Joost van Montfort

Executive Director Tropenbos International

Joost van Montfort is the Executive Director of Tropenbos International (TBI), a network of organizations working across the forested tropics. TBI promotes the sustainable use of forests and trees in frontier landscapes, supporting biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and livelihood resilience. The focus is on empowering local communities to sustainably manage forests, conserve and restore degraded lands through agroforestry, drawing on both traditional knowledge and scientific research. Joost is committed to expanding the network’s reach and impact, while ensuring that its Southern partners lead in setting the agenda.

As a sociologist with over 25 years of experience in conservation, he has developed a deep understanding of the links between environmental degradation, inequality, and sustainable development. He advocates for stronger partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, as vital stewards of the environment and collaborating with other stakeholders to help bolster, replicate and scale equitable, locally owned solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises.

He has extensive experience in highly biodiverse regions of South and Central America, where he witnessed first-hand how environmental degradation both drives and exacerbates inequality. He has led global programmes for organizations such as WWF and IUCN NL, focusing on civil society strengthening, advocacy, and resource mobilization. Throughout his career, inclusiveness and equity have been central to his approach, guiding his efforts to create meaningful, sustainable change in tropical forest landscapes.

Contact: joost.vanmontfort@tropenbos.org