The urgency of investments in landscape restoration
In today’s news, we are constantly reminded that we are in the midst of climate change. The damage and effects are visible daily, from extreme droughts and heavy rainfall to devastating storms. Yet, despite the well-known technical solutions and sustainability criteria, we remain stuck in endless debates about the how and what of reforestation and nature conservation.
The barrier: debate slows down action
In tropical regions, massive deforestation and land degradation are causing significant migration flows. While everyone agrees that sustainable land use is the solution, progress is stalled by principles, sustainability criteria, and debates on carbon offsetting. This has become a massive barrier to action. Billions of dollars are needed to finance sustainable land use, including reforestation, and although funds are available, they are not being effectively utilized.
The elements for healthy, sustainable, large-scale projects are all present. In the last years of our 30 years of business experience, we see a significant increase in demand from countries, companies, and NGOs who are eager to engage in landscape restoration. However, large-scale impact is slow to materialize due to several factors but there are ways to solve this:
- Investor unfamiliarity with long-term business cases: There is a lack of understanding among investors about the long-term benefits and profitability of landscape restoration projects. However, there are specialists available to guide them.
- Risk-averse behaviour: Many investors prefer to wait rather than take action due to perceived risks. But it is mainly a lack of knowledge: there are ways to mitigate these risks.
- Political hesitation: Governments often delay action, because there is a lack of capacity and expertise. The private sector can assist and scale up implementation.
- Sustainability certification debates: Although the sector is well-organized with certifications and sustainability guidelines, there is a fundamental debate about whether or not to allow carbon offsetting. This debate is a luxury we cannot afford. On this planet, we do not have time to keep discussing this.
My plea is clear: take action now. We must use our existing knowledge to create large-scale impacts through development banks, green funds, and companies and organisations eager to offset their carbon emissions. We cannot afford to ignore the crisis and delay action. In the Western world, there is a tendency to keep discussing until the situation becomes dire.
We need to move beyond discussions and into action! In ten years, when the consequences of climate change are even more severe, we will have no choice but to act. We may not know all the details, but we must proceed regardless. It is essential to demonstrate that action works without getting bogged down in endless debates at conference tables.
At Form International, we have taken a modest yet impactful role in this effort. We have initiated several large-scale projects in Uganda, Indonesia, Peru, and Ghana. These projects demonstrate that landscape restoration can be done sustainably with an acceptable return on investment. To achieve this, collaboration with green funds and development banks is essential. These entities are more and more willing to invest actively in the development of landscape restoration at a large scale. We must also not forget the private sector it’s not just about banks and development funds. Private companies also have a crucial role to play as investors and implementing partners. Our thinking must include all these stakeholders to drive the necessary change.
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This blog is written by Paul Hol, CEO of Form International.