Supporting decision-making by companies in delivering their climate net-zero and nature recovery commitments: Synthesising current information and identifying research priorities in rainforest restoration

Many companies are making ambitious pledges to achieve positive impacts for climate and nature by financing restoration of carbon- and biodiversity- rich natural habitats. However, companies cannot make evidence-based choices that will deliver successful restoration if the scientific information required to guide investment has not been synthesised in a way that they can use, or there are knowledge gaps. To explore this issue, share information, and identify knowledge gaps and research priorities, we bring together researchers, a conservation NGO and a multinational consumer goods company (Unilever), focusing on Southeast Asian rainforests. These habitats offer significant restoration opportunities for carbon and biodiversity in areas that have been degraded by commercial logging and agriculture. We find that procedures for carbon restoration are much better developed than those for biodiversity, and that new research is urgently needed to deliver evidence-based biodiversity restoration. Companies need to be confident that their actions are fit-for-purpose to meet their environmental pledges. Achieving successful restoration outcomes will require co-designed projects with the potential to deliver positive co-benefits for carbon, biodiversity and local livelihoods. •Many companies are making climate net-zero and biodiversity pledges to restore rainforest.•Choices of projects to finance need to be underpinned by scientific evidence.•We synthesise information on restoring carbon and nature in Southeast Asian forests.•Procedures for carbon restoration are better developed than those for biodiversity.•We outline research priorities to ensure company choices are fit-for-purpose.