Biodiverse by Design: how wood construction can advance nature-positive outcomes & more: PEFC @ IUCN World Congress

8 October 2025 Event report

Sustainably sourced wood is a renewable, carbon-storing material with the potential to align business growth with climate and biodiversity goals.

At the IUCN World Conservation Congress Business Summit in Abu Dhabi, PEFC partners with the Sustainable Wood for a Sustainable World (SW4SW) initiative to bring together leaders from science, policy, certification, and industry to explore how responsible forest value chains can translate into credible, competitive solutions for the built environment.

The session will highlight why the moment is right: cities are seeking lower-carbon building options, companies are navigating rising expectations on nature and transparency, and collaboration across sectors is accelerating.

The conversation will focus on what near-term leadership looks like for companies and other organisations, how we can work together better across the value chain, and how confidence in sourcing and performance can support markets that deliver for nature and people.

“Wood can be a powerful climate and biodiversity solution when it is used responsibly and verified transparently. Our aim in Abu Dhabi is simple: help businesses turn nature-positive intent into actions that hold up – so choosing wood becomes an everyday decision that communities can trust and markets can scale”, said Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy at PEFC International.

Participants can expect clear signals on the direction of travel and where to lean in: opportunities for partnership, ways to build trust in sourcing and performance, and next steps that connect ambition to delivery as SW4SW builds toward COP30, COP17 and beyond. The dialogue is designed for decision-makers who want to translate nature-positive intent into actions that stand up to public expectations and support resilient, competitive businesses.

• When & where: Monday, 13 October 2025, 11:00–12:00, Business Pavilion, IUCN World Conservation Congress, Abu Dhabi (ADNEC).
• Speakers: Ewald Rametsteiner (FAO), Robert Nasi (CIFOR-ICRAF), Healy Hamilton (SFI), Yuuko Iizuka (Sumitomo Forestry).
• Moderator: Thorsten Arndt (PEFC)

Advancing nature policies: fast-track business action

Clear, implementable policy signals – from public procurement to building codes – can accelerate business uptake of nature-positive solutions. This policy-market exchange will surface near-term steps organisations can take as regulatory and voluntary frameworks converge.

Friday, 10 October 2025 from 11:00 – 12:30 at Hall 4B: Forum - Session Room 2.

Connecting forests and finance: how can measuring natural capital drive change?

A cross-sector dialogue on practical natural-capital metrics and how standardisation can help decision-makers recognise forest value and channel investment into nature-positive outcomes.

Monday, 13 October 2025 from 15:00 – 16:00 at the Business Pavilion.