How can Finance help to leverage Sustainable Forest Management and Traceable Value Chains?
Mirova, a French investment fund, will soon announce a €350 million initiative focused on agriculture and forestry. For the forestry component, they will systematically require FSC certification for both forest managers and industry partners they support in Mexico, Vietnam, and Africa. International Woodland Company (IWC), a Danish natural resources investment expert, will invest 500 million€ in certified sustainable forestry assets in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. CNP Assurances, a French insurance company, has announced that 100% of the forests it owns will be FSC certified by 2030. Other financial institutions have also announced that they will invest exclusively in FSC-certified forests.
Why this growing movement? Is it driven by evolving regulations in Europe? A communications strategy? Or do these investors believe that FSC-certified forests are more resilient to climate change than others?
Alain Karsenty, Centre for International Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD)
Alain Karsenty, PhD, is an economist and researcher at CIRAD (Centre for International Agricultural Research for Development) in Montpellier. His research focuses on economic instruments for public action on climate and biodiversity, with a particular interest in tropical forests.
An internationally recognized researcher and expert in these fields, and an associate member of the French Academy of Agriculture, he regularly collaborates with several international organizations, such as the World Bank, FAO, UNESCO, and the European Commission, as well as with companies engaged in transition processes.
His most recent work focuses on the REDD+ mechanism (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation), carbon offsetting and markets, environmental taxation linked to certification systems, biodiversity financing mechanisms, and Payments for Environmental Services.
Aurélien Sautière, FSC France
After studying human geography, land use planning and geopolitics in France and Spain, Aurélien Sautière joined FSC France in 2014 as Executive Director. Before joining FSC, he spent five years as Director of Décider ensemble (Decide together), a French association specializing in promoting a culture of consultation and shared decision-making, particularly among French parliamentarians. This experience convinced him that any public policy, corporate CSR initiative or action that has an impact on the public interest and the environment requires strong and ongoing dialogue with stakeholders prior to decisions being made.
In line with what FSC promotes for forests, he naturally embraced the idea that actions related to forest management and the preservation of forest value cannot be carried out without taking into account the economic, social and cultural issues affecting communities and citizens.
His favorite saying? “Alone we go faster, together we go further”
Gautier Quéru, Mirova
Gautier is an investment executive with two decades of experience in sustainable finance. From 2004 to 2016, he led climate finance initiatives at Natixis through the European Carbon Fund, a $150 million fund focused on supporting emission reduction projects in emerging markets under the Kyoto Protocol. In 2013, he played a key role in scaling up renewable energy investments at Mirova and founded its natural capital department in 2016. He currently oversees $600 million in assets, focusing on sustainable land use with the LDN Fund and nature-based carbon projects through the Climate Fund for Nature.
Gautier holds an engineering degree with a focus on environment and energy from the Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse and graduated from Sciences Po Paris in 2004.
Michele Gonzalez-Mendia, FSC Investments and Partnerships
Michele Gonzalez-Mendia is a dynamic, forward-thinking leader known for building bridges between ideas, people, and capital. With a strategic and collaborative mindset, she shapes mission-driven initiatives that advance inclusive and sustainable development across global landscapes.
With over two decades of experience spanning Latin America, Asia, and the U.S., Michele has led high-impact partnerships and investor dialogues at organizations including World Vision and Food for the Hungry, where she spearheaded resource mobilization and climate resilience strategies for vulnerable communities. Today, she drives innovative financing approaches at the Forest Stewardship Council, mobilizing capital for forest conservation, climate adaptation, and equitable market access for smallholders and Indigenous Peoples.
Originally from Guatemala, Michele brings deep regional insight into Latin America and the Caribbean, complemented by a global perspective shaped through work across Africa and Asia. Her leadership has delivered transformative outcomes in climate adaptation, women’s empowerment, migration, and community-led development.
Michele holds an MBA from Eastern University and has completed advanced studies at Harvard University in sustainable finance, climate change, health, and migration. She is widely recognized for her ability to connect policy, finance, and grassroots action, building coalitions that translate bold ideas into measurable impact.
Rosana Techima, CNP Assurances
Rosana Techima holds a degree in business administration from the University of Brasilia, a postgraduate degree in strategic business management, and a specialization in digital transformation from MIT, the University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, and the University of Cambridge. She has been CEO of CNP Seguros Argentina and Vice President of the Board of Directors of Seguradora Provincia Vida since August 2018. She previously worked at CAIXA Seguradora, the Brazilian subsidiary of the CNP Assurances group. With 33 years of experience within the Group, she has held various positions: Executive Director of CAIXA VIDA & PREVIDÊNCIA, Director of Caixa Consorcios, Director of Life Products, where she actively contributed to the development of inclusive insurance and microinsurance in Brazil. She is co-author of the book Women in Insurance, published by Editora Líder.
Event Details
- Friday, 31 October
Time: 14:30 - 16:00 (EST - Panama) / 20:30 - 22:00 (CET) / 03:30 - 05:00 (WITA)