In May 2026, P4F, funded by UK International Development, hosted the 2026 Forum in partnership with Mobilising Finance for Forests (MFF), delivered by FMO and funded by the governments of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom

The Forum explored how increased investment in forests can support long-term economic resilience, sustainable growth and environmental security amid escalating climate and nature risks. Bringing together over 250 government and private sector actors, donors, P4F staff and partners, it created space to share lessons, draw on expertise and strengthen the collaboration needed to deliver resilient, inclusive and deforestation-free growth at scale. 

Following a dedicated finance-focused session, discussions turned to the delivery systems needed to translate ambition into action. Together, they highlighted that forest investment will only scale when finance, policy, markets and implementation are aligned. 

Held in the Barbican Conservatory — a rare tropical environment in the heart of London and home to over 1,500 plant and tree species — the venue provided a fitting setting for discussions on biodiversity, stewardship and our relationship with nature. 

From ambition to implementation 

A core theme at the Forum was the need for P4F to respond to a rapidly changing global landscape by strengthening the wider enabling environment for forest-positive investment. As the programme moves from proof of concept towards wider impact across regions and value chains, discussions highlighted the systems needed to support scale — including policy, markets, finance, technology and data. 

Reflections from P4F’s Regional Directors showed how lessons from the first phase are informing more adaptive and context-specific approaches to scale. A discussion between donor and private sector representatives underlined the importance of sustained public-private collaboration in maintaining momentum and unlocking investment in an increasingly complex landscape. This message was reinforced by keynote speaker Ruth Davis OBE, UK Special Representative for Nature, whose remarks highlighted the role of partnership in building a global forest-positive economy. 

“The P4F Forum brings together an ecosystem — producers, enterprises, investors, corporates and policy makers — around a shared belief: that a forest-positive economy is both urgent and possible. By building partnerships that turn ideas into action, we can scale investment, strengthen livelihoods, and protect and restore forests together.”  

Ruth Davis OBE, UK Special Nature Representative

  

Scaling what works in complex environments 

Building on earlier discussions on enabling environments, participants then explored the practical steps needed to turn viable forest-friendly business models into scalable, investable opportunities — especially where risk and fragility shape market conditions.  

Discussions highlighted that the major constraint to scale is not a lack of viable or promising businesses, but a persistent mismatch between available finance mechanisms and the realities of forest-friendly SMEs. Many remain in the missing middle: too large for microfinance but too small or high-risk for conventional investors, with their growth further constrained by limited patient capital and investor expectations that do not reflect the realities of many nature-based enterprises. These challenges are often most pronounced in fragile and conflict-affected landscapes, where access to finance is further constrained despite significant potential for forest-positive growth. 

Discussion between accelerators, investors, donors and practitioners emphasised the importance of approaches that are both commercially viable and grounded in local context. Speakers highlighted how long-term, tailored support — combining technical assistance with catalytic finance — is critical to building investment-ready businesses.  

There was also strong emphasis on the crucial role of access to, and demand from, international markets in enabling scale, particularly in creating reliable demand and stronger commercial incentives for forest‑friendly production. 

Overall, there was a clear sense that scaling what works will require more than capital alone. It will depend on aligning finance, expertise and markets, while building the flexibility, partnerships and risk-sharing approaches needed to sustain investment and deliver impact in some of the most challenging but essential contexts. 

Bringing the portfolio to life  

Beyond the formal sessions, participants experienced P4F’s work first-hand. Businesses from across the P4F portfolio transformed the Conservatory into a marketplace of forest-friendly products — from chocolate and coffee to perfume and hand cream — all sustainably sourced and produced from tropical forest landscapes, bringing to life the value chains that P4F supports. 

An immersive audio soundscape, narrated by voices from across the P4F portfolio, guided participants through the experiences of businesses, partners and practitioners working together to deliver impact on the ground, alongside soundbites from the rainforest landscapes in which they operate.  

Photography by James Gifford-Mead Photography

Together, these elements created a tangible link between strategy and implementation, allowing participants to see, hear and connect with the realities of building resilient, inclusive, deforestation-free forest economies.  .

Building connections for scale 

Throughout the day, the Forum created space for meaningful exchange across regions and sectors. Whether through structured sessions or informal conversations, the emphasis was on building relationships and sharing insights that extend beyond the event itself. 

“This Forum has reinforced how important convening is in turning ambition into action. The relationships being built here are already shaping a stronger, more investable portfolio for this new phase of P4F, with clear potential to scale impact.” 

 Kate McCoy, Team Leader, P4F. 

As P4F embarks on its second phase, the Forum highlighted that delivering impact at scale will depend on sustained collaboration, practical learning and collective action. By bringing together policy, finance and implementation perspectives, the event reaffirmed the significant role partnerships will play in accelerating the transition to resilient, inclusive and deforestation-free economies.