Standing Forests: Value, Protection, and What They Teach Us
Event Description
Forests are central to climate stability, biodiversity, and human wellbeing, yet they continue to be undervalued, underprotected, and increasingly degraded. At the same time, much of the global conversation focuses on restoration, while far less attention is given to the protection of intact ecosystems, often the most effective and cost-efficient strategy.
This session explores both the practical and deeper dimensions of forest conservation. What would it take to properly value standing forests, not just for carbon or biodiversity, but for their role in sustaining livelihoods, reducing poverty, and supporting resilient communities?
We will examine key drivers of deforestation, including agricultural expansion, and explore what it will take to shift systems toward long-term protection. The discussion will also address financing gaps, including why mechanisms to maintain healthy ecosystems remain limited compared to those focused on restoration.
Alongside these structural questions, the session invites a more reflective lens: what can forests teach us about resilience, interdependence, and long-term thinking? From the enduring strength of trees like the baobab to the deep relationships communities hold with forests around the world, these perspectives offer powerful insights for how we design systems and approach change.
Bringing together practitioners, funders, and community voices, this session will explore how to protect forests not just as resources, but as living systems that sustain both planet and people.
Speakers
Lindsay Branham is Founder and President of Novo Film and the Heartwood Institute, advancing human rights and ecological impact through storytelling and interdisciplinary practice.
Pius Matunge is Director and Curator of Tengeneza Generation (TEG), advancing youth empowerment and sustainable enterprise through art and culture.
Tørris Jæger is Director of Rainforest Foundation Norway, advancing rights-based conservation and rainforest protection globally.
Saskia Prisandhini Tjokro is Director at Angin Foundation, advancing impact investing and ecosystem building for SMEs and startups in Southeast Asia.
Karina Penha is Co-Executive Director of Amazônia de Pé, advancing forest protection and community-led conservation in Brazil.
Discussion Questions
Why are standing forests undervalued compared to restoration efforts?
What financing models can better support the protection of intact ecosystems?
How do forests contribute to poverty alleviation and community resilience?
What can we learn from nature about resilience, growth, and sustaining systems over time?
Location & access
Accessibility matters deeply to us, and we do our best to choose spaces that reflect that. That said, some of our Oxford venues are in historic buildings without lifts. This room is unfortunately not accessible for wheelchair users, those with mobility challenges, or anyone needing step-free access.