Today, I’m joined by Olly Hughes, Managing Director of Forestry, and David Gardner, Chief Investment Officer for Forestry at Gresham House. In this discussion, we explore how Gresham House builds global forestry portfolios that incorporate both financial and climate-related considerations. Olly explains why timberland offers stable, inflation-linked returns and outlines how it fits into the “natural capital” asset class, where sustainable timber, carbon credits, and biodiversity gains converge. David adds rich insight into long-rotation conifer crops and how afforestation and compliance carbon markets (especially in Australia and New Zealand) can support early cash flow. We delve into the significance of establishing KPIs for biodiversity and why experiencing a forest firsthand can be the most effective education for new investors.
“We believe global timber demand will nearly triple over the next 30 years, so we must plant trees both for nature-based reasons and for timber supply.” – Olly Hughes
\t“Certification is just the starting point—we manage to global standards and then layer on sustainability objectives to meet Article 9 criteria.” – David Gardner
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Favorite trees: Walnut (Juglans regia) & Ginkgo Biloba
Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink
Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives
[00:00] Intro & Welcome
[00:35] Favorite Trees
[01:19] Introductions & Gresham House Overview
[04:19] Why Forestry? Key Investment Benefits
[08:52] Case Study: Forestry Resilience During Recession
[10:47] Climate Goals & Misconceptions
[15:37] Policy Regulations & Market Impact
[18:08] Best Geographies Where Climate and Returns Align
[22:33] Portfolio Strategy – Mixing New and Mature Assets.
[24:10] Carbon Markets 101
[27:02] Timber vs. Carbon Returns
[29:01] Nature & Biodiversity Investing
[36:59] Managing Forests & Funds, Sustainability Meets Scalability.
[39:02] Global Standards for Nature and Carbon
[39:26] Inspiration & Frustration
[42:00] Final Advice
[43:13] Closing & Contact Info
Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud
Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud
Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)