This is the first time I am attending the GIIN Forum and it is great to see so many experts and investors converge into one venue to celebrate impact investing. Throughout the conference, I’ve noticed a clear interest in biodiversity. Biodiversity and nature conservation are an intrinsic part of sustainable forestry. As one of the global leaders in forestry investments, Finnfund is well-placed to share best practices on this topic.
The main concern we have encountered is with the ability to find liquid and profitable models that internalise biodiversity beyond risk mitigation. It should not just be about avoiding doing harm, but also about promoting biodiversity while generating profits. However, natural capital can have long lead times that require patient capital. This has generated many conversations about carbon credits, their ethics, controversies and their ability to generate cash flows in the lead-up to the culmination of forestry projects. There are ways to invest profitably in biodiversity but this is still a growing field.
– Anne Valto, Senior Development Impact Adviser, Finnfund