In this episode, I speak to Jen Stebbing, a communications strategist working at the intersection of climate, nature, and markets. Jen shares her key takeaways from New York Climate Week, where forests are increasingly being seen as essential infrastructure rather than “nice-to-haves.” We discuss the emerging portfolio approach to forest finance—integrating conservation, restoration, improved management, and avoided deforestation—to help investors and policymakers see the full picture. Jen also shares insights on Brazil’s leadership through the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), the role of blended finance and philanthropy in catalyzing capital, and the importance of risk-sharing models that protect communities. She encourages listeners to explore the Forest Finance Roadmap as a key resource for developing new forest investment strategies.
“I’m going to come back to my infrastructure point. So see forests as an essential, durable infrastructure and think about the portfolio — conservation, restoration, jurisdiction, sustainable forestry, all of these things together. And remembering that the biggest risk isn’t reversals, it’s delay. So the more you step in, the more value you have secure.”
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TFFF - Tropical Forest Forever Facility
Generation Restoration: How to Fix Our Relationship Crisis with Mother Nature (book)
HIFOR - A single investment, with multiple benefits
[0:00] Welcome and introduction
[0:21] Meet Jen Stebbing
[2:00] Highlights from New York Climate Week
[5:00] Forests as essential infrastructure
[8:46] The portfolio approach to forest finance
[11:41] Indigenous leadership and equity
[13:42] Brazil’s TFFF and the Forest Finance Roadmap
[18:13] Risk-sharing and community protection
[21:47] Blended finance and the Restoration Generation
[29:05] Overcoming capital-raising challenges
[33:03] Optimism and collaboration in climate finance
[34:10] Final advice for forest investors
Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink
Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives
Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud
Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud
Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)