Carbon Forestry 2025 – Event Summary

In August 2025, over 300 industry leaders, corporate emitters, and investors gathered in Rotorua, New Zealand – and virtually online – for Carbon Forestry 2025, the region’s premier event on carbon markets and forestry investment. Now firmly established as the place to meet and learn about this rapidly expanding investment class, the conference brought together a wide mix of international and domestic expertise.

Government and Industry Perspectives

Forestry plays an essential role in New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and Hon Simon Watts, Minister of Climate Change, reinforced the Government’s commitment to the sector. His address was complemented by keynote contributions from:

• Michael Barbara, Executive Director, Campbell Global, Australia
• Spencer Meyer, Chief Ratings Officer, BeZero Carbon, USA
• Amber Bill, Forestry Operations Director, Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service

Other presentations were delivered by experts from NZ Carbon Farming, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, NZ Forest Owners Association (NZFOA), Marex, Interpine, PF Olsen, and Ekos Forever Forests.

Key Themes and Discussions

The programme explored a wide range of issues shaping the sector, grouped under:

• International Perspectives on Carbon Markets
• National Carbon Forestry Issues and Opportunities
• Carbon Market Factors and Outlook
• Voluntary Carbon Market Developments – Within and beyond New Zealand

From a global perspective, Spencer Meyer highlighted the growing importance of independent verification systems in voluntary carbon markets, noting New Zealand’s unique environment is attractive to buyers but requires credible verification to ensure credit integrity. He stressed that high-quality rating systems, such as those offered by BeZero, are helping link price with quality, driving a “race to the top.”

NZFOA Chief Executive Elizabeth Heeg examined international standards and Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement, stressing the need for both technology and nature-based solutions. She cautioned against policies that penalise high-integrity land-based projects and called for:

• Better data and storytelling to dispel myths around forestry,
• A clear long-term land-use and carbon strategy, and
• Greater collaboration across sectors to ensure New Zealand meets its emissions budgets.

On markets, Nigel Brunel, Managing Director of Marex, led an in-depth session on the secondary carbon credit market, joined by specialists discussing trading dynamics, pricing, and compliance. Felix Brandt outlined how forest owners can optimise harvest planning to reduce future carbon credit liabilities, while Sean Weaver presented Ekos’ Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain project as an example of how buyers are increasingly supporting integrated voluntary carbon and biodiversity markets.

Looking Ahead

The event made clear that New Zealand’s forestry and carbon sectors sit at the intersection of climate policy, land-use pressures, and international market expectations. With calls for stronger long-term planning, improved verification, and constructive collaboration, Carbon Forestry 2025 highlighted both the challenges and opportunities ahead for investors, landowners, and policymakers.

We would like to thank all our speakers, sponsors, partners and attendees for helping make this such a great event.

Carbon Forestry 2026 will take place on 4-5 August 2026. Mark the date on your calendar!