FSC Australia and New Zealand (FSC ANZ) proudly sponsored the 25th Anniversary Katoomba Summit, themed ‘Real Value for Nature’, held on Thursday, 3rd October 2024. This milestone event took place in Sydney ahead of the Global Nature Positive Summit, which wrapped up on 10th October 2024. Both events served as key platforms for advancing discussions on reversing biodiversity loss and scaling sustainable solutions. FSC ANZ’s CEO, Melanie Robertson, was actively engaged in the summit, representing FSC’s commitment to responsible forestry as part of a broader nature-positive vision.

Katoomba Group’s Legacy
Founded in the late 1990s, the Katoomba Group has long been at the forefront of innovative environmental solutions. Comprising a global network of individuals and organisations from diverse sectors—government, finance, environmental groups, and academia—the Katoomba Group focuses on creating ecosystem service markets and driving sustainable investments. Over the last 25 years, the group has been instrumental in promoting ways to value natural capital, mobilise financing for conservation, and empower local communities and First Nations Peoples to steward their lands.

This milestone summit, ‘Real Value for Nature’, celebrated their legacy and featured in-depth discussions on several critical issues:

•    Pathways to Value: Highlighting the development of markets for ecosystem services and solutions that encourage sustainable investment.
•    Risk to Value: Exploring strategies to manage climate and environmental risks while enhancing the resilience of ecosystems.
•    Partnerships to Value: Promoting cross-sector collaborations to scale natural asset solutions and drive impactful change across industries.

FSC’s sponsorship of the summit underscores its commitment to advancing sustainable forestry practices, aligning with the summit's focus on innovative solutions for protecting ecosystems and supporting communities.

Continue reading here