In a bold move to combat tropical deforestation and drive inclusive, nature-based climate solutions, Mirova—the sustainable investment affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers—has partnered with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) through a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The collaboration aims to deploy targeted capital into FSC-certified forestry and land-use projects across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.
The initiative will be powered by Mirova’s Sustainable Land Fund 2, a high-impact investment vehicle focused on restoring ecosystems while generating long-term financial returns. Projects selected must meet stringent environmental and social safeguards, ensuring transparency, biodiversity protection, and social equity.
“Forests are a global public good and a frontline defence against climate change and biodiversity loss,” said Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of FSC International.
Tackling an Urgent Climate Threat
The alliance comes in response to alarming trends: in 2022 alone, 6.6 million hectares of forest were lost globally, emitting 2.7 gigatonnes of CO₂—largely from unsustainable land use in tropical regions. Mirova and FSC are strategically positioning capital to reverse this pattern by investing in sustainable forest management, reforestation, and forest-based value chains.
By prioritizing projects in climate-critical geographies—such as the Amazon basin, Congo rainforest, and Indonesia—the fund is expected to support carbon drawdown, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods, aligning closely with the goals of the Paris Agreement and post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
Inclusive Growth Model
A distinctive feature of the partnership is its commitment to social inclusion. Special emphasis will be placed on empowering women and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs)—key forest stewards who often face disproportionate barriers to conservation finance. Financial mechanisms will integrate benefit-sharing, co-management structures, and community capacity-building.
“Our partnership with FSC will enable us to direct capital toward high-quality forestry projects that not only protect vital ecosystems but also empower local communities,” said Gautier Queru, Managing Director for Natural Capital at Mirova.
Paving the Way for COP30
With COP30 set to take place in Brazil, where forests and land use will be in the spotlight, the FSC-Mirova alliance could serve as a model for climate-smart finance. It demonstrates how blended capital, rigorous certification, and inclusive governance can align to protect nature while delivering measurable climate and economic impact.
The partnership reinforces the notion that responsible investment is not only ethical—it is essential to addressing the twin crises of climate breakdown and ecological collapse.
