Venkat Iyer
Senior Manager, Restoration Finance

Venkat is the Senior Manager, Restoration Finance for WRI’s Global Restoration Initiative (GRI). He leads the GRI Invest team responsible for investment deployment and scaling financial impact through programs that include the Land Accelerator, TerraMatch, and TerraFund for AFR100.
Prior to joining WRI, Venkat worked at the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as a natural resource economist with expertise in assessing and managing the environmental and social impacts of agroforestry investments. He has earlier worked with the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) leading multi-sectoral task teams to develop sustainable finance solutions for wetlands and forests in Asia, Africa, and South America.
Venkat holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Economics from Cornell University, with a specialization in Natural Resources, and a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University.
Outside of work, he is an avid sports and wildlife enthusiast. A former professional tennis player who was Captain of the varsity tennis team at Cornell, his hobbies include fossil-hunting in the Chesapeake Bay, nature photography, and bird-watching.
Insights
Projects
Global Restoration Initiative
Visit ProjectWRI is partnering with governments, businesses, and communities around the world to restore millions of hectares of deforested and degraded land.
Part of ForestsThe Land Accelerator
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectA curated network and accelerator program for entrepreneurs who restore degraded forests and farmland
Part of Forest and Landscape RestorationTerraMatch
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectTerraMatch connects local land restoration champions to capital and technical assistance through a trusted online system that vets their work, supports their growth, and monitors their progress.
Part of Forest and Landscape RestorationAfrican Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100)
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectRestoring 100 million hectares of deforested and degraded land in Africa by 2030.
Part of Forest and Landscape RestorationInitiative 20x20
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectA country-led effort to change the dynamics of land degradation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Part of Forest and Landscape RestorationRestore Local
Visit ProjectAccelerating locally led land restoration across Africa’s vital landscapes
Part of Forest and Landscape Restoration