Pollination and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization sign carbon project development agreement
Sydney, Australia, 4 December 2025: Pollination and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) have signed a memorandum of understanding to drive the development of nature-based carbon projects across Asia.
The agreement, which includes but is not limited to countries such as Indonesia, Timor Leste, Malaysia, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand and Bhutan, will see AFoCO and Pollination collaborate to originate, design and develop forest conservation and restoration projects.
“As the world continues to grapple with the devasting impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, planting and protecting forests across Asia will be critical to achieve the world’s climate and nature targets,” says Phil Cohn, Managing Director of Pollination’s Nature Projects team.
“This partnership with AFoCO is another great example of the collaboration needed between public and private sectors to deliver reforestation projects and promote sustainable forest management and sustainable livelihoods for communities.”
In line with the United Nations global climate, biodiversity, and desertification goals, this agreement is designed to identify and ignite investment in forests across Asia.
“By working with Pollination and our member countries, our aim is to create a pipeline of bankable nature-based solutions (NbS) projects that catalyze future investment to scale project impact and size,” says Chongho Park, Executive Director of AFoCO.
“AFoCO member countries hold tremendous potential for reforestation and forest conservation initiatives, and we look forward to collaborating with them to turn that potential into high-quality, investable projects.”
The announcement comes following the release of Pollination’s report on Financing for Forests: From commitment to action. Policymaking to accelerate forest finance in emerging markets & developing economies. The report examines the role of government policy in expanding private finance for forest conservation, restoration and sustainable management.
Forests provide essential ecosystem services, including global climate regulation, that underpin the global economy, businesses, and communities. Estimates by PWC indicate that 55% of global GDP (equivalent to an estimated $58 trillion) is highly or moderately dependent on nature and the ecosystem services it provides.
“The ability for governments in emerging markets and developing economies to introduce the necessary policies to provide investor certainty and derisk investment opportunities will be critical in protecting and developing the world’s forests and achieving global climate targets,” says Cohn.
“With many communities in developing economies reliant on forests for income, agreements like this help drive investment in afforestation projects which benefit local communities and the planet.”
For further information, visit: pollinationgroup.com.
ENDS
———————————————-
Media inquiries: Tom Godfrey – 0419 313 101 – tom.godfrey@pollinationgroup.com
About Pollination Group and AFoCO
Pollination is a specialist climate change investment and advisory firm, accelerating the transition to a net zero, and nature positive future. Pollination’s work includes the origination and development of nature-based solutions, including projects that generate high quality carbon credits from reforestation and forest conservation. Learn more.
AFoCO is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization that is committed to strengthening forest cooperation and taking actions to promote sustainable forest management and address the impacts of climate change, including through facilitating, mobilizing, and supporting nature-based carbon projects.
