The BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (TIG) and Conservation International have won Environmental Finance’s award for ESG Investment Initiative of the Year in Latin America.

This award acknowledges the innovative collaboration launched by TIG and Conservation International on a new impact-oriented reforestation investment strategy in Latin America, which seeks to mobilize US$ 1 billion over five years and deliver significant climate, environmental and social benefits, alongside financial returns.

Gerrity Lansing, head of TIG, said: “Our team is thrilled to share this recognition with Conservation International and all of our partners, collaborators, and advisers who are committing their energy and resources to deliver inclusive, equitable, and impactful natural climate solutions at scale across Latin America.” 

With CI’s support as Impact Advisor for the strategy, TIG aims to protect and restore hundreds of thousands of acres of natural forests in degraded landscapes across Latin America; plant hundreds of millions of trees in sustainably managed, independently certified commercial forests; provide tens of millions of tons of carbon benefit; and support inclusive and equitable community development.

Mark Wishnie, Chief Sustainability Officer at TG, said: “We believe this collaboration can serve as a model for the forestry sector, as well as other commodity systems, in the region. It is exactly the sort of innovative, boundary-pushing initiative needed to drive impact at scale.” 

BTG Pactual won the same award last year for the launch of the Sustainable and Impact Investment Group, making this the second year in a row the BTG Pactual family has won this award.