Shaping Solutions for Climate, Communities, and Biodiversity
Community-based economic models are widely championed in reforestation, but are they delivering real returns to the communities they're designed to serve? This session puts the question directly to the room. Attendees break into small groups to work through specific examples, examining how community benefits get structured in practice and what it takes for these models to hold up over time.
Senior Advisor, Landscape Alliance
Cathy Watson is an Ashoka Fellow, journalist and social entrepreneur with 40 years’ experience in Africa, reporting from Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Uganda where she also founded NGOs: Straight Talk produced newspapers in four indigenous languages and radio shows in 16; Mvule Trust was a Guardian Christmas Charity and supported 3400 youth on courses, including 156 foresters. Now Senior Advisor at Landscape Alliance in Kenya, she has worked across the Global South from Peru to Vietnam. She is particularly exercised by seed systems for indigenous species and restoration in cocoa, refugee-hosting and urban landscapes. In Nairobi, she has created green jobs and a biodiversity corridor with over 140 tree species. Editor of the 2026 compendium Urban Forests and Green Spaces in Africa: Case Studies and Lessons from Across the Continent, Cathy believes Africa’s future lies in the hands of its botanists.
Executive Vice President, Nature for Justice
Steven Nitah is a respected Indigenous leader from the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, serving as Managing Director of First 30×30 Canada and Executive Vice President at Nature For Justice. He brings extensive experience in Indigenous-led conservation, land stewardship, and climate action. As Chief and Lead Negotiator, Steven helped establish Thaidene Nëné and advance a relationship agreement recognizing the Nation as an equal partner in governance, operations, and management. His work reflects the spirit and intent of Treaty relationships through shared responsibilities and benefits. Through First 30×30 Canada, Steven supports Indigenous governments in advancing conservation, protecting special places, and pursuing nature-based solutions.
Director of Scientific Communications and Certified Forester, Procter & Gamble
Chris Reeves is a Certified Forester and the Director of Scientific Communications for P&G’s paper business, including Charmin, Bounty and Puffs brands. In his role, he helps drive P&G’s commitment to responsible sourcing of wood-pulp, specifically the team’s ambition to increase Forest Stewardship Council wood pulp sourcing. Some of Chris’ work at P&G includes leading relationships with NGO partners like the Arbor Day Foundation, Rainforest Alliance and World Wildlife Fund. Through WWF, Chris and the team have piloted a risk analysis of forests in Canada, contributed to mapping primary forests, and piloted satellite monitoring of Intact Forest Landscapes. He also partners with the Forest Stewardship Council to increase certified acreages by funding group certificates to make certification more affordable for more landowners and engages suppliers in both annual supplier summits and regular meetings to share sustainability goals, plans and best practices.
FACILITATOR
Vice President for Development and Partnerships, Terraformation
Samantha Taylor is VP of Development at Terraformation, where she leads global fundraising and strategic partnerships to mobilize capital for high-integrity, native, biodiverse reforestation. She was formerly VP of Development at Emergent Climate and Managing Director at Bozell Worldwide, and served as Senior Advisor to American Forests, The Nature Conservancy, and Safe Water Network. A native of London and raised in Kenya, Samantha brings more than two decades of international leadership building the partnerships and resources needed to turn ambitious environmental solutions into impact at scale.
FACILITATOR
Climate Strategy and Impact Advisor, Terraformation
At Terraformation Yihan Wang focuses on mobilizing and scaling diverse forms of capital for forest and restoration projects. Before joining Terraformation, Yihan led the Catalytic Climate Finance Facility at the Climate Policy Initiative, a joint program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Affairs Canada, and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She also managed portfolios at The Nature Conservancy’s NatureVest, where she focused on structuring and managing innovative conservation finance vehicles.
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