Unlocking Smarter Nature Investments: Community Co-design & Risk Mitigation
Hosted by Plan Vivo – as part of the Edinburgh Finance Festival
Event overview
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are rapidly gaining traction as one of the most promising ways to deliver climate resilience, biodiversity restoration, and real-world impact. But the true key to unlocking their full potential? Local communities.
Join us for a high-value conversation on how community co-design in NbS is not just the right thing to do—it’s a powerful strategy for building high-integrity, lower-risk investment opportunities.
Whether you're actively investing in NbS, building a pipeline, or exploring your first nature-climate opportunities, this event will offer fresh insight into how strong community partnerships are driving success across the sector.
What you’ll gain
Actionable insights on de-risking investments through community-led projects
Exposure to leading organisations and innovators in climate and nature finance
First-hand learning from people delivering successful community-led projects
A chance to shape and join a growing movement toward responsible, high-integrity NbS investments
Space to build connections over drinks in a relaxed, informal setting
What to expect
Focused roundtable discussions on community involvement as risk mitigation (with a climate/nature focus)
Flexible format (one or two roundtables depending on group size)
Expert insights from across the NbS, investment, and community engagement space
Note: Held under Chatham House Rule – no recording to encourage open sharing.
🥂 Light refreshments & networking included to close
Speakers & facilitators
Our roundtables will be led by a mix of practitioners, investors, and community champions, including:
Toral Shah – Plan Vivo
Keith Bohannon – Plan Vivo
Eva Schoof - Plan Vivo
Robin Whytock – Okala
Robyn Morland – ACES
Kaija Barisa – Blue Marine Foundation
About Plan Vivo
Plan Vivo is a leading certification system for community and smallholder-led nature-based projects in carbon and biodiversity markets. Its mission is to ensure that locally driven nature-based projects can access high-integrity carbon and nature finance that is fair, equitable, and directly benefits communities, nature, and climate.
Part of the Edinburgh Finance Festival
This event is part of the Edinburgh Finance Festival, a global gathering that brings together leaders across finance to celebrate progress, inspire future action, and drive meaningful change. With over 2,500 participants expected, the Festival offers a dynamic platform to connect global financial stakeholders and shape the future of Finance for All—with Edinburgh’s 300-year financial legacy as its backdrop.