Forest Invest

The ForestLink newsletter signupBettina von HagenCandice TaylorGwen BusbyKatrina AmaralKirstie WhiteMary IgnatiadisRita HiteIn this special International Women’s Day episode, I bring together seven remarkable women working across the forestry sector—from investment and forest economics to sustainability, supply chains, and policy. In no particular order, Bettina von Hagen, Candice Taylor, Gwen Busby, Katrina Amaral, Kirstie White, Mary Ignatiadis, and Rita Hite share the pivotal moments, mentors, and decisions that shaped their leadership journeys. Through personal stories and candid reflections, the conversation explores themes of curiosity, resilience, and the power of mentorship in building a career in forestry. The guests also discuss the realities of working in a sector where women remain underrepresented, sharing experiences that range from subtle bias to moments of opportunity and influence. Together, these voices highlight how diverse perspectives are helping reshape forestry—from community-centered supply chains and natural capital investing to sustainable forest management and climate solutions—and why supporting the next generation of female leaders is essential for the future of the sector.00:00 Introduction – Women Leaders in Forestry00:23 Podcast Welcome & International Women’s Day Special01:56 Women in Forestry – Representation and Industry Statistics04:37 Introducing the Leadership Stories05:01 Bettina von Hagen – Finding Your “True North” in Leadership07:16 Candice Taylor – Continuous Learning and Career Reinvention09:35 Gwen Busby – Economics, Nature, and Timberland Investment Strategy12:05 Katrina Amaral – Community Forestry and Small-Scale Supply Chains14:30 Kirstie White – Stewardship, Sustainability, and Leadership17:13 Mary Ignatius – Forest Economics, Carbon Markets, and Collaboration19:41 Rita Hite – A Leadership Journey to CEO21:51 Gender Experiences in Forestry – Stories from the Field24:08 Candice Taylor – Proving Expertise and Creating Space25:32 Gwen Busby – Navigating Finance and Forestry as a Minority28:06 Katrina Amaral – Logging, Perception, and Gender Bias29:34 Kirstie White – Changing Representation in Forestry31:25 Mary Ignatius – Confronting Gender Bias in Organizations32:39 Rita Hite – Leadership Confidence and Authenticity34:29 Closing Reflections – Celebrating Women in Forestry34:37 Outro – Forest InvestFounding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesNature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/SoundcloudAmbient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

The ForestLink newsletter signupAsger Stragne Olesen (LinkedIn)IWC AM+International Woodland Company (IWC) on LinkedInToday, I’m joined (for the second time) by Asger Strange Olesen, Global Head of Climate and Biodiversity at IWC AM+, and an independent expert deeply embedded in Europe’s forest policy arena. In this conversation, Asger explains why the EU has historically kept forestry out of the EU ETS, why voluntary forest carbon activity in Europe has remained limited, and what’s changing as the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) builds the market infrastructure for EU carbon removals. We unpack the EU’s “declining sink” problem, the complexity of forest ownership across member states, and why Mario Draghi’s competitiveness agenda is pushing Europe toward leaner regulation—and clearer signals for investment. Finally, we explore what the CRCF is designed to enable (and what it still doesn’t solve), how it compares to existing standards, and why country-by-country implementation will determine where EU forest carbon markets—and forest investment—move first."The mechanics and infrastructure are being made available. The CRCF gives you the toolbox. But whether that toolbox gets used depends on each individual country. If governments allow the framework to play and recognize downstream corporate demand for removals, then private capital will step in. If they continue to rely primarily on state-driven support schemes, investment will remain limited. So it’s not the EU framework alone—it’s national implementation that will determine where real forest investment opportunities emerge.”00:09 — Welcome to Forest Invest00:11 — Host intro: Shauna Matkovich (The Forest Link)00:19 — Guest intro: Asgar Strange Olesen (IWCAM Plus)00:40 — Favourite tree: European beech01:29 — Asgar’s EU policy roles (CRCF, EU Taxonomy review, FSC, SBTi)05:27 — Why EU forest policy is complex (no direct EU forest mandate)08:21 — EU forest diversity + ownership differences11:45 — Draghi, competitiveness & climate targets14:52 — The “declining sink” challenge20:41 — Why forestry is excluded from the EU ETS27:46 — The missing piece: lack of demand29:13 — What is the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF)?31:37 — How CRCF differs from existing standards37:37 — Built-in revision + piloting phase40:00 — Performance certificates vs tradable credits41:41 — GHG Protocol uncertainty & EU reporting shift44:45 — Investment outlook: country-by-country reality47:58 — Actionable advice for investors49:37 — Closing remarksFounding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesNature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/SoundcloudAmbient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

The ForestLink newsletter signupThe Nature ConservancySusan Cook-Patten on LinkedInToday I’m joined by Susan Cook-Patton, Lead Reforestation Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, to get into the weeds on applying science to forest carbon investment decision making. In this conversation, Susan breaks down what “durability” really means in practice—how risks vary by location, project type, and species, and why investors should be assessing likelihood, severity, and the probability of regrowth. She shares how her team is developing tools and maps to help investors quickly identify higher- and lower-risk landscapes, bringing greater certainty to carbon outcomes under future climate conditions. We talk project design choices that can reduce wildfire impacts, the role (and limitations) of buffer pools, and emerging alternatives like permanence trust funds and storage years. Susan also shares where remote sensing is improving fast—and why data sharing may be the biggest unlock for better, cheaper carbon accounting.“It’s not about eliminating all risks. It’s about understanding them so you can plan appropriately and put compensation mechanisms in place if disturbances do occur.”00:10 — Welcome to Forest Invest + today’s guest 00:30 — Icebreaker: Susan’s favourite tree (and why caterpillars matter) 01:16 — Who Susan is + her role at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) 02:27 — What “reforestation” really means (working forests, conservation, agroforestry) 03:05 — Applying science to forest carbon investment decisions 04:43 — Durability 101: why risk varies by place, species, and project type 06:36 — Mapping risk: likelihood, severity, and probability of regrowth 09:00 — Social context: designing projects communities actually want 10:12 — Project design for resilience: species choice, density, thinning, prescribed fire 11:55 — Buffer pools: minimums vs risk-based contributions 13:08 — Beyond buffer pools: trust funds, stacking strategies, “ton-year” approaches 15:54 — Monitoring innovation: shifting from field plots to remote monitoring 16:53 — Remote sensing challenges: uncertainty, benchmarks, and inconsistent methods 20:08 — Terrestrial laser scanning: better carbon estimates (and how to use it wisely) 22:08 — Data sharing as the big unlock (and reducing duplicated fieldwork) 23:42 — Standards are evolving: learning fast without “throwing the baby out” 26:44 — “Permanent” vs “durability”: making rules fit how forests really work 29:40 — Portfolio thinking: balancing approaches across climate action 32:21 — Output vs durability: designing for short-term volume or long-term resilience 34:37 — Investor time horizons vs climate timescales (why storage years help) 40:06 — Science in policy: how Susan’s work spans local to global decision-making 42:19 — Carbon insurance: what it can teach us about actuarial risk in forests 44:26 — What’s next: durability risk maps + Susan’s “magic wand” wishlist 47:44 — Final takeaway: the greatest risk is inaction 48:42 — One actionable advice for new forest investors 49:28 — Where to learn more (LinkedIn + nature.org) + closing remarks 50:12 — Outro: see you next time on Forest InvestFounding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesNature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/SoundcloudAmbient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

The ForestLink newsletter signupISFCToday, I’m joined by Ross Hampton, CEO of the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition (ISFC). In this conversation, Ross shares what he’s hearing from forest businesses and institutional capital as geopolitical volatility collides with the accelerating push toward a circular bioeconomy. We unpack why nature and climate are now inseparable on the global stage, what COP-level discussions are signaling for forestry, and why “a thousand flowers blooming” in biodiversity schemes is hindering a scalable market. Ross also walks through ISFC’s work with TNFD and the Capitals Coalition to standardize ecosystem services measurement—laying groundwork for investable nature markets—and offers practical advice for governments who have an important enabling role, and investors who want to be early movers in natural capital.“Philanthropy plays a role, governments play a role, concessional finance plays a role — but these are minuscule compared to the scale of the challenge. The only real answer is the markets. It’s the $250 trillion sitting in pension, insurance and superannuation funds that is looking for a good return and increasingly wants to be nature and climate smart.” 1:29 – Ross’ background: politics/journalism → forestry, and why ISFC was created 2:35 – ISFC scope: member footprint, countries covered, and why scale matters 3:15 – Who ISFC represents: ownership structures across regions (investors, REITs, trading houses, integrated firms, quasi-government agencies) 4:47 – ISFC mission: accelerating a climate- and nature-smart circular bioeconomy 6:02 – The policy–finance disconnect: why capital isn’t linking to on-the-ground forestry needs 7:31 – The four funding streams (philanthropy, government, concessional finance, markets) and why markets are the only scalable answer 9:24 – Setting the stage: geopolitics and its impact on forest business/investment 10:09 – Global signals from recent events: COP momentum and “climate + nature” convergence 12:20 – The big project: working with TNFD + Capitals Coalition to measure ecosystem services 13:46 – “A gazillion initiatives” problem: why fragmentation prevents real markets 15:37 – What the project aims to prove: consistent measurement across global forest estates (7 ecosystem services) 17:09 – Timeline and milestones: outputs aimed for COP 17 (Armenia) and COP 31 (Turkey) 18:24 – Member sentiment (within limits): timberlands as a long-game, “stable island” asset class 22:08 – Whole-forest value vs “back to basics”: why the shift beyond timber isn’t slowing 23:41 – The “diamond in the rough”: externalising ecosystem services to unlock restoration at scale 26:02 – Policy fragmentation: why nature markets don’t scale when governments go it alone 27:08 – The hardest leap: paying for what used to be “free” (nature services) 28:51 – Shadow pricing: nature value already showing up in estate pricing above stump value 31:02 – Beyond measurement: enabling conditions governments must create (tech, incentives, stacking) 33:43 – A counterintuitive principle: don’t only pay for “uplift” (avoid penalising good stewards) 39:13 – Global South vs Global North: differing contexts, shared opportunity, where growth may happen 43:38 – Where policy conversations get stuck: finance vs industry vs forestry/agriculture vs environment 45:29 – Davos/WEF touchpoint: reception and momentum 45:42 – Crystal ball: what’s next, and key 2026 moments (Japan, Climate Week NYC, COPs) 48:10 – One actionable takeaway for new investors: lean into natural capital and nature markets early 49:39 – Where to learn more: ISFC website + natural capital reportFounding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesNature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/SoundcloudAmbient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

The ForestLink newsletter signupMarcos on LinkedInIndicators - Biodiversity | Stora EnsoBiodiversity indicators for plantations - Biodiversity | Stora EnsoSpecies Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metricInvestor News: Stora Enso partners with IUCN to advance positive impacts on biodiversityFrom the vault 🎙️In this rerun, Marcos Wichert, Vice President of Plantation Forest and Sustainability Management at Stora Enso, shares lessons from his global career across Brazil, China, New Zealand, and Finland. We explore how sustainable forestry must adapt to local ecosystems, regulations, and communities, from catchment-based planning and biodiversity KPIs to the realities of Eucalyptus. A practical, boardroom-level conversation on aligning forestry investments with climate, nature, and long-term value.“Sustainable forestry means managing commercial forests at a landscape level, with the catchment area as the key management unit to monitor and guide the impacts of forestry activities.”Harvest less than the forest grows each year, and that’s a basic principle of sustainable forestry."0:00 From the vault: sustainable forest management in production forestry0:40 Navigating ecosystem services, standards, and new tools in forest finance1:13 Marcos Wichert joins + “favourite tree” icebreaker (Araucaria angustifolia)1:44 Marcos’ career journey: Brazil → China → New Zealand → Brazil → Indonesia → Finland4:29 Defining sustainable forestry: core principles + landscape-level responsibility5:15 Catchment-based planning and hydrology as a sustainability foundation6:13 How sustainability differs by jurisdiction: Brazil vs China vs the Nordics10:07 Plantation vs semi-natural forests, certification realities, and investor considerations12:50 What investors should assess: FSC/PEFC, KPIs, monitoring, and traceable data16:15 Eucalyptus: myths, risks, and best practice (right species, right place)18:03 Water stability through age-class mosaics across a catchment22:14 Spatial vs temporal scales: compartments, estates, landscapes, and planning units24:01 EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): traceability down to compartment level25:15 Why catchments matter for sustainability (especially for fast-growing species)29:08 Boardroom sustainability: clients, regulation, traceability, and “nature-positive” products31:11 The premium problem: paying for biodiversity and beyond-compliance actions32:30 Nature Positive Impact (NPI): targets, science partnerships, and biodiversity KPIs34:24 Public equities: what to look for in sustainability reporting + red flags37:06 Wrap-up: forestry’s role in climate + biodiversity solutions38:02 Where to find Marcos: LinkedIn + EUFRO work on automation and robotics38:51 Closing from Shauna Matkovich (Forest Invest)Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesNature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/SoundcloudAmbient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

The ForestLink newsletter sign-upHarley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest BusinessToday, I’m joined by Erin Lincoln, Director of the Harley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest Business at the University of Georgia, for an academic, data-driven look at what’s happening across timberland markets in the U.S. Southeast. Erin breaks down how hurricane impacts, permanent pulp and paper mill closures, and soft housing starts are reshaping demand for small-diameter wood—and what that means for landowners, communities, and investors. We explore where opportunity may emerge next, from bioenergy, carbon capture and storage, biochar, sustainable aviation fuel and natural capital themes, alongside the growing role of higher-and-better-use (HBU) revenue streams. Erin also explains how investor expectations differ across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, why reporting requirements are pinching TIMOs, and where AI could unlock new efficiency across forestry operations, compliance, and decision-making.Forestry is extremely data intensive, and AI has the potential to fundamentally change how we manage forests—from thinning decisions to trucking efficiency and compliance.00:00 Welcome to Forest Invest00:32 Erin Lincoln’s favorite tree (and why oaks matter)01:02 Erin’s career path and role at the Center for Forest Business02:10 Education, outreach, and research at UGA03:19 Why the program is known for forest finance and economics04:48 Setting the scene: the state of the US forest industry05:00 Mill closures in the Southeast and hurricane impacts07:12 Housing starts, inflation, and pressure on sawmills08:04 Declining paper demand and global competition09:09 Permanent mill closures and real estate constraints10:05 Downturns create opportunity: bioenergy, biochar, SAF11:39 Public perception of forestry and sustainable harvesting14:43 What investors should know right now14:56 Real estate, HBUs, and diversified revenue streams16:16 ESG, natural capital, and return expectations17:24 US vs European investor priorities18:41 Reporting burdens and pressure on TMOs20:06 Specialisation in a maturing timber investment market22:01 What future forest investment professionals care about23:52 Generational shifts in forestry careers25:56 Research priorities: natural capital and bioeconomy27:42 Measuring the full economic impact of forestry28:42 Key knowledge gaps in carbon and forest products30:04 The role of investors in shaping innovation31:04 Advice for young foresters choosing a specialty32:34 Why Erin is optimistic about the sector’s future33:31 Artificial intelligence in forestry and timber investment36:32 Where AI is already improving efficiency38:08 One actionable piece of advice for new investors39:18 Where to learn more about the Center for Forest Business40:01 Closing remarksProduction teamFounding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesSound libraryNature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

The ForestLink newsletter sign-upThe Conservation FundToday, I’m joined by Matt Purdy, Director of Forest Investments at The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit focused on conserving land in the U.S. while strengthening local communities and economies. In this conversation, Matt explains how their Working Forest Fund protects large, productive forests in perpetuity by taking conversion off the table—often through conservation easements designed specifically for sustainable timber management. We unpack how The Conservation Fund acts as a bridge owner for public agencies and land trusts, what their capital stack looks like (including low-cost debt and a green bond), and why they always underwrite multiple pathways to a conservation outcome. We also dig into how carbon projects fit into their model, including their first issuance under ACR’s IFM 2.1 “removals-only” methodology, and the trade-offs of financing conservation without “turning off the saws.” Finally, Matt shares what’s changing in private capital—from mission-aligned family offices to corporate partners like Apple, and why mill closures remain one of the biggest risks to working forests and forest-based livelihoods. Most investors look at conservation easements after they’ve exhausted every other revenue source. For us, the conservation easement is the first thing we underwrite.”“We’re very aware that turning off the saws can hurt communities. Our goal is to balance carbon projects with continued harvesting so forests remain working forests.”00:00 Welcome to Forest Invest00:31 Matt Purdy’s favourite tree and personal background01:19 From timber cruiser to Director of Forest Investments02:27 What is The Conservation Fund and its dual mission03:52 What does “working forest” really mean?05:39 Conservation easements and permanent forest protection06:09 The bridge-ownership model explained09:06 Managing risk with multiple conservation exit paths10:09 Capital stack, low-cost debt, and green bonds11:25 Two conservation pathways: public ownership vs private resale12:30 How The Conservation Fund compares to other nonprofits14:16 NGOs vs TIMOs: mission-first vs return-first investing17:43 Plantation forests, natural forests, and partner priorities18:58 Conservation easements as an investment tool20:03 Carbon projects and Improved Forest Management (IFM)21:00 Balancing harvests, carbon, and community livelihoods23:24 ACR IFM 2.1 and removals-only carbon credits24:20 Inside their first IFM 2.1 project27:04 Working with private capital and mission-aligned investors29:30 The Apple co-ownership deal explained32:18 Corporates vs institutional investors: key differences35:35 Opportunities and challenges for conservation ownership41:07 Mill closures and risks to forest-based livelihoods43:10 What’s next for The Conservation Fund44:41 One piece of advice for new forest investors46:57 Where to learn more and closing remarksProduction teamFounding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesSound libraryNature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

https://theforestlink.com/podcast/Quarlbo BiodiversityXilvaGresham HouseNew ForestsSFMAborcrest InvestmentsAarden AICE Events and MediaMEAGBTG Pactual Timberland Investment GroupIn this special start-of-year episode, Forest Invest looks back at the 10 most downloaded conversations of all time and distills the most powerful insights from global leaders in forest finance, natural capital, biodiversity markets, and climate-positive investing.From biodiversity credits and due diligence frameworks to timberland strategy, land use optimisation, and the future of nature-based investments, this episode brings together the ideas that resonated most with listeners and continue to shape the sector.If you’re investing in forests, natural capital, or climate solutions in 2026, this is your essential recap and inspiration to start the year informed and motivated.00:00 Welcome to Forest Invest & Season 300:45 Why this episode: Top 10 most downloaded insights01:10 #1 Biodiversity credits explained: conservation, restoration & diversified forest management03:05 #2 Due diligence in forest investment: impact, risk, and scalability08:34 #3 Long-rotation forestry, climate risk, and timber demand11:40 #4 Open-ended forestry funds and long-term stewardship14:01 #5 Scaling plantations through landowner partnerships18:13 #6 Why forestry is misunderstood as an asset class21:39 #7 Breaking silos in land-use and investment decision-making24:45 #8 The disconnect between biodiversity supply and demand28:56 #9 How natural capital fits into institutional portfolios30:46 #10 Land sparing, conservation design, and nature-positive outcomes32:48 Key takeaways from the top 10 episodes33:06 Invest in forests & closing remarksProduction teamFounding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesSound libraryNature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud