NEW YORK (News release) -- BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (BTG Pactual TIG) announced that it has crossed the $500 million milestone on its way toward its goal of mobilizing $1 billion for its Latin American Reforestation Strategy. This achievement underscores BTG Pactual TIG's commitment to large-scale restoration, conservation, and sustainable land management across Latin America, aiming to generate significant environmental, social, and economic benefits. Conservation International serves as Impact Adviser for the strategy to help BTG Pactual TIG achieve positive impacts for people, nature and climate.
By investing in projects that are dedicated to sustainable commercial tree farms across half the strategy's footprint, and the protection and restoration of native ecosystems across the other half, BTG Pactual TIG seeks to integrate the protection and restoration of important habitats with sustainable commercial production. The strategy is focused on restoring approximately 133,000 hectares of natural forest and establishing sustainable commercial tree farms on an additional 133,000 hectares in order to protect and enhance biodiversity, generate carbon credits, and expand economic opportunities in rural communities.
Gerrity Lansing, Head of BTG Pactual TIG, expressed satisfaction with the progress to date: "Raising $500 million for our Latin American Reforestation Strategy is a testament to our shared belief with Conservation International in the positive outcomes that the thoughtful connection of commercial production and conservation can achieve. We are now over halfway to our goal, and we can already begin to see the impacts of this strategy; as we continue this journey, our dedication to aligning economic returns with climate, community and biodiversity benefits remains stronger than ever."
Mark Wishnie, Chief Sustainability Officer at BTG Pactual TIG, highlighted the transformative potential of the strategy: "Our Latin American Reforestation Strategy demonstrates the role public and private investment can play in driving large-scale, positive environmental outcomes. Working alongside Conservation International and other key collaborators and partners, we're demonstrating that sustainable forestry can be a powerful force for restoration and climate action, while also benefiting communities and aiming to deliver value for investors."
The strategy has already achieved significant milestones, including the planting of over 8 million seedlings and the initiation of restoration of more than 3,200 hectares of degraded land. BTG Pactual TIG's long-term vision is to develop a model for sustainable reforestation that balances social, environmental, and economic returns, setting a new standard for timberland investment in the region.
