Between 17-19 May 2011, about 50 participants, such as institutional investors, investment advisors, timber funds, forest business developers, and forestry specialists - attended the meeting "Forestry Investments in Emerging Markets" organised by FAO, the NFP Facility and Tropenbos International with support of the Business in Development (BID) Network, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation of the Netherlands.

Participants, from selected NFP Facility countries, included forest finance professionals that have worked domestically to identify promising business opportunities. The meeting took place in the Netherlands, a country with significant expertise in tropical forestry, and history of public and private investment in forestry in developing countries. 

The objectives of the meetings were to:

1. Share perspectives on challenges and opportunities regarding the greater involvement of investors in forestry (REDD+, biodiversity, forestry) in emerging markets.
2. Showcase and discuss a variety of forestry-based business cases and fund structures as a basis to better understand the requirements and potential of such business cases.
3. Contribute to an action plan to narrow the gap between investors and forestry opportunities.

The interactive programme - consisting of plenary, panel and group sessions – offered an informal opportunity for exchange and engagement among participants. Seventeen business fact sheets from various countries provided the basis to discuss in concrete terms the risks and opportunities to invest in forestry in emerging and frontier markets. The cases included plantation forestry, natural forest management, processing and alternative businesses. In addition, several participants shared short notes on their work, which were contained in the information package.