To secure our collective future on planet earth, we need to learn to live in harmony with nature.

To do this, we have to change the system – shifting from short-term gains to long-term prosperity. The time has come to move from an economic model that maximises profit at the expense of the environment to one that protects, restores, and strengthens it for future generations. 

Willem Ferwerda’s belief that ecology should drive the economy led him to create Commonland in 2013 with entrepreneur Wijnand Pon. An ecologist and conservationist with over 30 years’ experience pioneering innovative, large-scale approaches to ecosystems restoration and conservation, Willem created the 4 Returns framework as a practical tool to restore degraded landscapes at scale, while also providing an income for local communities. Using the Ecosystem Approach, endorsed by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, as a reference, he knew that the only way to sustainably protect and restore ecosystems was to make sure it benefitted communities for generations to come.