International Paper and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced an agreement to collaborate on the development of ‘natural climate solutions’- the conservation, restoration and improved forest management techniques that increase carbon storage and avoid greenhouse-gas emissions in forest landscapes. The collaboration will focus on the expansion of Reduced-Impact Logging for Carbon (RIL-C) and its integration with forest certification.

RIL-C is a set of practices pioneered by TNC that balance the economic needs of forest-based communities and businesses with environmental goals, especially climate mitigation. The collaboration will initially focus on implementing these practices in key priority tropical forest regions.

Better forest management is one of our planet’s most promising natural climate solutionsi, with the potential to reduce vast amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Forest certification can ensure sustainable, socially equitable and legally sourced timber production from natural forests, while strengthening a business model that values working forests and helps combat deforestation.

“We are committed to advancing sustainable forest management and are thrilled to work with TNC on this exciting project,” said Sophie Beckham, senior manager, Natural Capital Stewardship, International Paper. “Our investments in forest restoration and ensuring the health of working forests help increase forest carbon stocks and mitigate climate change.”

TNC’s Managing Director for Global Lands, Justin Adams, added: “About half of the planet’s remaining forests are managed for timber production. Improved forest management can not only reduce the direct impacts of logging and improve productivity, but can also increase the likelihood that forests remain forests.”

Funding provided by International Paper will help develop toolkits that will include carbon emissions measurement guidelines to detect various levels of forest degradation and impacts on biodiversity and regional best practices that avoid emissions while maintaining forest harvests. By accounting for carbon emissions data, forest managers will have a more detailed and accurate snapshot of a forest’s environmental role and economic potential.

This project is an example of the next generation of conservation measurement tools that are revealing large conservation opportunities while simultaneously supporting economic livelihoods.

ABOUT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL PAPER 
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa, India and Russia. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness and papers that facilitate education and communication. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., and employ approximately 52,000 colleagues located in more than 24 countries. Net sales for 2017 were $22 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.

Contacts:
The Nature Conservancy
Kirsten Weymouth Ullman, Senior Media Relations Manager – Global Communications
Kullman@tnc.org
+ 1 703.841.5371

International Paper
Thomas J. Ryan
Thomas.Ryan2@ipaper.com
+ 1 901.419.4333

Conservancy-led research indicates that forests offer the largest natural climate solution available: reducing deforestation, restoring forests, and improving forest management can achieve two-thirds of natural climate solutions’ mitigation potential, particularly in the tropics. Griscom, B., Adams, J., Ellis, P., Houghton, R.A., Lomax, G., Miteva, D.A., W. H. Schlesinger, D.S., Woodbury, P., Zganjar, C., Blackman, A., Campari, J., Conant, R.T., Delgado, C., Elias, P., Hamsik, M., Kiesecker, J., Landis, E., Polasky, S., Putz, F.E., Sanderman, J., Siikamäki, J., Silvius, M., Wollenberg, L., Fargione, J., Conservancy, T.N., Nichols, M., 2017. Natural climate solutions. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. doi:10.1073/pnas.1710465114

International Paper Company

International Paper Company

International Paper (NYSE: IP; LSE: IPC) is the global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. With company headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) headquarters in London, UK, we employ more than 65,000 team members and serve customers around the world with operations in more than 30 countries. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Net sales for 2024 were $18.6 billion. In 2025, International Paper acquired DS Smith creating an industry leader focused on the attractive and growing North American and EMEA regions. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com

More from International Paper Company