Forests as Climate Infrastructure: Governance, Finance and Stewardship
Forests are among the world's most important climate assets, yet discussions about climate action often reduce them to carbon sinks or reforestation targets. In reality, forests are complex social, ecological, and economic systems whose long-term contribution to climate resilience depends as much on governance and stewardship as on conservation alone.
This discussion will explore how forests can be positioned at the center of climate strategies, investment portfolios, and development pathways. Participants will examine the evolving role of forest finance mechanisms, including REDD+ and jurisdictional approaches, alongside growing interest in managed forests as contributors to climate mitigation, biodiversity protection, and resilient rural economies. The conversation will consider how investment can support not only forest protection and restoration, but also the long-term ecological health and productivity of forest landscapes.
A particular focus will be the governance challenge. From the Congo Basin to other critical forest regions, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and public institutions play a vital role in determining how forests are managed and who benefits from them. How can governance systems strengthen accountability, participation, and long-term stewardship while attracting investment and supporting climate goals?
As pressure on the world's forests continues to grow, their future will depend not only on environmental commitments but on the institutions, incentives, and partnerships that shape decisions on the ground. This conversation will explore what it takes to govern and finance forests as essential climate infrastructure.
Discussion Group Leaders
Alexandra Benjamin is Forest Governance Policy Adviser at Fern, advancing forest protection and community rights through policy, advocacy, and coalition-building.
Bettina von Hagen is CEO of EFM (Ecological Forest Management), advancing ecological forestry through investments that deliver climate, biodiversity, and community benefits.
Lea Valentini is Co-Director of Well Grounded, strengthening civil society organizations and local leadership across the Congo Basin.
Tosana Töben is Independent Researcher and Nature Rights Advocate at the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, advancing nature rights, environmental governance, and youth leadership in conservation.
Discussion Questions
How can forests be better recognised within climate strategies and investment portfolios as critical infrastructure rather than simply carbon assets?
What lessons can be learned from REDD+, jurisdictional approaches, and other forest finance mechanisms about what drives lasting forest protection and stewardship?
What role should civil society, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and governments play in shaping forest governance and accountability?
How can investment in forests support both ecological integrity and sustainable economic outcomes in major forest regions such as the Congo Basin?