July 30-31, 2026
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University
Short courses for professionals working at the intersection of finance, conservation, and land management.
This July, the NRFI will debut its first Executive Short Course Series focused on Natural Resources Finance. Designed for professionals across the environmental and finance sectors, these short courses provide practical frameworks for valuation, funding, and implementation in natural resource industries.
Courses are delivered as standalone, 4-hour modules led by experienced practitioners and subject-matter experts. Each module blends applied instruction with real-world examples, equipping participants with insights they can apply directly to decision-making in forestry, conservation, and land investment.
Program Format
SAF continuing education credits available for licensed foresters (pending final approval).
Registration is Now Open
Registration is available through the Duke Box Office. Price is for all 3 modules. Registration for an individual module is not an option. To enhance diversity, we set a limit of 4 registrations from the same organization.
Early-bird registration: 20% off through April 14th.
Lodging
A special group rate of $159.00 per night is available at the AC Hotel Durham for a limited number of rooms. Use this link to book yours.
Call for Sponsors
Please reach out to Richard Mei at bin.mei@duke.edu.
4-hour Executive Module
A practical introduction to forest carbon markets and how carbon considerations are shaping land management and investment decisions.
Key topics include:
Speakers:
Cakey Worthington, Aurora Sustainable Lands: Market history and mechanics
Parker White, Eastwood Forests: TBD
TBD, Anew Climate: TBD
4-hour Executive Module
A market-focused examination of timberland investments, including traditional and emerging drivers of return.
Key topics include:
Market dynamics affecting timberland returns
Impacts of mill closures, policy, and tariffs
New revenue drivers beyond carbon
Appraisal considerations for alternative land uses
Speakers:
Richard Mei, Duke University: Timber, carbon, and landscape diversity
David Walters, Green Diamond Resource Company: Large-scale renewable energy sites
Weiyi Zhang, Manulife Investment Management: Farmland and timberland
4-hour Executive Module
An applied overview of conservation finance frameworks, focused on how philanthropic, public, and private capital are used to deliver conservation outcomes.
Key topics include:
Speakers:
Maggie Monast, Environmental Defense Fund: Climate-smart agriculture
Greg Meade, The Nature Conservancy: Cumberland Forest
Sarah Gelfand, Bluemark: TBD
Peter Stein, Lyme Timber: TBD
Peter Howell, Conservation Finance Network: TBD
These short courses are designed for professionals working at the intersection of finance, conservation, forestry, and land management, including those involved in decision-making, investment, policy, and implementation.
Intended participants include:
Participants will leave with practical insights and tools that can be applied directly to their work, including:
Richard Mei, PhD
Director, Natural Resources Finance Initiative
bin.mei@duke.edu
Join our growing network of students, professionals, and alumni working at the intersection of finance and sustainability.
