Transforming Forest Conservation Through Investment: A Conversation with Andres Vergara
Andrés Vergara
Andrés Vergara, Chief Marketing Officer of InvestConservation, brings more than two decades of global marketing experience to one of the most urgent frontiers in the impact space: preserving the world’s most threatened biodiversity hotspots. With a career shaped by award-winning work for Fortune 500 companies, he now applies his strategic leadership to scaling conservation solutions in tropical forests—home to two-thirds of all life on Earth.
In this interview, Andrés sheds light on how InvestConservation is redefining conservation finance through a for-profit, mission-driven model that channels private capital into standing forest protection. He discusses the urgency of reversing tropical forest destruction, the challenges of attracting long-term investment, and why valuing ecosystem services—beyond traditional carbon markets—is key to unlocking real impact at scale.
“Conservation must move beyond philanthropy. When we make biodiversity protection investable, we unlock scalable impact where the world needs it most.”
Andrés, tell us about how your work intersects with the impact space.
InvestConservation is a for-profit, mission-driven company focused on making conservation investable by channeling private sector capital to biodiversity hotspots in tropical forests. Using smart technologies, InvestConsevation maximises funding for on-the-ground efforts and delivers maximum impact per dollar invested.
What is your own definition of impact?
InvestConservation was born out of the need to move beyond philanthropy and bring scalable private investment to the protection of natural standing forests and threatened biodiversity. Traditional carbon markets have largely ignored the conservation of Key Biodiversity Areas, focusing instead on reforestation and costly engineered solutions.
Andrés, what do you see as the most important issue to address in the next 10 years?
Tropical forest destruction is one of the major drivers of both biodiversity loss and climate change. Despite covering less than 10% of the Earth’s surface, tropical forests support around two-thirds of life on Earth and 43% of all endemic species. Yet, today, clearing tropical forests is still worth more than preserving them.
What is the greatest challenge you face to scale your impact?
Finding funders willing to invest long-term in reversing the climate & nature damages committed in the last 70 years.
“ …it is well documented that a ‘land sparing’ approach via dedicated conservation reserves is the most effective method to mitigating the loss of species and biodiversity.”
Andrés, what is your long-term vision and how do you measure & quantify your impact?
From a biodiversity perspective it is well documented that a “land sparing” approach via dedicated conservation reserves is the most effective method to mitigating the loss of species and biodiversity. Further, well-managed private and community reserves can effectively protect key biodiversity hotspots missed by government reserves, act as buffers to under-resourced national parks, and also support engagement with local and Indigenous communities.
What are some misconceptions you’ve noticed regarding what “impact” is all about?
Over the past 30 years, carbon markets have struggled to deliver funding to high-impact tropical forest projects. Moving to measure and value the ecosystem services of tropical forests via the measurement of carbon removed, and quantifying this as a carbon credit under independent rigorous methodologies can bring value to standing conserved forests.