EcoPlanet Bamboo wins 1st place in the popular voting category and becomes a top 5 finalist globally for best for-profit enterprises with a positive impact on tropical forests. EcoPlanet Bamboo is also the first bamboo company ever to receive VSC carbon certification and FSC certification for tropical clumping bamboo.

1. WWF Switzerland
Tropical Forest Challenge 2012

2. Imprint
December 2012
Ennovent GmbH
Neubaugasse 11/14
1070 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: +43 (1) 2365859-20
E-Mail: office@ennovent.com
www.ennovent.com

3. Index
I n t ro d u c t i o n . . ............................... 2-3
W i n n er
C o m pa n y . . ....................................... 4-5
sta rt u p . . ........................................ 6-7
Finalists
C o m pa n y . . ...................................... 8-11
sta rt u p . . ..................................... 12-15.
J u ry
C o m pa n y . . ........................................ 17
Sta rt U p . . ........................................ 18
I d e a................................................ 19
E x p er t s
F o r est ry ..................................... 20 -21
D e v e lo p m e n t ............................... 22-23
B u s i n es s..................................... 24-25
Pa r t n ers ..................................... 26-27
O rg a n i z ers ..................................... 28
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4. Introduction
A search for the best for-profit solutions that
conserve tropical forest biodiversity.
B ac kg ro u n d WWF Switzerland is committed to conserving the
Although tropical rainforests cover only 6% of the world’s tropical forests, not only for the incredible
earth’s land surface, they remain an important wealth of biodiversity, but also for the benefit of people.
global center of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Specifically, tropical forests play a key role in With this in mind, WWF Switzerland launched the
sequestering and storing carbon, controlling diseases Tropical Forest Challenge. The objective of this exciting
and facilitating pollination. initiative was to discover the best for-profit solutions
from around the world in two categories - company and
Tropical forests also provide important resources startup - that have a positive impact on tropical forest
to the communities who live in their midst. They biodiversity. The Challenge used the Ennovent network
allow for the sustainable exploitation of non-timber to crowdsource relevant solutions through social media
forest products such as fruits, medicinal plants or and partners. Ennovent, a company that accelerates
herbs, which is critical for the income generation sustainable innovations for low-income markets,
abilities of local communities and survival of mankind managed the Tropical Forest Challenge on behalf of
as a whole. WWF Switzerland.
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5. Ab o u t t h e C h a l l e n g e
The WWF Switzerland Tropical Forest Challenge was launched in May 2012. 306 ideas*, startups and companies
were nominated for the Challenge, of which 74 solutions applied until the application period closed on September
30, 2012. Applicants represented the geographies of Latin America, Africa, South East Asia and beyond and
gathered an impressive 2,300 votes in total from the public.
After the completion of public voting, a panel of 31 experts assessed the forest biodiversity and development impact
as well as overall business value of the applications.
The top applications in each category were then further
evaluated by three jury panels, each comprising of
select forestry, development and business experts. The
jury members identified four finalists and one winner in
each category after this thorough review and screening
process.
R e wa r d s
The winners of the Tropical Forest Challenge are
endorsed by WWF Switzerland as the best for-profit
solution and will also receive in kind rewards, including:
• Global visibility: high-quality publication, online
promotion
• Network opportunities: introductions to investors,
high-profile event passes
• Capacity building: access to renowned experts,
training courses
WWF Switzerland is pleased to include herein a detailed
overview of the winners of the Tropical Forest Challenge
– their innovations, impact and long-term plans.
Congratulations to the winners of the WWF Switzerland
Tropical Forest Challenge!
We would like to extend our heartiest thanks to the applicants, nominators, jury, experts, partners and well wishers
of this challenge!
*The jury and experts did not select a winner or finalists from the limited applications in the Idea category as they did not meet
the winning criteria. Therefore, this category has been withdrawn.
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6. winner Company
Runa LLC
Location: Ecuador
Sector: Agroforestry, Beverage Industry
Website: www.runa.org
Runa creates livelihoods for indigenous farmers in the
Ecuadorian Amazon by creating markets for indigenous
products, including guayusa tea. Collectively, Runa
envisioned a business that could share this rich-tasting
tea–a business that would respect cultural traditions and
support small farmers.
P ro b l e m
Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon are caught in a cycle
of poverty and environmental degradation, driven by centuries of extractive
industries, colonization, and cultural prejudice. Dedicated primarily to
subsistence farming, local smallholder farmers have few sustainable
opportunities to earn income and cover basic costs of living in an
increasingly globalized world.
The supply chains for cash crops are designed to disfavor smallholder
producers and limit their potential for economic development and self-
determination. With decreasing amounts of land and limited access to
markets, indigenous farmers are forced to abandon their farms or intensify
agricultural production – which further degrades communal forest reserves.
Solution
Runa creates income-generating markets for small farmers through an
ancient tea called guayusa. Guayusa is a naturally caffeinated holly leaf tea
from the Ecuadorian Amazon that indigenous communities have revered and
consumed for thousands of years.
Runa manages a vertically integrated supply chain for guayusa between
Ecuador and the United States, utilizing a Fair Trade mechanism to unite
the priorities of income generation, cultural preservation and sustainable
management of natural resources.
To do so, Runa organizes small farming families to grow guayusa in organic
agroforestry systems. The company then creates economic incentives for
sustainable management of natural resources and rainforest conservation
6

7. by purchasing guayusa at a guaranteed minimum price from the farmers.
Since inception in Runa’s market-based approach creates the opportunity to be a self-
sustaining organization, and prove that consumer dollars can act as a force
2009, Runa has for positive social change and environmental conservation.
generated over
$100,000 of direct I m pac t
Runa’s approach is generating earned income for indigenous farming
income to over 2,000 families. Impressively, since inception the company has generated over
$100,000 of direct income to over 2,000 farming families. This is a per-
farming families and farmer increase of 30% over previous income levels.
planted over 150,000
Recognizing the importance of preserving tropical forest biodiversity,
trees. Runa plants more trees and facilitates the organic certification process for
agroforestry plots. To date, Runa has planted over 150,000 trees, helping to
regenerate precious tropical forest lands.
Finally, Runa supports community development projects and the growth of the Guayusa Farmers Cooperative - an
organization created by the farmers to work toward their own vision of sustainable development in the Amazon.
The company has granted two MBA scholarships to date and donated over $10,000 to the Cooperative’s Social
Premium Fund.
T y l e r G ag e
C o - F o under, C o - CEO
Tyler has spent the last five years working with indigenous communities in the Amazon
developing Fair Trade initiatives and cultural preservation programs. Tyler has been
awarded a Rainer Arnhold Fellowship for Social Enterprise in recognition of his work
building Runa.
Da n M ac C o m b i e
C o - F o under, C o - CEO
Dan has diverse experiences in conservation, public policy, and organizational
development and management. He graduated from Brown University in 2008 where
he participated actively in local community movements, including leading a state-level
legislative initiative and being on the board of two national non-profits.
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8. Winner startup
Planting Empowerment
Location: Panama
Sector: Forestry
Website: www.plantingempowerment.com
Planting Empowerment develops agroforestry projects
that are managed to deliver financial, social and
environmental benefits. To date, Planting Empowerment
has planted 27,500 trees and ensured that farmers are
earning 45% more income.
P ro b l e m
Subsistence agriculture represents a major driver of deforestation
throughout Latin America – yet also ensures the livelihoods of many
low-income rural communities. Large scale forest plantation companies
accelerate deforestation by buying up deforested land, planting a monocrop
of a single tree species and divorcing small landholders from their principle
asset and future economic benefit. Local communities have the desire to
manage their land both more sustainably and more profitably, but often lack
the capital and technical skill to do so.
Solution
Through sustainable forestry projects, Planting Empowerment is
providing alternative income streams for indigenous and small landholder
communities who traditionally have survived through slash and burn
agriculture.
Instead of purchasing land like the majority of forestry companies, Planting
Empowerment leases from indigenous communities and small landholders
to encourage land tenure. The leases assist with income generation and
provide an incentive to actively participate in the project.
Additionally, indigenous community members and small landholders acquire
hands-on forestry management skills and traditional classroom knowledge,
financed by Planting Empowerment. After the first plantation cycle ends, the
land lease partners will have the capital (from profit sharing) and technical
capacity to manage their own agroforestry plots, but with complete
ownership.
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9. I m pac t
To date, Planting Empowerment is employing two Panamanians full-time at an above-average wage and full
benefits, and sponsoring formal forestry training for one full-time employee. Factoring in profit sharing, the
organization’s smallholder land lease partners are earning roughly 45% more for land leased to Planting
Empowerment than the business-as-usual scenario.
Planting Empowerment has planted 27,500 trees (25 hectares) of at least eight different species which have
sequestered approximately 540 tons of CO2 to date.
Da m i o n C ro s to n
C o - F o under & D ir e c t o r o f O p er a t io ns
Damion Croston joined the Peace Corps in 2003 working with indigenous communities
in Panama’s Darién Province on regional tourism circuit, the creation of a community-
run technology center, and a local artisan store. Croston received a BS and an MA
from Ohio University in 2009.
A n d r e w Pa r r u c c i
C o - F o under & D ir e c t o r o f M a r ke t ing
Andrew Parrucci entered the Peace Corps in 2004 where he worked with community
leaders to design two small aqueducts and led fundraising efforts with international
NGOs and the Panamanian government. Parrucci holds a BS in Product Design from
Virginia Tech.
Chris Meyer
C o - F o under & G ener a l M a nager
Chris Meyer consults Amazonian indigenous leaders on deforestation and conservation
policy with the Environmental Defense Fund. Previously, Chris worked as a Peace
Corps Volunteer for two years. Meyer holds a BBA in Finance, University of
Portland and an MA in International Relations at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced
International Studies.
Andrew Wulf
C o - F o under & D ir e c t o r o f S p e cia l I ni t ia t i ve s
Andrew Wulf arrived to Panama with the Peace Corps in mid-2003 as an economic
development volunteer where he worked with rural farmers in agricultural business
development and computer center construction. Wulf holds a BA in International
Economics from UCLA and an MBA from Thunderbird.
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10. finalists Company
CHICZA
Consorcio Corporativo De Productores Y Exportadores En Foresteria,
S.C. De R.L.
Location: Mexico, Australia, Chile
Sector: Agribusiness, Food
Website: www.chicza.com
The Chiclero consortium works to protect tropical
forests through the harvesting, transformation and
commercialization of Chicle gum.
Much like other regions in the world, the rainforests of Mexico, with the
tropical Ecuador system are an economically attractive resource for their
owners. As a result, many forests are destroyed by farmers or extractive
industries focused on the financial benefits from forests’ use.
The Chiclero consortium is a community forestry organization that brings
farmers to the level of a technical and commercially productive organization.
The consortium comprises of 46 cooperatives and 2,000 producers of gum
that work with 1.3 million hectares to sustainably harvest, transform and
commercialize Chicle gum in 4 flavours. The organization also promotes
training opportunities for gum-producers and those along the value chain.
In the last 5 years through the joint effort of the tappers and the
consortium, more than 7000 hectares of destroyed forest has been
recovered and converted back to its original state. Moreover, the company
has strengthened its social identity and generated fair economic resources
through the promotion of over 1,500 jobs to create a condition of
conservation over the long-term.
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11. Ecoplanet Bamboo
Location: Nicaragua and South Africa
Sector: Forestry and Timber products, Bioenergy, Plantations
Website: www.ecoplanetbamboo.com
Ecoplanet Bamboo addresses large-scale deforestation
and increasing rural poverty through the use of
responsible capital to develop commercial bamboo
plantations as a sustainable alternative to timber.
Market trends demonstrate that a growing global middle class, combined
with depleting forest resources, will drive higher economic returns for wood
products in turn increasing pressure on the worlds’ remaining forests.
Furthermore, rural poverty and limited options for economic diversification
exacerbate forest degradation at the local level in many developing nations.
Without providing a cost effective alternative fiber and addressing rural
poverty, large scale deforestation will continue to occur.
Since the company EcoPlanet Bamboo addresses the above issues through the provision
of a sustainable alternative to current sources of wood fiber, leveraging
began in 2010, sustainably grown and harvested bamboo. Bamboo not only provides
EcoPlanet Bamboo significantly more biomass per hectare than traditional plantation species,
but it can be grown on degraded land. In addition, bamboo’s ecological
has committed more growth patterns enable selective harvesting of culms, resulting in the
than $40 million to regeneration of a fully functioning forest ecosystem despite annual
harvesting.
plantation development
and has reforested EcoPlanet focuses on regions where extreme rural poverty is common as
this is often where tropical deforestation is most prevalent. The company
more than 6,000 acres works at the local level to create jobs and provide livelihood diversification
of degraded land in thereby reducing pressure on natural resource extraction and creating a
bamboo based economy and self-sufficient communities.
areas of the world
that have high rates of Looking towards the future, EcoPlanet has developed high-tech laboratories
for carrying out research and development into bamboo’s abilities as an
deforestation. alternative fiber, setting benchmarks for the industry’s global development.
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12. Rainforest Expeditions
Location: Peru
Sector: Eco-tourism
Website: www.perunature.com
Rainforest Expeditions is an ecotourism company
that operates three lodges, each adding value to the
preservation of the conservations of Amazon rainforest.
The Amazonian state of Madre de Dios in Peru, hosts one of the world’s
great wildernesses with over 6 million hectares of protected forests.
Specifically, the Tambopata National Reserve and the Bahuaja Sonene
National Park regions are comprised of highly diverse lowland rainforest
inhabited by a mosaic of indigenous peoples, long-established forest
extractivists, migrant ranchers, farmers and miners. These industries, while
important income drivers, are threatening the sustainability of the regions
tropical forests.
Rainforest Expeditions specializes in connecting the economic benefits
from the Amazon’s visitors, to the economic wellbeing of the land tenants
through employment, supplier development and profit sharing. The company
primarily achieves this through three lodges named Posada Amazonas.
The economic results of Posada Amazonas are substantial and have
been estimated at USD 5 million dollars since inception. Over 80% of the
community dividends have been distributed equally among the community
shareholders, increasing incomes and improving livelihoods over the long-
term.
In addition to the above, Rainforest Expeditions has perpetuated a strong
commitment to the conservation and community management of forests in
the 3,000-hectare communal reserve. The community reserve is adjacent
to the Tambopata National Reserve, forming an extension to it.
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13. Wildlife Works
Location: Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon
Sector: Carbon, REDD+
Website: www.wildlifeworkscarbon.com
Wildlife Works has pioneered the use of REDD+ carbon
credits to finance large-scale tropical forest conservation
programs, rendering the forests more valuable intact than
destroyed.
In Kenya, as in many parts of the world, local employment opportunities
are extremely limited. Caught in a cycle of poverty many farmers have no
other option than to slash and burn native forests to provide important land
for farming and income generation.
Acknowledging these challenges, Wildlife Works provides economic benefits
to local forest communities through the development, implementation and
monetization of REDD+ projects. One intrinsic principle that the organisation
works upon is job creation; relevant jobs actively compensate communities
for giving up agricultural expansion to generate an income, and as a result,
reduce the need to destroy forestland for subsistence purposes.
Since inception, Wildlife Works estimates that in Kenya alone 100,000
people have benefited directly from the organization’s work. In their flagship
project in the Kasigau Wildlife Corridor, 400 skilled jobs have been created
in departments such as the eco-factory, screen-printing, soap making, eco-
charcoal program and ranger team.
Through the locally managed Community Trust Fund, the surrounding
communities have also benefitted significantly from improved water
projects, classroom construction and school bursaries. Wildlife Works
currently supports 750 students from secondary to university levels.
Wildlife Works has 200,000 ha under their direct conservation management
in Kenya and in Cameroon the company convinced the government to
withdraw 440,00 ha of forest concessions from exploitative use. In the
Democratic Republic of Congo, another 300,000 ha REDD+ project at Lac
Mai Ndombe has also been recently validated. Wildlife Works anticipates
to expand its successful business strategy to other African countries in the
future.
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14. finalists startup
Eco-Fuel Africa
Location: Uganda
Sector: Energy, Biomass
Website: www.ecofuelafrica.com
Eco-fuel Africa trains low-income Ugandan farmers to
turn farm waste into clean burning fuel briquettes and
organic fertilizers.
Traditionally, the vast majority of Ugandans cook their food with charcoal or
wood, both of which come from trees. As a result, the country’s forests are
being decimated to provide fuel options for rural communities.
Eco-Fuel Africa teaches rural farmers to turn their agricultural waste into
charcoal powder using locally made kilns. Once the powder is made,
Eco-Fuel Africa buys a portion directly from the farmers while the coarser
portion is retained and used as organic fertilizers (biochar). The charcoal
powder purchased from the farmers is then compressed into clean burning
fuel briquettes which are healthier, longer-burning and 20% cheaper than
charcoal.
In addition, Eco-Fuel Africa trains and empowers local women to sell
the clean burning fuel briquettes in their communities. This creates an
important additional income source and part of the proceeds from the sales
is also invested into tree planting campaigns that replace forests that have
already been lost.
Since inception over 1,500 farmers in Uganda have begun using Eco-Fuel
Africa kilns and processes, which has resulted in an average income of $30
per month from supplying charcoal powder; this is an increase of 100%
from previous income levels. Furthermore, with improved fertilized soil,
most Eco-Fuel Africa farmers have reported at least a 30% increase in their
food harvests since they started applying bio-char to their soils.
Eco-Fuel Africa has over 3,500 families in Uganda using clean burning fuel
briquettes. Additionally, the company has also already created 100 new
women entrepreneurs, earning an average of approximately USD 1,825 per
year.
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15. Ecotech Timber
Location: Sierra Leone
Sector: Forestry and Energy
Website: www.ecotechtimber.com
EcoTech Timber is a natural resources management and
renewable energy development company.
Land degradation is occurring at an alarming rate in Sierra Leone as a
result of social and economic challenges that have led to persistent poverty.
The ultimate loss of critical forest resources is threatening to further hinder
local communities’ ability to survive and live in these areas due to the heavy
reliance on these forests for products and services.
In response, EcoTech has developed a sustainable natural resource
management and renewable energy program that provides real
methodologies to address these complex development and environmental
challenges. EcoTech utilizes available natural resources and applies
innovative concepts in order to address broad scale environmental and
social issues. Initial projects have included the protection of 87,999
hectares of high conservation value forests via a REDD+ program, a 12,000
ha agro-forestry system and an initial production of 7.5 megawatts of
carbon-neutral biomass-fuelled power generation.
Importantly, EcoTech has received unprecedented support from local
communities. For example, the company concluded a Memorandum of
Understanding Agreement for sustainable land use with all 14 Chiefdoms of
the Kono District – a district historically not known for such overwhelming
cooperation. As a result, local leaders have helped educate and promote
sustainable land use, including authorization of the use of forest wardens in
community owned forests to curtail illegal wood harvesting, slash-and-burn
agriculture and other unsustainable land-use practices. These efforts have
already drastically reduced deforestation in the Gorama-Kono forest region.
Additionally, EcoTech’s community outreach program works to not only
educate local populations on sustainable land-use and other agro-forestry
related technologies, but also to educate on topics such as gender equality,
health, education and adult literacy. EcoTech will also employ over 350
people over the next year – in a region with over 80% unemployment
EcoTech’s work is having a welcome positive impact on conservation efforts
and beyond.
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16. Floresta Holdings Limited
Location: Brazil and Indonesia
Sector: Forest Conservation, Timber Plantation, Renewable Energy
Website: www.floresta.com
The Floresta Group designs, finances and develops two of
the world’s largest forest carbon programs in Indonesia
and Brazil.
Government authorities in Acre and Aceh have demonstrated global
leadership in trying to save their forests. However, opposition to pro-forest
legislation is growing and threatens to rollback progress unless sufficient
financial incentives for forest conservation are created.
Floresta’s eco-commerce model addresses the economics of land-use in
tropical countries by creating sustainable and scalable financial incentives
for private and public landowners to stop - and even reverse - deforestation.
Floresta establishes mutually reinforcing public-private partnerships that
integrate improved food, wood, and energy production through low-carbon
farming, sustainable forest product supply chains, renewable energy and
environmental services.
Floresta’s multi-functional landscape approach provides higher levels of
return than traditional forest or agriculture investments while offering lower
risks than most terrestrial carbon projects. This enables Floresta to mobilize
the large-scale resources and high-level expertise required to permanently
change tropical forest land-use for the better.
Since the company began in 2010, Floresta has made tremendous
headway. The company has developed projects that can create more than
60,000 permanent green jobs in sustainable forestry and renewable energy,
has established labor-intensive green industries, reduced dependence on
expensive imported fossil fuels and conserved large tracts of peatland,
highland and lowland forest ecosystems in the Amazon and East Pacific
regions.
16

17. Maya Mountain Cacao
Location: Belize
Sector: Agriculture, Agricultural Processing, International Trade
Website: www.mayamountaincacao.com
Maya Mountain Cacao sources premium cacao from
smallholder farmers for specialty chocolate makers,
growing farmer income while preventing deforestation in
southern Belize.
The highly biodiverse tropical forests of southern Belize are currently facing
serious ecological threats, including increased slash and burn agriculture
from a growing population, looming industrialization of agricultural
production through mono-crops such as oil palm, and the recent discovery
of crude oil in the same region where most of the country’s cacao is grown,
the Toledo District.
Beyond just agricultural threats, the Toledo District has the highest poverty
rates in the country with nearly 70% of the population living at or below
the poverty line. The combination of a rapidly growing population with high
rates of poverty and the widespread use of unsustainable farming practices
is negatively impacting Belize’s biodiversity and tropical rainforests.
Maya Mountain Cacao uses market access to create powerful change
in Belize’s cacao industry. The company has introduced a competitive
market for Belizean cacao bringing new services, ideas, pricing models and
meaningful relationships to farmers, catalyzing a renewed interest in cacao
farming and a vision of responsible industry growth.
Since Maya Mountain Cacao became operational 2 years ago, farmer
income has grown as a result of rising prices and improved yields. Average
farmer income from cacao grew over BZ$50 in 2012 – a small but
meaningful increase that can be used to pay for a child’s education, invest
in new tools for the farm, or to start saving for the future.
In addition, in 2012 Maya Mountain Cacao planted over 50,000 new cacao
trees in partnership with smallholder farmers focused on converting lands
previously used for slash-and-burn crops into agroforestry plots.
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18. 18

19. Jury company
Cornelius Pietzner
M a naging D ir e c t o r - A l t er r a I mp ac t F ina n c e
Cornelius Pietzner is CEO of Alterra Impact Finance GmbH, an impact
investment firm in Zurich, focussing on sustainable European companies. He
is also President of the Alterra Foundation, a Swiss charitable foundation.
Among other achievements, he previously served as Chief Financial Officer
on the Executive Board at the Goetheanum, General Anthroposophical
Society Switzerland. Cornelius holds a degree in Political Science from
Williams College and was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship.
J e ff r e y S ay e r
D ir e c t o r, D evelo pmen t P r ac t ic e P r o gr am - J ame s C o o k
U ni ver si t y
Jeffrey Sayer has worked for FAO and was a Senior Environmental Adviser
at the World Bank. He was founding Director General of the Center for
International Forestry Research in Indonesia. He is a member of the
Science and Partnership Council of the Consultative Group for International
Agricultural Research. Although he is a frequent guest lecturer in Holland,
the United Kingdom, United States and other countries, at present he is
Professor of Conservation and Development at the James Cook University in
Australia.
Pa m e l a H a r t i g a n
D ir e c t o r - S koll C en t r e f o r S o cia l E n t r epr eneur s hip
Pamela Hartigan is Executive Director of the Skoll Centre for Social
Entrepreneurship at Said Business School at the University of Oxford. She
is also founding partner of Volans Ventures. Prior to starting Volans, Pamela
spent eight years as the first Managing Director of the Schwab Foundation
for Social Entrepreneurship. Pamela is a graduate of Georgetown
University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C., holds Masters’
degrees in Economics and Public Health and a Ph.D. in Cognitive
Psychology.
Rod n e y Tay lo r
D ir e c t o r, F o r e s t s - WW F I n t er na t io na l
Rod Taylor is the Director of WWF International’s Forests Program. Rod has
worked with WWF for over ten years, with previous positions as Coordinator
of the WWF/World Bank Forest Alliance and Coordinator of the Asia Pacific
Forest Program. Before joining WWF, Rod worked as a forest policy adviser
in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Rod began his career as a
lawyer in Australia and has a Masters Degree in Environmental Law from
the Australian National University.
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20. Jury startup
Jason Mollring
H e ad o f C ommuni t ie s - T h oms o n R eu t er s F o unda t io n
Jason Mollring has expertise in business strategy, strategic communications
and initiatives to support social ventures. Before joining Thomson Reuters
Foundation, Jason spent over five years at UnLtd, the Foundation for Social
Entrepreneurs and prior to this he began his career in the Silicon Valley with
technology and dot com start-ups. Jason has an MA in Social Enterprise
Management from Liverpool Business School and a BA in Sociology from
University of California, Santa Barbara.
M at t h i a s D i e m e r
H e ad I n t er na t io na l P r oje c t s – WW F S w i t zer la nd
Matthias Diemer is currently the Head of the International Projects Unit
of WWF Switzerland and is also the owner/operator of Wildwerk, an
enterprise that facilitates nature experiences. Matthias is the previous head
of the Forestry Unit at WWF Switzerland and has held lecturing roles at
the University of Zurich as a leading forestry expert. He holds a BS from
Western Washington University, an MS from the University of California-
Berkley and a PhD from the University of Innsbruck.
N i ko l a u s H u t t e r
D ir e c t o r – TONIIC E ur o p e
Nikolaus Hutter is the Director Europe for Toniic LLC, a leading global
impact investor network and he is also the co-founder of the Investment
Ready Program, a capacity building program for social entrepreneurs in
Central and Eastern Europe. Prior to this, Nikolaus worked 10 years as
a venture capital investor. He completed International Business Studies
in Vienna and Strasburg, and Political Economy at the London School of
Economics
20

21. Jury idea
D u n c a n M ac q u e e n
P r in cip a l R e s e a r cher, N a t ur a l R e s o ur c e s G r o up; Te am
L e ader, F o r e s t - IIED
Duncan Macqueen leads the Forest Team at the International Institute for
Environment and Development where he has worked for the last 11 years.
Prior to this, Duncan was the Deputy Program Manager of the British
Government’s Forestry Research Program. Duncan has degrees in both
Botany and Forestry and Land Use and a two-year diploma in sustainable
forest management.
I s a b e l l e Lo u i s
D ir e c t o r, A sia & P aci f ic WW F I n t er na t io na l
Since 1999 Isabelle Louis has been the Director of the Asia Pacific Program
at WWF International. Before joining WWF, Isabelle was actively involved in
teaching and research at the National University of Singapore and as a Post
doctorate Fellow at Harvard University. Dr. Louis received her BSc and PhD
from Sheffield University in the UK.
M a rc J V e n t r e s c a
E c o n omic s o ciolo gis t in t he S t r a t e g y, I nn ova t io n a nd
M a r ke t ing F acul t y - S a ïd B u sine s s S ch o ol, U ni ver si t y o f
O x f o r d a nd Wol f s o n C olle ge
Marc Ventresca’s research and teaching focus is on institutions, governance
and market-building in the context of ecosystem services, social innovation,
and higher education. Previously Marc served on faculty at the Kellogg
School of Management, among other leading global institutions. Marc
holds a BA in political science/political philosophy, MAs in education policy
and sociology and a PhD in political and organizational sociology, all from
Stanford University.
Pa u l C h e n g
F o under – S ha r e d I mp ac t
Paul Cheng is the founder of SharedImpact, a charity whose mission is to
improve the financial efficiency and effectiveness of charities and social
enterprises. Paul is currently the Chair of the European Social Investment
Taskforce, a high-level working group connecting Prime Ministerial offices
throughout the European Union. Previously Paul was the Head of CAF
Venturesome, a corporate finance lawyer for Slaughter and May and
also worked at Microsoft. He holds an MBA from The Kellogg School of
Management.
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22. Experts forestry
A l e x a n d e r Wat s o n
CEO - O p en F o r e s t s
As a forestry investment expert and project manager for sustainable
reforestation projects from Latin America and South East Asia, Alexander
Watson has a broad experience in implementing and promoting international
forestry projects.
B r ya n H u g i l l
C o -f o under, R a i t o ng O r ga nic s F a r m
Bryan Hugill has worked at the field and policy levels in the public, private
and non-profit sectors in South Africa, Switzerland, Italy, Pakistan,
Thailand, Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Jordan. He co-founded Raitong
Organics Farm in Thailand to service the rapidly growing organic agriculture
movement.
Christian Marz ari
F o r mer P r e cio u s Wo o d s M a nager in B r a zil
Christian has established several large scale plantations of distinct crops,
among others, quinine trees in the Democratic Republic of Congo and
Eucalyptus in Brazil. For several years he managed the operations of a
global leader committed to sustainable exploration of tropical forests in the
Brazilian Amazon.
Dav i d C a s s e l l s
C ha ir - RECO F TC
David Cassells has more than 40 years of management and research
experience in tropical forest management and planning. He currently serves
as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Earth and Environmental
Sciences at the James Cook University of North Queensland, Australia.
L auri Vesa
C o nsul t a n t - F o r e s t I nven t o r y E x p er t - F o r e s t C a lc C o nsul t ing
Oy Ltd
Lauri Vesa has worked as an entrepreneur and in forestry expert positions
in various African and Asian countries, as a project leader and a forestry
expert and in a range of teaching posts in Finland. He currently works as a
consultant for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO/Forestry Department)
of the United Nations.
22

23. Pat r i c k Va n L a a k e
I ndep enden t c o nsul t a n t F o r e s t r y & C lima t e C ha nge
Patrick Van Laake is an internationally recognized REDD+ expert.
Working as Assistant Professor in Geo-information for Sustainable Forest
Management from 2004 to 2009. In 2010-2011 Patrick worked for the
United Nations as Senior Technical Advisor of the UN-REDD Vietnam
Program.
R u t h N og u e ro n
A s s o cia t e - Wo r ld R e s o ur c e s I ns t i t u t e
Ruth Noguerón’s current work at the World Resources Institute focuses on
developing practical information tools to support sustainable procurement
of legally and sustainably-sourced wood-based products. Before joining
WRI, Ruth worked at the Tropical Action Forest Program.
S t e p h a n W u l ff r a at
S enio r f o r e s t & s p e cie s c o ns er va t io n e c olo gis t - WW F
I nd o ne sia .
Stephan Wulffraat has a background in tropical forestry and landscape
ecology and has been working with the World Wide Fund for Nature in
Indonesia for 16 years. He coordinates and implements inventories and
applied research work in natural areas throughout Indonesian Borneo.
T i m ot h y B oy l e
UN - REDD R e gio na l C o o r dina t o r- UND P
Timothy Boyle works to assist governments and other stakeholders
to prepare for a new post-Kyoto Climate Change mitigation financial
instrument. Previously, he worked for UNDP, the Centre for International
Forest Research in Indonesia and as a forest researcher and policy
specialist in Canada.
To m B lo m l e y
D ir e c t o r - A c acia N a t ur a l R e s o ur c e C o nsul t a n t s L t d
Tom Blomley has over twenty years of development experience, of which
fourteen have been spent living and working in East Africa. He has been
responsible for designing, managing and implementing community based
natural resource management programs, and integrated conservation and
development projects.
We would like also to thank the representative from WWF Germany for his
contribution in the forest biodiversity impact evaluation.
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24. Experts development
Andre as Peham
D evelo pmen t C o nsul t a n t
Andreas Peham is an innovative consultant specializing in economic
development of smallholders. Based on his experience as technical advisor
and manager of multi million dollar projects, he guides value chain and
microfinance initiatives.
Ben Vickers
R e gio na l P r o gr am O f f ic er - UN - REDD a t FAO R e gio na l O f f ic e
f o r A sia a nd t he P aci f ic
Ben Vickers has worked in the field of forestry in the Asia-Pacific region
since 1996, focusing on the promotion of community-based forest
management approaches through policy and practice. In recent years, he
has worked on emerging forest and climate change issues at RECOFTC.
B r i a n P e n i s to n
N ep a l a nd I ndia C o un t r y D ir e c t o r- T he M o un t a in I ns t i t u t e
Brian has been working for The Mountain Institute in Nepal for the past
16 years. He has worked in conservation, livelihoods, climate change,
integrated rural development, applied research and international health
projects since 1975.
C a m e l i a C h e bb i
MA / MAS ETHZ – U ni ver si t y o f B a s el
Camelia Chebbi directs the coordination office of the Master’s program
in Sustainable Development at the University of Basel. Camelia has also
worked for several years as department assistant at the Museum of
Cultures.
Johan Kief t
Te chnic a l S p e cia lis t S u s t a ina ble D evelo pmen t a nd C lima t e
C ha nge – UND P
In Johan Kieft’s current assignment he mainly works on green growth and
climate change mainstreaming in Planning. Previously he worked for GRM,
CARE and as a volunteer in Indonesia.
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25. K arin Elisabeth Lind
E xe cu t i ve D ir e c t o r - Ver dens S kove / F o r e s t s o f t he Wo r ld
( f o r mer N ep en t he s)
Karin Elisabeth Lind is the Head of the environmental and development
NGO, Forests of the World. She specializes in strategic leadership and
organisational development, as well as natural resource management.
Previously she worked for CARE.
P h i l i p G oodw i n
C hie f E xe cu t i ve - TREE AID ( UK )
Prior to working with TREE AID, Philip Goodwin worked with the British
Council where he was in charge of Global Programs. He had previously
been Regional Director for both sub Saharan and East and West African
operations as well as being a researcher on poverty issues at the Overseas
Development Institute.
R ag h u n a n da n V e l a n k a r
E c olo gis t , L i velih o o d a nd NRM s p e cia lis t
Raghunandan is an ecologist and livelihood specialist who has previously
worked with WWF India in the capacity of a co-ordinator for Sustainable
livelihood and Governance. Trained at the Indian Institute of Forest
management in Bhopal as well as the International Institute of Social
Studies in Hague, he has worked extensively with grassroot communities to
advance participatory biodiversity.
To m C a l l a n d e r
S enio r E nv ir o nmen t a l a nd S o cia l S cien t is t - E a r t h S y s t ems
Tom Callander is Principal Environmental and Social Consultant with Earth
Systems based in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Tom has over 10 years of experience
working in Australia and Asia in environmental and social consultancy roles.
We would like to thank Christian Marzari for also participating as an expert in the
development impact evaluation round.
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26. Experts business
Dav i d B e n t
D epu t y D ir e c t o r, S u s t a ina ble B u sine s s - F o r um f o r t he
F u t ur e
David Bent leads the Sustainable Business Practice at Forum for the Future
which helps leaders go further on sustainability. Previously he worked
at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, where he became a Chartered Accountant,
and he holds Masters in Responsibility and Business Practice from Bath
University.
G o pa l K r i s h n a
A ngel I nve s t o r ( I ndia )
Prior to starting a community development initiative based on eco-tourism,
Gopal was a Vice-President with Yahoo! for Emerging Markets. He had
raised a seed stage venture capital fund and founded/co-founded 4
startups.
Justin Fier
M a naging D ir e c t o r - C o uloir G lo b a l I nve s t o r s
Justin Fier co-founded Couloir Global Investors in 2009 to focus on
sustainable forestry investment in Africa. Before Couloir, he spent 14 years
at Slocum—a US institutional investment consultant—in various roles.
K aren Hitschke
D ir e c t o r F und s & I nve s t men t s - Yunu s S o cia l B u sine s s
Prior to YSB, Karen was the Chief Financial Officer at Affectis AG and an
advisor to B-to-V in Switzerland. Before that, Karen was an Investment
Manager at Apax Partners and also consultant at McKinsey & Co. Karen
holds an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, and a M.Sc. from the University
of Constance.
L i s a H e h e n b e rg e r
R e s e a r ch D ir e c t o r – E V PA
Lisa Hehenberger is in charge of the Knowledge Centre. Prior to embarking
on an academic career, she worked in investment banking. Lisa has a
PhD in Management from IESE Business School and a Master’s degree in
Business and Economics from Stockholm School of Economics and HEC
(CEMS).
26

27. M a rc o F i s c h e r
S enio r R e s e a r ch A na l y s t - R e s p o ns A bili t y
Marco is responsible for country and market research as well as research
projects in the areas of microfinance and fair trade. Marco previously
worked for the Swiss government.
P h i l i pp M e t t l e r
H e ad R e s e a r ch - A lnua L t d
Philipp Mettler is a CFA and prior to his current role worked several years
as a Senior Equity and Sustainability Analyst for SAM Sustainable Asset
Management.
S a n j ay A n a n da r a m
I nve s t men t C ommi t t ee M emb er, E nn oven t
Sanjay has spent close to 25 years as an IT industry executive and an
entrepreneur. He is a founding partner of JumpStartUp, Neta Inc., and
VentureKatalyst. Before Neta, Sanjay spent many years with Wipro.
S h i l pa Pat e l
C lima t e F ina n c e E x p er t , C o nsul t a n t t o WRI ’s C lima t e F ina n c e
a nd t he P r i va t e S e c t o r I ni t ia t i ve.
Shilpa is a climate finance specialist who works with CFPS. Previously,
she worked at the IFC, the World Bank and Georgetown University. Shilpa
received Bachelor and Masters degrees from the Wharton School at the
University of Pennsylvania.
Va r u n S a h n i
F o under - I mp ac t I nve s t men t P a r t ner s
Varun Sahni has 14 years experience in managing and investing in
emerging markets. Prior to his current role, Varun was the India Director
for the Acumen Fund. Varun is on USAID’s healthcare leadership council in
India, Indian School of Business’ Center for Emerging Markets Solutions,
Ennovent Ventures Investment Committee.
We would like to thank Nikolaus Hutter for also participating as an expert in the
business value evaluation round.
W W F S w i t ze r l a n d Tr o p i c a l F o re s t C h a ll e n g e 2 0 12 27

28. partners
A s EI
Asian Social Enterprise Incubator envisions a thriving ecosystem of sustainable enterprises
and organizations engaged at the base of the pyramid in South East Asia built on ASEI’s active
incubation and consulting.
Da l b e rg
Dalberg is a strategic advisory firm that works to raise living standards in developing countries
and address global challenges.
G oodC o m pa n y V e n t u r e s
GoodCompany Ventures is an umbrella organization that runs an accelerator program
(GoodCompany Ventures), a physical incubator (GoodCompany Residency) and an advisory
service (GoodCompany Beginnings).
G roAc t i o n
GroAction works to accelerate social entrepreneurship around the globe through several key
areas, including a global network of social entrepreneurs, businesses courses, interview
sponsorships and fostering investor connections.
I m pac t i n v e s t m e n t a s i a ( IIX )
IIX and Shujog are Social Enterprises (SEs) dedicated to creating vibrant social capital markets
in Asia Pacific. IIX operates two capital-raising platforms tailored for SEs at various stages
of growth: Impact Incubator™ and Impact Partners™ - and is developing a third-Impact
Capital™.
K ao s P i lot s S w i t z e r l a n d
KaosPilots Switzerland - where creative leaders, social entrepreneurs and change makers go
to school. For 20 years, the KaosPilot school in Aarhus, Denmark, has been training more than
650 young people to become creative leaders and change makers.
S oc i a l E a r t h
SocialEarth is the leading source for news and information about social entrepreneurship. The
company has over 170 contributors in 25 countries which cover the latest trends and provide
thoughtful analysis on socially and environmentally conscious news.
S u s ta i n ato p i a
Sustainatopia is one of the largest events in the world for social, financial, and environmental
sustainability, and is operated by sustainability consulting firm DVK, Inc.
28

29. T h e A r t h a P l at f o r m
The Artha Platform is an online community dedicated to building relationships that minimize the
costs of due diligence and enhance the efficiency of interactions between impact investors /
donors, social entrepreneurs and capacity building support organizations working on or in India.
ANDE
The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs is a global network of organizations that
propel entrepreneurship in emerging markets. The network’s members provide critical financing
and business support services to small and growing businesses that create positive economic,
environmental and social impacts in developing countries.
T h e HU B
The HUB is a global network of spaces that inspire, connect and empower people to realize
enterprising ideas for sustainable impact. Currently the HUB is present in more than 30 cities
and connects over 5,000 members worldwide.
ITTO
The International Tropical Timber Organization is an intergovernmental organization promoting
conservation, sustainable management, use and trade of tropical forest resources. Its members
represent about 80% of the world’s tropical forests and 90% of the global tropical timber trade.
IDESAM
The Institute for Conservation and Sustainable Development of Amazonas is a not-for-profit
non-governmental organization that works in the coordination and execution of projects,
research and scientific studies aimed at the conservation and sustainable development of the
Amazon region.
The Unre asonable Institute
The Unreasonable Institute’s objective is to accelerate internationally scalable solutions to the
biggest global challenges of our time.
T h o m s o n R e u t e r s F o u n dat i o n
For the winners and runners-up, Thomson Reuters Foundation has kindly offered to fast track
applications to join the TrustLaw Connect pro bono programme. This service links social
enterprises and NGOs with top law firms that offer their legal services free of charge.
To n i i c
Toniic is an action-oriented impact investor network collectively seeking to place $100M into
global social enterprise.
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30. organizers
The Tropical Forest Challenge was managed by Ennovent on behalf of WWF
Switzerland.
WW F S w i t z e r l a n d
w w w.w w f.ch
WWF Switzerland’s mission is to stop the global destruction of the
environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with
nature. To achieve this mission, WWF stands up for maintaining global
biodiversity. WWF is further committed to reducing the use of natural
resources to a sustainable level.
E n n ov e n t
w w w.enn oven t .c om
Ennovent’s mission is to accelerate sustainable innovations for low-income
markets. Ennovent works with a global community to discover, start up,
finance and scale up the best innovations.
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31. Photo Credits
All images used in this publication are credited here. Permission to copy these images must be obtained from the original source.
Cover page © Staffan Widstrand/WWF-Canon, P1 © Credits pending, P2 © Runa LLC, P3 © CHICZA, P4 © Runa LLC, P6 ©
Planting Empowerment, P8 © CHICZA, P10 © Rainforest Expeditions, P11 © Wildlife Works, P12 © Ecofuel Africa, P13 © Ecotech
Timber, P14 © Floresta Holdings Limited, P15 © Maya Mountain Cacao, P16 © Runa LLC, all the other images are copyrights to
their respective owners.

32. WWF Switzerland
Hohlstrasse 110
Postfach
8010 Zürich
Our Goal
WWF Switzerland’s mission is to stop the global destruction of the environment Tel.: +41 (0) 44 297 21 21
and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. To achieve Fax: +41 (0) 44 297 21 00
this mission, WWF stands up for maintaining global biodiversity. WWF is E-Mail: service@wwf.ch
further committed to reducing the use of natural resources to a sustainable www.wwf.ch
level.