of decisions and fully embrace technological solutions.

Brian Juhyuk Lee, Google.org, explained the work of Google’s philanthropy arm which focuses on using AI to advance society and improve lives. He expanded on the company’s onus on providing opportunities to engage stakeholders and reduce barriers to technology. He noted technology can address the complexities of nature itself and provided examples of the benefits of translation apps, geospatial applications, and the Global Fishing Watch, among others.

Stéphanie Limouzin, President, Collecte Localisation Satellites, underscored issues with regulatory frameworks keeping up with technological developments. She stressed the importance of technology as an enabler and knowing the end users. Matthew McKown, CEO, Conservation Metrics, explained their for-profit model and how they turn data into actionable information to improve community wellbeing and ecosystem health.

The Hidden Cost of Plastic Pollution and Biodiversity Loss: Economic and Policy Implications: On Saturday, Sebastian Buckup, Managing Director, WEF, said the issue of plastics is highly complex and underscored that economic prosperity depends on nature, as does life itself.

David Obura, Chair, Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), stressed that by 2050, predictions show more plastics in the sea than fish biomass. He called for a commonality of metrics to enable decisions across sectors and countries.

Marco Antonio Arenas Aspilcueta, Director, Directorate-General for Biological Diversity, Peru, noted the importance of public-private partnerships, engaging with all sectors, and collecting robust data.

Úrsula Parrilla, Regional Director, IUCN Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, discussed hurdles in the negotiations that aim to finalize a global plastics treaty. She urged policy coherence, fostering innovation, and working collectively with neighboring countries.

Pessez, BNP Paribas, described the bank’s direct and indirect initiatives addressing plastics, such as supporting startups or client investment capacities. She noted a growing momentum for a circular economy and alternative packaging.

Anssi Mikola, CEO, RiverRecycle, described operations in removing plastics from rivers through collection and recycling activities that support local communities. He stressed that once rubbish reaches a river, no one is responsible for it. He drew attention to the whole value chain and to extended producer responsibility policies, and called for data to quantify the damage caused by plastic pollution.

Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Scaling up NbS: Moderated by Melissa De Kock, Deputy Director, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, this session on Saturday considered ways to scale up resilient conservation action and transition to nature-positive economies and societies. Susanne Pedersen, Director, IUCN Centre for Science and Knowledge, underscored the importance of investing with integrity, ensuring that “every dollar spent delivers measurable benefits for people, biodiversity, and climate.”

Marie Bjornson-Langen, Deputy Executive Director for Sustainable Development Solutions, French Development Agency, discussed the role of development banks in mainstreaming NbS into public investment and policy frameworks, derisking private investment, and scaling high-quality projects. Oliver Konz, Director General, Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany, noted that blended finance allows for derisking and creates confidence for investors. He added that without this, private funding “will remain on the sidelines.”

Yoko Watanabe, Director of Environment, Asian Development Bank (ADB), underscored that scaling NbS could produce 230 million new jobs, and stressed channeling funding to high integrity projects. Dong Wang, Deputy Director, NbS Innovation Center, Peking University, shared examples of innovative NbS with biodiversity, climate, and social benefits. He mentioned, in particular, sponge cities that follow an urban planning model using hydro-ecological infrastructure to prevent flooding and sustainably manage stormwater.

Alvin Lopez, ADB, stated that scalable models of NbS are needed to attract public and private capital. Eric Schoumsky, Société Générale, discussed the lack of investable, bankable projects, but noted that the IUCN Global Standard for NbS can enable developing economically valuable projects.

Pavilion Sessions

The full extent of the Business Summit’s programme took place in thematic pavilions and stages from 10-13 October, with the Business Pavilion providing a key space for enhancing collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders.

Circular Economy as a Vehicle for Nature-positive Economy: Boris Erg, Director, IUCN European Regional Office, moderated this session on Friday, 10 October.

Via video link, Marianne Kettunen, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, discussed how the circular economy can regenerate nature and eliminate pollution, including from plastics. She called for a better narrative on the biodiversity benefits of a circular economy and for bridging information gaps through more innovation and research.

Antonis Antoniou Latouros, President, Aggregates Europe, encouraged engagement with environmental organizations, such as IUCN, which bring science, credibility, and global expertise to the table. He reported industry efforts to deliver net nature-positive outcomes, while noting that recycling alone is not enough as only 10-20% of aggregates can effectively be recycled. Latouros called for simple incentives and clear rules.

Jun Hashimoto, Shimizu Corporation, explained how linking with other stakeholders helps achieve nature-positive outcomes and described approaches to circularity from a landscape architecture perspective. She stressed the importance of managing client expectations and underlined that not all materials can be recycled or separated effectively.

Liliana Jauregui Bordones, Director, IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands, described the Dutch government’s plans for a circular economy by 2050, and drew attention to efforts encouraging transparency by the private sector and civil society in the use of materials.

Leadership for Nature Positive: How Business Leaders Can Drive Nature Action: Gemma Parkes, Communications Head, Nature Positive Initiative (NPI), introduced this session on Friday by highlighting the book Becoming Nature Positive to which all three panelists contributed, and The New Nature of Business: The Path to Prosperity & Sustainability by André Hoffmann and Peter Vanham.

Grethel Aguilar, Director General, IUCN, underscored the importance of formally inviting business and the private sector “to the IUCN conversation,” while André Hoffmann, Vice-Chairman, Roche, remarked “we are all swimming in the same pool.” He stressed that business cannot be thought of as independent or disconnected from nature, and called for valuing and restoring the balance of the global commons.

Marco Lambertini, Convener, NPI, called for behavior change. Outlining how our impacts on nature are “destroying the foundation that has supported our development,” he urged recognizing that the system, which is nature negative, has produced development but is now reaching its limit. He called for embracing a different model, saying “a nature-positive future is the only future.”

Hoffmann pinpointed two concepts: prosperity and resilience. He noted “business has destroyed the planet because it focused on short-term profit maximization.” Aguilar called for clear targets and indicators, and transparency.

The Nature of Success: Publication Launch: On Friday, Faridah Ibrahim, Head, Business Engagement Unit, IUCN, presented The Nature of Success, which illustrates a series of collaborations between IUCN and the private sector.

Thanatat Aniwat, TCP Group, a consumer goods company, described working with IUCN in Thailand and Viet Nam on waste collection activities involving local communities, and stressed the company’s responsibility for its entire production chain.

Annika Gunilla Lundmark Nordin, Stora Enso, said collaborating with IUCN catalyzed the maximization of biodiversity actions in forests using a metric tool linking forestry decision models. She encouraged using available data and called for businesses to employ people that understand science.

Takao Aiba, Keidanren Nature Conservation Council and Toyota, drew attention to the 2016-2021 IUCN and Toyota Motor Corporation partnership that increased knowledge on the extinction risk of over 28,000 species. He underscored that business requires robust scientific environmental data to fully weigh corporate decision impacts.

Luther Bois Anukur, Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, IUCN, noted a partnership with the Kenya Bankers Association, and the complexities of dealing with multiple actors to build consensus and achieve common understanding. Schoumsky, Société Générale, described how applying the IUCN Global Standard on NbS can bring all stakeholders to the table, and cautioned against “forgetting the important topics in complex situations.” Panelists urged: not changing policies too frequently, to enable stability; pinpointing simple measurable goals; moving away from greenwashing; and aligning policies to enable the prioritization of nature.

In closing, speakers: underscored that investing in nature is investing in communities; promoted strengthening the scientific community; urged sharing success stories to build momentum; and called for strengthening cooperation to build the market for developing a new resilient regenerative economy.

Urban Nature-based Development: Catalyzing Biodiversity Through Buildings, Regulation, Design, and Markets: Turning to the expertise of architects, urban planners, and ecologists, this session on Friday, moderated by Loredana Scuto, IUCN, showcased leading examples in sustainable construction and urban planning that integrate and restore biodiversity in cities.

Nabila Pranoto, Holcim, outlined Holcim’s promotion of circular and regenerative practices in the built environment. She stressed the importance of education to dispel misconceptions, and the co-benefits of using recycled materials and innovative techniques. Kevin Vega, Second Nature Ecology and Design, described a collaborative publication from Second Nature, IUCN, and Holcim, Catalysing biodiversity on buildings: a review of supporting initiatives in European cities. He explained that it addresses financial and policy incentives for urban greening, among others, and underlined best practices from an ecological perspective.

François Moreau, Municipality of Paris, France, reported on his city’s initiatives, including an updated urban master plan that sets out nature-based conditions and incentives for construction and permitting. He also highlighted an auto-evaluation tool for assessing the biodiversity impact of projects, and that greening public infrastructure is a low-hanging fruit for local governments.

Jennifer Rae Pierce, Co-Founder and Executive, Urban Biodiversity Hub, and IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), stressed the need to include indirect biodiversity impacts in cities’ planning, and consider upstream sourcing of building materials.

IUCN RHINO Launch: An Approach to Deliver Rapid High-Integrity Nature-positive Outcomes: Moderator Vian Sharif, Founder and President, NatureAlpha, introduced the launch of the IUCN RHINO approach on Friday evening.

Aguilar described IUCN RHINO as an essential milestone to deliver on nature-positive action. She explained how RHINO can guide organizations in the nature, location, scale, and pace of their activities to respond to our planet’s needs. Aguilar noted IUCN RHINO is science-based, relying on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the Species Threat Abatement and Restoration Metric (STAR), two tools to measure biodiversity risk and recovery.

Tony Goldner, CEO, TNFD, applauded the 620 organizations voluntarily using TNFD’s recommendations, and noted IUCN RHINO “takes away the excuse for business and finance inaction.” Lambertini reiterated that businesses require clarity in choosing metrics for delivering a nature-positive outcome, and that RHINO will fill this gap.

Atsuhiro Yoshinaka, Ministry of Environment, Japan, described the Japanese roadmap to a nature-positive economy by 2030; noted his country endeavors to be at the forefront of nature-positive action; and concurred that RHINO will drive corporate engagement.

Vivek Menon, IUCN Councilor, and Executive Director, Wildlife Trust of India, outlined RHINO’s modalities, and characterized the concept of “nature positive” as a global societal goal to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 on a 2020 baseline, and achieve full recovery by 2050. He noted RHINO can:

• identify high-impact areas for conservation;
• measure biodiversity contributions across sites;
• report and disclose nature-related risks and opportunities; and
• align with global biodiversity targets and contribute meaningfully to reversing nature loss.

Questions from participants pertained to data gaps, such as underrepresented species on the IUCN Red List, financing to fill these gaps, and incorporating nature-positive metrics into the RHINO methodology.

Joining Forces for High Integrity NbS in Asia: Toward the Launch of the NbS Asia Partnership: On Saturday, 11 October, Dindo Campilan, Asia Regional Director and Oceania Hub Director, IUCN, outlined the history of NbS under IUCN, up to the launch of the updated IUCN Global Standard for NbS at the 2025 Congress. He emphasized the concept’s historical applications in the region. Lorenzo Santucci, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), outlined ESCAP’s capacity to accelerate and scale up NbS projects, including by promoting regional cooperation on socioeconomic development. Campilan and Santucci asked panelists how IUCN can best play a role in the NbS Asia Partnership, and what modalities are needed to ensure the Partnership is fit-for-purpose.

Vinay Singh, IUCN, noted that NbS are not one-size fits all and shared insights from the Oceania region. He stressed the importance of partnerships, a policy enabling environment, and using common terminology to facilitate the bankability of projects.

Kitty Tam, Civic Exchange, highlighted the evolution of NbS as a widely accepted approach in Hong Kong due to strategic education initiatives and workshops, noting partnerships with the education and development bureaus. On the IUCN Global Standard for NbS, she emphasized that financial institutions are more confident working with internationally-agreed concepts.

Anouj Mehta, Country Director Thailand, ADB, pointed to the ADB’s Nature Solutions Finance Hub, stressing the importance of partnerships that convene technical partners with communities, impacted users, decision-makers, and finance. He emphasized the potential for using public sector funds as derisking capital to leverage greater private sector investment.

Sonja Luz, CEO, Mandai Nature, described the Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-based Solutions (SCeNe) Coalition, a partnership focusing on high integrity “triple-benefit” NbS, which provide benefits for biodiversity enhancement, climate resilience, and human wellbeing. She noted the importance of partnerships and centralized platforms to enable organizations working on NbS to step out of their silos.

Blue Bonds and the Evolution of the Blue Economy: Shargiil Bashir, Executive Vice President and CSO, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), highlighted FAB’s issuance of its first two blue bonds in 2025, totaling USD 70 million. He underlined the bonds’ direct investment toward projects safeguarding ecosystems and supporting the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036. Bashir further noted that the blue bond market is expected to reach USD 70 billion by 2030, and underlined that finance must evolve to address the planet’s most pressing challenges.

Moderated by Nicolas Poolen, WWF, this panel session on Saturday discussed nature-positive finance pathways to turn the tides on ocean recovery. Vriko Yu, Co-Founder and CEO, Archireef, described her company’s deployment of NbS in the Middle East and Asia, and underlined the importance of having strong regulators to enable growth in the blue economy.

Sarya Kudsi, Crédit Agricole, drew parallels to green bonds and remarked that growth is being driven by investor demand, noting that the Middle East is evolving more rapidly in this sector than Europe or North America. Maysam Rawashdeh, FAB, emphasized that the bank had diversified its pool of investors by accessing those explicitly interested in sustainability-linked bonds. She stated the importance of having minimum safeguards and standards in place, and pointed to the Equator Principles as a key risk management framework for financial institutions.

Carlin Naidoo, Group Vice President, Sustainability, DP World, drew attention to the multinational logistics company’s USD 100 million blue bond issued in 2024, noting it aims to fund a sustainable transition pathway across the marine transportation supply chain.

Panelists further noted the issues of scalability for NbS and the complexity of nature-related metrics, and underscored the need for cross-sector collaboration and partnerships.

Harmonizing Nature-related Metrics: Nature Action Portal: This session took place on Saturday. Outlining the theory of change for harmonizing metrics under a “Nature Action Portal,” to be launched in November 2025, moderator Angela Graham-Brown, Director of Nature Action, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), underscored that the large number of nature-related metrics is “stifling progress” due to their complexity.

Rachel Martin, NPI, outlined her organization’s work to identify a universal set of State of Nature metrics, to deploy across different regulatory frameworks for adoption by businesses. She underscored the need for businesses to understand the full extent of their dependencies on nature.

Emily McKenzie, Technical Director, TNFD, outlined a sector-level approach to harmonization to develop a simplified metrics architecture for comparing performance within and across sectors.

Regarding businesses’ dependencies on nature across their value and supply chains, panelists remarked that: dependencies and impacts are intertwined; and the State of Nature metrics were piloted across several sectors and biomes, at multiple levels of granularity, to ensure their applicability and suitability.

On the need to build the business case to get internal buy-in, McKenzie highlighted nature-related opportunities – activities either benefiting business and nature or avoiding and reducing harm to both. She noted the advantage of pilot projects as using a small portion of a corporate budget and yielding rapid results, creating an evidence base for companies to ground their decisions in. Martin underlined that voluntary disclosures make businesses competitive and investable.

In Conversation with IUCN RHINO Pioneers: Lessons from Pilot Companies Committed to Advance Nature Positive: On Saturday, Heather De-Quincey, Anglo American, detailed their RHINO pilot project in Minas-Rio, Brazil, underscoring that the mining company works in sensitive landscapes and needs to identify the threats to species within its operational area. She provided insight into using the STAR metric on the contributions of investments toward reducing species’ extinction risk.

Todd Edwards, Fortescue, illustrated his company’s growing understanding of what it means to be net positive and described a pilot project in the Pilbara Region of Australia where Fortescue has extensive mining operations. He underscored the value of robust data and understanding different land uses.

Jean-Charles Djelalian, Solvay, explained the company’s use of IUCN RHINO to structure sustainability efforts. He pointed to planned scaling up of a pilot project in Dombasle, France, to Italy and Bulgaria before extending across other sites in Europe and globally. Djelalian noted the value of collaboration and stressed that sustainability is about “creating value that local communities, policymakers, and employees are the first to understand.”

Ensuing discussions focused on business longevity and the goal of operating sustainably in the future.

Moving Finance at Scale: Delivering on Conservation and GBF Target 19: This session took place on Saturday. Emphasizing the need to accelerate and scale GBF implementation, CBD Executive Secretary Schomaker drew attention to the Framework’s targets on closing the financing gap for biodiversity, and on addressing the private sector’s role in doing so. She explained that GBF Target 19 aims to mobilize USD 200 billion annually for biodiversity, from all sources, and Target 15 aims for businesses to assess, disclose, and reduce biodiversity-related risks and negative impacts.

Schomaker underlined that ignoring nature-related risks and dependencies is no longer a viable or responsible business option. She pointed to discussions on ensuring that nature credits embrace lessons learned from carbon credits, particularly in the lead-up to CBD COP 17 in 2026.

On mobilizing finance for nature, Sandrine Enguehard, Deputy CSO, Société Générale, drew attention to the Equator Principles that benchmark best practices in the banking sector.Thomas Viegas, Aviva, highlighted two focal areas for nature finance:

• within a company’s value chain, engaging through investment portfolios, behavior change, and using tools, such as the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT), to understand dependencies, impacts, and risks; and
• external to the value chain, citing work on supporting NbS and developing targeted investment funds.

Regarding how to scale finance, Schomaker underscored focusing on reforming harmful subsidies, noting their market-distorting nature. Enguehard underlined the need for the further development of metrics for assessing impacts on nature, and for ensuring nature-positive projects are bankable. Viegas outlined transition planning frameworks as a way for businesses to assess their entire budgets and integrate nature into business as usual; and stressed the need to bridge the quarter-length timelines of businesses to the 2030 and 2050 MEA agendas.

Panelists highlighted, among others: opportunities for job creation; the social and health risks of not protecting nature; and how to bridge the trust gap between Global North financing partners and Global South implementing partners.

Unlocking Private Finance for 30x30: Outcome-based Mechanisms Driving Area-based Conservation: On Sunday, 12 October, a panel session in the Business Pavilion convened finance and conservation professionals to discuss efforts to unlock finance for outcomes-based conservation, with particular focus on GBF Target 3 (conserve 30% of lands, waters, and seas by 2030).

Camille Maclet, Head, Nature Capital and Biodiversity, BNP Paribas, highlighted the bank’s strategy to support large and small clients and partners to reduce negative biodiversity impacts and provide impact-driven financing. He stressed that measuring impacts remains challenging and pointed to NPI’s State of Nature metrics as an enabling tool. Maclet further noted outcome bonds as a vehicle to raise financing and use transactions that reward positive impact.

Kyra Lunderstedt, Sustainable Finance Coalition, pointed to the Coalition’s open-access platform cataloguing finance solutions for impact. She reported it showcases innovation in Africa, and assesses the solutions on feasibility, scalability, and impact for people and the planet. Lunderstedt underscored the importance of capacity building to ensure financial flows reach the ground.

Siska Martina Sihombing, IUCN Green List, illustrated the IUCN Green List standard for protected and conserved areas, and collaborative listing efforts for marine protected areas in Belize. Noting the 30x30 target cannot be successful without enabling conditions, particularly finance, she highlighted the necessity of private financing partners and innovative financial mechanisms.

Frank Griffin, Executive Director, Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security, described the Coral Triangle Conservation Fund implemented to protect biodiversity in the Coral Triangle. He noted that the Amazon and Congo Basin are well known terrestrial hotspots and that Coral Triangle is their marine equivalent. He underscored the importance of working together and noted the Initiative brings together six governments (Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste).

Naomi Delille, Sango Nature Project, described the Sango project in Zimbabwe. She underscored the importance of a holistic approach to conservation and discussed leveraging private sector funds, noting revenue from ecotourism activities do not cover operational costs. She highlighted the value of the IUCN Green List and B Corp certification. Delille explained that biodiversity credits are still in their infancy and underscored the importance of reconnecting with nature at all levels.

Answering questions from the floor, panelists noted the urgency of achieving these global goals by 2030 and shared the positive inflexion of shifting to outcomes-based thinking. They also clarified the definition of a “bankable” project (one that meets investors’ criteria, such as providing expected returns on investment, implementation by a credible partner, and achieving desired environmental, social, or financial objectives), as well as pointed to innovative ways for accessing funding for conservation, including through corporate sponsorship.

Biodiversity Forum: Learning from Nature, Acting for Nature: Hosted in the UAE Pavilion, a series of sessions on Sunday highlighted stories of protecting nature that shaped panelists’ work, and showcased different sectors’ perspectives on how to drive change.

Delegates attended a session on Nature Stories: Protecting the Wild, with Daniel Mateos-Molina, Head of Marine Conservation and Biodiversity, Emirates Nature - WWF, sharing his experiences of the wonders of nature, such as swimming with sea turtles.

Barbara Lang-Lenton, Director, Aquarium and Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project, Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, described turtle conservation, rehabilitation, and satellite tracking activities. She underscored the importance of national marine protected areas and increasing their ecological connectivity.

David Ramos Álvarez, HSBC Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye, discussed the financial gap for nature conservation and defined the amounts to be invested in biodiversity annually. He called for “putting a price” on ecosystems and their services to whet investor appetites, and discussed the value of restoring and protecting mangroves. He also highlighted HSBC’s philanthropic funding channels and called for integrating mangrove protection at the national policy level.

Esmat Elhassan, Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority, UAE, drew attention to a desert conservation reserve in which an artificial lake ecosystem was developed, noting its human recreation and wildlife conservation objectives. He noted successes in engaging communities by bringing them closer to nature, and reported a recovery in wild bird populations.

The second part of the forum focused on Protecting Nature, Driving Change: A CSO Perspective and was moderated by Lubna Al Ameri, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

Ellora-Julie Parekh, Al Futtaim, discussed approaches to sustainability at her company, stressing understanding consumer requirements regarding sustainability. Parekh underscored the importance of demonstrating the business case for biodiversity as a strong imperative for business bottom lines.

Charbel Abi Akl, DAS Holding, described the investment holding company’s work on sustainability, from awareness raising to embedding the concept into frameworks and strategies in every sector. He provided practical examples, including transitioning towards electric cars and improving operations to reduce transport time.

Miniya Chatterji, CEO, Sustain Lab Paris, noted three challenges as: focusing on long-term thinking; improving incentives; and strengthening skills by focusing on education. She highlighted successes within carbon accounting and carbon development projects, and commended efforts to reconnect with nature.

Imparting insights on enabling factors for mainstreaming biodiversity, panelists emphasized the need to focus on people, through in-house capacity building for businesses, and for innovative finance to support corporations in quantifying “eco-benefits.” They further stressed that forgoing integrating biodiversity into business plans can result in negative economic impacts, by affecting supply chains, operational costs, and inflicting reputational damage.

Hala Hatamleh, Posterity Institute, presented the launch of a new publication, AI for Nature: Safeguarding UAE’s Biodiversity. She said it illustrates operational case studies on how AI can be used to protect and restore ecosystems and mitigate negative impacts from development projects, such as reducing raptor mortality around a wind farm.

Saying “nature is more than a goal – it is a teacher of wisdom, resilience, and renewal,” Elham Chehaimi, Manager, CSO Network, provided closing remarks, underscoring the importance of collaboration and mutual learning for driving real impact.

The Business Case for Nature: Leading with Purpose: Moderated by Ibrahim, IUCN, a fireside chat on Sunday included Amelia Fawcett, Co-Chair, International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits, and Lucita Jasmin, Group Sustainability Director, Royal Golden Eagle, and Director, Sustainability and External Affairs, APRIL Group.

In discussing the business case for nature, Fawcett noted it is not ubiquitous. She underscored that, from an investment perspective, the long-term value of a company is tied to the sustainability of the broader natural ecosystem. She stressed that business models and governments must embed nature at the core of their operations, as opposed to seeing it as an add-on. Fawcett called for: a strong sense of purpose; outlining the inter-connectedness of humanity and the natural world; and remembering that “our descendants will live with the consequences of our actions.”

Jasmin stressed a business’ social license to operate, including social inclusivity and intergenerational equity. She underscored that safeguarding nature goes beyond the immediate implication of protecting business interests. Noting geopolitical contexts change, Jasmin urged focus on the long-term horizon, while understanding the realities and the commitments.

On how to navigate current headwinds, Jasmin and Fawcett noted the shift toward implementation. They said conversations in such spaces “no longer talk about the what, but the how,” underlining the case for optimism.

Scaling Private Sector Engagement in Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) for Contribution to GBF Target 3 in Asia: Highlighting the long history of OECMs in the Asia Pacific region on Sunday, Olivier Chassot, IUCN, stated that the definition formalizes and builds on a long-standing system in which areas stewarded or owned by local communities contribute to biodiversity goals. Regarding the benefits of recognizing OECMs, Chassot explained that they increase the percentage of protected and conserved areas, and pointed to opportunities for legitimizing community-led and faith-based conservation efforts in the region.

Campilan, IUCN, underscored progress in increasing awareness of OECMs and called for focusing on strengthening understanding by different private sector entities. He outlined initiatives developing OECMs around Toyota manufacturing sites in Thailand.

Wataru Suzuki, Director, Biodiversity Strategy Office, Ministry of the Environment, Japan spoke on behalf of Atsuhiro Yoshinaka, Rakuno Gakuen University. He described how the University is preparing to register its campus as an OECM, noting strong student engagement and co-benefits including carbon storage and increased ecological connectivity with adjacent forests.

Hashimoto, Shimizu Corporation, reported approaches for aligning the Corporation’s strategy with biodiversity objectives, including using TNFD assessments to reveal their contributions to deforestation in Malaysia and, therefore, reduce the Corporation’s use of uncertified wood. She detailed collaborative initiatives contributing to declaring OECMs as nationally certified sustainably managed sites.

Addressing the need to assess, disclose, and reduce biodiversity-related risks and impacts, Lesley Dickie, Executive Vice President, BirdLife International, drew attention to IBAT, a platform enabling informed decision making by businesses. She noted the planned integration of the world database on OECMs into IBAT in October 2025. Dickie further described grassroots measures in the region with ecological and economic benefits.

Femy Pinto, Executive Director, Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme, presented on territories and areas conserved by IPLCs (ICCAs), noting these directly contribute to several GBF targets. She highlighted financing opportunities following the development of an Indigenous Peoples’ biodiversity strategy and action plan in the Philippines, with support from the ICCA Consortium.

The Collaborative Initiative on Invasive Alien Species (IAS): Scaling up Sectoral Business Action: This session on Sunday, moderated by Kevin Smith, IUCN, informed delegates of the definition, risks, and costs associated with IAS. Smith underscored that the IUCN Red List indicates 16.2% of extinctions are driven by IAS alone and drew attention to GBF Target 6 (to reduce the introduction of IAS by 50% and minimize their impact by 2030).

Toru Sasaki, Azbil Corporation, discussed red fire ants and redback spiders as IAS, noting such species do not respect borders and are easily transportable, thus requiring cross-sectoral awareness and action.

Libby Sandbrook, Director, Business and Nature, Fauna & Flora, discussed tackling IAS and implications for business. She presented the IAS Collaborative Initiative led by Fauna & Flora, IUCN, TNFD, and leading businesses. The initiative, she sai, aims to: collaborate, learn, and share best practices; raise business awareness; and accelerate action.

Victor Galván, Director of Nature, Iberostar Group, underscored the impacts of IAS on the hotel group’s landscapes and gardens, and detailed efforts to remove IAS and replace them with native or endemic species. He called for responsive partnerships and more know-how.

Edwards, Fortescue, discussed the impacts of IAS, such as feral cats or cane toads, on mining operations. He stressed the importance of data, surveillance, reporting against achievable goals, and awareness raising.

Stéphan Plisson-Saune, TotalEnergies, described the impacts of IAS in their global cargo activities and other areas of work, noting it made good business sense to control such species.

McKenzie, TNFD, discussed how the Taskforce is supporting businesses through a framework for assessment and disclosure, supporting risk and opportunity management.

Business Summit Reflection Dialogue: This interactive session on Sunday afternoon was led by Karimah Hudda, Founder and Chief Catalyst, illumine.earth.

Participants highlighted key take-aways from the Summit, including:

• the need for knowledge and imagination;
• focusing on storytelling and promoting stories of hope;
• using new and emerging technologies such as AI;
• building trust;
• convening different stakeholders that do not necessarily understand each other; and
• proactively seeking businesses out rather than waiting for them to engage.

As food for thought, one delegate drew attention to businesses needing to balance current bottom lines with future environmental ambitions. In closing, Hudda invited participants to take time for further reflection and strategizing on implementation following the Summit’s close.

Biodiverse by Design: Wood Construction and Forest Value Chains for Nature: On Monday, 13 October, Moderator Arndt, PEFC International, noted that wood “is our best ally” when protecting biodiversity, as sustainably managed forests are also managed for biodiversity.

Ewald Rametsteiner, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), explained that most construction material is not renewable and has a larger carbon footprint than wood. He noted the “triple win” of using wood for economic, social, and environmental gains, alongside achieving nature-positive solutions. Rametsteiner drew attention to SDG Target 11.1, on ensuring access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing, and to the FAO Sustainable Wood for a Sustainable World initiative.

Robert Nasi, Director General, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), described the many advantages of using wood, such as its high thermal efficiency, and its derivatives, such as wood-based chemicals or cellulosic textiles. He underscored the importance of wood product traceability, and called for restoration and better management.

Yuuko Iizuka, Sumitomo Forestry, described a collaboration with the University of Kyoto to develop a wooden satellite. She described wood cycles and sourcing, moving away from illegal logging or wood from forests converted to agricultural land, and engaging with upstream suppliers and downstream users. Healy Hamilton, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, highlighted an increase in forestry companies seeking certification, remarking that certifications drive sustainable consumer cycles.

Responding to questions from the floor, panelists addressed approaches for decreasing consumption and reducing impact. Iizuko underscored transitions from demolishing wood houses to deconstruction and reuse. Healy noted solutions are case-specific, pointing to carbon sequestration and emission reduction mechanisms across forestry and construction operations.

On enabling regulations and product longevity, panelists highlighted requirements in public procurements for using renewable materials and guaranteeing the sustainable sourcing of forest products. Rametsteiner pointed to FAO’s Green Cities Initiative as advancing the discussion on changing cities’ material consumption. Iizuko further outlined Japan’s Whole Life Carbon concept, which will require construction companies to report on the greenhouse gas emissions across a building’s entire lifecycle beginning in 2028.

Embracing Context: How Businesses Can Co-create Nature-positive Futures Through Inclusive Stakeholder Strategies: On Monday, Ian Gunderson, IUCN, stressed the importance of integrating businesses, calling for placing them at the heart of conservation dialogues.

In a keynote address, Lite Nartey, INSEAD, discussed how businesses benefit from including a broad range of stakeholders and embracing the context in which they operate. She highlighted that the donor model to conservation is no longer effective, noting projects must be self-sustaining. She stressed the need to shift the perception of nature as an externality to understanding its central nature.

Nartey provided examples from the Peace Parks Foundation operating in Kenya, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, and how they focus on long-term capital, governance, and inclusive livelihoods. She also discussed an aquaculture fish farm on Lake Victoria, Kenya, noting its aims of: producing affordable, high-quality tilapia for low-income consumers; and addressing undernourishment and rapidly declining wild fish catch in the lake. She stressed that “ecosystem stewardship is not philanthropy but a strategic execution,” and called for businesses to become ecosystem orchestrators, aligning prosperity with planetary health.

Eva Ramos Perez-Torreblanca, Director, Environmental Policy Analysis and Economics, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, outlined initiatives to increase alignment and collaboration across historically siloed government entities in the UAE. On enabling policy environments, she noted the development of policies using market-based instruments, including the mandatory reporting on greenhouse gas emissions from 2026 that will contribute to creating the infrastructure for a national carbon market. Ramos Perez-Torreblanca underscored the importance of engaging multiple partners, across sectors, to develop skills and increase mutual understanding and the suitability of projects.

In discussions, Nartey and Ramos Perez-Torreblanca stressed the need for policy coherence, with alignment and understanding required across departments of climate, industry, utilities, energy, and planning. One participant questioned the eco-benefits of aquaculture, noting the prevalence of negative ecological impacts of the intensive sector. Nartey highlighted the Lake Victoria project’s achievements in tackling algal blooms.

Unlocking Private Finance for Scalable, Credible, and High Integrity NbS: Session moderator Debasmita Boral Rolland, IUCN, said on Monday that reaching the goals of the Rio Conventions requires a step change in nature financing.

Angela Andrade, Chair, IUCN CEM, outlined the second edition of the IUCN Global Standard for NbS, describing it as a credible instrument to be applied in different areas of work. She called for ensuring enabling conditions for implementation, and for providing direct support to those applying NbS on the ground.

Thomas Andersson, Chairman, International Organisation for Knowledge Economy and Enterprise Development, stressed the urgency of solving the current environmental challenges, noting the economy’s influence on nature today is overwhelming. He underscored the short-term costs of repairing damages led to underinvestment in nature. Andersson called for, among others: scaling up efforts for NbS; blended finance to share risks and achieve synergies; and monitoring. He stressed that: humanity comes between green finance and nature; there is no silver bullet; and multistakeholder involvement cannot wait for governments alone to bring people together.

Responding to participants’ questions, Andersson remarked that while an increase in funding is available to SMEs, it remains inadequate. He stressed verification and rewarding action, underscoring the need to evolve away from solely prizing disclosures and reporting.

The session continued with a panel discussion. Schoumsky, Société Générale, provided insight from the banking sector, noting the role of IUCN’s Global Standard on NbS in raising the credibility and reducing perceived risk of NbS projects. He further described work to align project objectives with Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement on climate change and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans.

Nan Xiang, Director, International Development Department, China Sustainability Tribune, showcased enterprise-driven solutions for accelerating the SDGs in China. She pointed to a government-led initiative for inspiring private sector buy-in, including a NbS accelerator programme and tailored training. Xiang further highlighted a NbS project in which a utilities company within a migratory bird flyway integrated nature into their infrastructure.

Addressing the need to close the significant biodiversity financing gap estimated at USD 700 billion annually, Christopher Dickinson, ADB, pointed to innovative finance instruments such as biodiversity bonds and outlined the ADB Nature Solutions Finance Hub, which aims to catalyze financing for NbS. He emphasized the importance of avoiding greenwashing, highlighting work to improve safeguards.

During a question-and-answer session, panelists focused on tailoring the business case for NbS to various private sector actors, noting this can differ between investors, corporations, and others. They also remarked on the need to continue raising awareness on NbS.

Unlocking Confidence: Interactive Dialogue on Applying Natural Capital into Business Decisions: On Monday, moderator Louise Amand, Capitals Coalition, welcomed participants to this fishbowl dialogue bringing together global business leaders to discuss embedding natural capital into decision making and accounting.

Nadine McCormick, WBCSD, discussed who to engage, how to ensure a common understanding, and ensuring appropriate decisions are taken at the right time.

Erika Daintry, Executive Director, Finnish Business Council UAE, underscored the importance of: integrating natural, human, social, and financial interests; considering all forms of capital; and recognizing the transformative value of capacity building.

Umar Munir, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, provided insight into the different environmental assessments carried out at the Abu Dhabi hospital, particularly on energy consumption, including steps taken and return on investment. Shreehari Krishnan, BESIX Middle East, discussed sustainable construction and noted that greenhouse gas emissions can be translated into fuel costs.

Participants further underscored: that preserving nature is about sustaining the foundations for the future; the need for integrated approached and education; embedding the environment into company operations; and including natural capital in company balance sheets. They mentioned a soon-to-be-published report by the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group, on capacity building on natural capital valuation for business decision making.

Connecting Forests and Finance: How Can Measuring Natural Capital Drive Change in Capital Allocation? This solutions-oriented discussion on Monday, moderated by Ross Hampton, CEO, International Sustainable Forestry Coalition, delved into an initiative exploring the transition toward a globally standardized natural capital approach for the forest sector.

McKenzie, TNFD, emphasized the growing appetite for natural capital accounting and evaluation, signaled by investors, regulators, and standard setters, following a first round of assessments against nature-related risks and dependencies. She further outlined work underway, building on the Capitals Coalition’s Natural Capital Protocol.

Amand, Capitals Coalition, emphasized the need to make nature more “visible” in economic decision making through natural capital accounting – saying this will be the “new normal in five years’ time.” She underscored the importance of building capacity and expertise, and of access to robust data as key for trustworthy evaluations of nature-related impacts and dependencies.

Arndt, PEFC International, pointed to the importance of certification and standard setting for integrating nature credits into the forestry sector, citing varying standards applied on a project-by-project basis. He further emphasized the need to ensure forest-dependent livelihoods are not left behind.

Iizuka, Sumitomo Forestry, reported on her company’s history of natural capital accounting, noting the lesson was learned “the hard way,” following a pollution incident from their copper mine a century ago. She stressed the importance of a unified approach for metrics and using common language, and highlighted the upstream forestry sector’s role in signaling ecosystem value provision to investors.

In discussions, Hampton remarked that a negative cost continues to be attributed to nature on balance sheets, pointing to the lower perceived value of forested land compared to farmland in Australia. Participants addressed the importance of using emerging technologies, and strengthening data collection and dissemination processes.

On practical case studies, they outlined the Forico Natural Capital Report on environmental stewardship and corporate sustainability reporting, and the illustrative examples of nature-related disclosures in the TNFD knowledge hub. McKenzie also drew attention to Natural Asset Companies (NACs), enterprises with natural assets, being developed as models for meeting the growing demand for nature-positive investment at scale.

Participants cautioned against use of the terminology “offsetting nature” and exclusively focusing on commodities, which foregoes social value. They drew attention to differing nature markets around the world, and geographical discrepancies in data availability.