Forest Invest

Shauna Matkovich
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

Meet experts in forest investment from different corners of the forestry asset class. From investors to entrepreneurs, market players to service providers. Tune in to hear stories from the trenches, insights and best practice guidance to build your toolbox for creating profitable and impactful forest investments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. From the Vault: An Institutional Investor’s Approach to Forest Investment - with Jasper Renk of MEAG

    3d ago

    From the Vault: An Institutional Investor’s Approach to Forest Investment - with Jasper Renk of MEAG

    From the Vault - Jasper Renk MEAG MEAG on LinkedIn Jasper Renk on LinkedIn Favourite trees: Spruce In this rerun, I’m joined by Jasper Renk, Senior Investment Manager for Illiquid Assets in Natural Capital at MEAG. In this advice-packed episode, Jasper shares MEAG’s 15-year experience in investing in Timberland. He explains the most critical determining factors in deciding MEAG’s forest investment jurisdictions and describes how the organisation is well equipped to address climate risks, sitting on 140 years of climate data. Jasper shares his thoughts on how to house your forest investment and sheds light on why forest investment isn’t the most suitable for debt instruments. We talk about sustainability and how it is a core tenant of how they invest, emphasising that prioritising sustainability reduces risk and secures return expectations. QuoteSo what I'm getting at is that for us to retain the environmental functions and to retain a functioning ecosystem, that then. in turn, provides a renewable resource such as roundwood to the market – to retain that even in changing climates. It's not something that we must balance against return, but that ensures that in 10,20, 50, 100 years, we will still be able to provide that resource to the market. This is kind of the difference maybe in our thinking as opposed to some other market participants.Essentially, it goes hand in hand. Production teamHost: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink Producer and editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives Details01:02 Background to MEAG & Jasper 04:06 Decision to move into timberland investments 05:11 MEAG's perception of timberland allocation performance 07:58 Shift in how assets are housed in portfolio 10:51 Learning curve for institutional investor 12:52 Risk-reduced way to gain exposure 13:44 Best instrument to get started (and trajectory) 16:33 Risk return profile of MEAG 19:22 Operational side of owned forest assets 22:57 Functioning transactional market 24:38 Investment vehicles, e,g. debt instruments 27:45 Sustainability 32:00 Sustainability objectives 34:28 Beneficiaries stand on sustainability 39:08 Actionable advice 39:50 Contact details Sound libraryNature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud Sign up now for the ForestLink’s newsletter, where you’ll receive technical advice, reflections, and best-practice guidance to support you with your forest-linked investment strategy or business straight to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  2. Generation Forest with Andreas Eke

    May 18

    Generation Forest with Andreas Eke

    DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not an endorsement for this opportunity, nor is it an investment recommendation or investment advice. Send an email to sdm@theforestlink.com to learn how to apply Watch on You Tube The ForestLink newsletter sign-up Generation Forest Generation Forest on LinkedIn The Ask: $25M USD to acquire land in Panama and establish more permanent, productive biodiverse forests in Panama Today on Pitch Pod, I’m joined by Andreas Eke, CEO of Generation Forest Invest. In this conversation, Andreas presents Generation Forest’s approach to building permanent, productive, biodiverse forests in Panama through a combination of land acquisition, native species reforestation, carbon finance, and long-term timber management. We discuss how the model is designed to generate returns from both timber and premium-priced carbon credits, while restoring degraded cattle land into permanent forest assets. Andreas explains the organization’s cooperative and institutional investment structures, the role of carbon pre-sales in financing expansion, and the strategy behind building a 50,000-hectare forest corridor supporting biodiversity, watershed protection, and rural livelihoods. We also explore the operational realities of managing mixed-species forestry, land acquisition due diligence, and why biodiversity and permanence may become increasingly important drivers of long-term forest value. Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives Sound Library Ecology-Agriculture-Environment via Pixabay Sign up now for the ForestLink’s newsletter, where you’ll receive technical advice, reflections, and best-practice guidance to support you with your forest-linked investment strategy or business straight to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 1m
  3. TRAILER Pitch Pod: Forest Investment Opportunities & Nature-Based Solutions Pitches

    May 11

    TRAILER Pitch Pod: Forest Investment Opportunities & Nature-Based Solutions Pitches

    www.youtube.com/@Resources_TheForestLink The ForestLink newsletter sign-up Pitch Pod is the new spin-off from Forest Invest, hosted by Shauna Matkovich, showcasing investment-ready forest and nature-based solutions opportunities. Each episode features a project pitch followed by a practical Q&A exploring strategy, impact, scalability, and commercial potential, giving investors, founders, and practitioners a behind-the-scenes look at real-world nature finance deals. New episodes drop alongside Forest Invest, with video versions available on YouTube. Pitch Pod is an awareness platform only and does not provide investment advice or endorsements. Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives Sound Library Ecology-Agriculture-Environment via Pixabay Sign up now for the ForestLink’s newsletter, where you’ll receive technical advice, reflections, and best-practice guidance to support you with your forest-linked investment strategy or business straight to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2 min
  4. How Symbiosis is Building Demand for High-Integrity Forest Carbon

    May 4

    How Symbiosis is Building Demand for High-Integrity Forest Carbon

    The ForestLink newsletter sign-up Symbiosis Coalition Today, I’m joined by Julia Strong, founder and executive director of Symbiosis Coalition. In this conversation, Julia explains how buyer-led demand can help scale high-integrity forest carbon projects and mobilize capital into nature-based carbon removal. We talk about the role of long-term offtake agreements, the quality criteria Symbiosis uses to evaluate developers, and the common reasons projects fall short in the RFP process. Julia also shares what investors and project developers need to understand about readiness, benefit sharing, and the future of forest carbon as an investable asset class. “Carbon finance is one of the most promising tools that we have in our toolkit to mobilize billions of dollars for nature, climate, and people. It hasn’t yet lived up to its potential, and that was a key reason for starting Symbiosis.” 00:13 Introduction to Forest Invest 00:34 Julia Strong’s favourite tree 01:21 Julia’s background and the launch of Symbiosis 03:13 Sending a clear demand signal for high-integrity carbon removals 04:17 The four core components of Symbiosis 05:20 Unlocking capital through buyer confidence and quality 07:17 The 20 million ton commitment by 2030 09:42 What makes a developer a good fit for Symbiosis 12:17 How developers can access the Symbiosis RFP 14:42 The chicken-and-egg problem in project finance 17:03 Symbiosis quality criteria and project evaluation 24:01 How the RFP process can help shape the market 25:23 Symbiosis’ role after offtake agreements 26:39 Common reasons projects do not advance 31:01 Why pilots and local track records matter 32:16 Bridge capital and the valley of death 35:01 How long the diligence process can take 37:53 Living Carbon and Mombak project examples 41:27 Building a diversified carbon removal portfolio 43:47 How to accelerate buyer demand 47:09 What is next for Symbiosis 48:00 Advice for new forest investors 49:28 Where to learn more about Symbiosis 49:57 Closing thoughts from Shauna Matkovich Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay) Sign up now for the ForestLink’s newsletter, where you’ll receive technical advice, reflections, and best-practice guidance to support you with your forest-linked investment strategy or business straight to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  5. How BIOFIN is tackling the biodiversity finance gap

    Apr 27

    How BIOFIN is tackling the biodiversity finance gap

    The ForestLink newsletter sign-up BIOFIN Today, I’m joined by Abbie Trinidad, Anabelle Plantilla, and Niran Nirannoot from the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a UNDP-led programme now active in 131 countries. In this conversation, we explore how BIOFIN is tackling the biodiversity finance gap through practical ecotourism and conservation finance models in the Philippines and Thailand. We discuss community-led approaches in Sibalom Natural Park, tourist user charges and coral reef restoration on Koh Tao, and mangrove conservation in Phetchaburi. Along the way, we examine what it takes to attract private sector interest into biodiversity projects, the importance of policy and local institutions, and why conservation is increasingly an economic issue as much as an environmental one. "Conservation is not just an environmental issue, it is actually an economic one" - Anabelle 00:05 – Intro & BIOFIN guests 00:36 – Favourite trees (icebreaker) 01:48 – What is BIOFIN? 05:53 – Why private investment matters 07:56 – Biodiversity investment opportunities 09:13 – Philippines: Sibalom Natural Park 12:11 – Community ecotourism model 18:36 – Early biodiversity outcomes 23:15 – Carbon credits & policy gaps 29:24 – Thailand: Koh Tao case 32:29 – Tourist fee & fintech system 39:00 – Impact: waste & coral recovery 42:03 – Mangroves, co-investment & carbon 48:36 – Key challenges & investor mindset 52:55 – Final takeaway: nature as investment Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay) Sign up now for the ForestLink’s newsletter, where you’ll receive technical advice, reflections, and best-practice guidance to support you with your forest-linked investment strategy or business straight to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  6. Industrial Buyers in European Forest Investment - with Jyri Hietala and Tapani Pahkasalo

    Apr 20

    Industrial Buyers in European Forest Investment - with Jyri Hietala and Tapani Pahkasalo

    The ForestLink newsletter sign-up CapMan Natural Capital Today, I’m joined by Jyri Hietala and Tapani Pahkasalo, Managing Partner and Co-Managing Partner of CapMan Natural Capital. In this conversation, we discuss CapMan’s approach to active forest investment management across Europe and unpack the recent sale of a Baltic forest portfolio to Inter IKEA. Jyri and Tapani explain how they build institutional-scale portfolios, create value through forest management, renewable energy, and other ecosystem services, and position assets for different buyer profiles at exit. We also talk about what this transaction may signal for the future of European forest investment. From industrial demand for long-term wood supply to the growing importance of biodiversity, carbon, and natural capital value creation, this episode explores why high-quality forestry assets are attracting attention from both financial and strategic buyers. "You need to understand who your future buyers are—financial, strategic, or impact-driven—because the way you structure your assets today, including contracts and value streams, can directly influence your exit opportunities.” - Jyri "This transaction is a strong example of building an industrial-scale portfolio and finding the right buyer who understands the value created—not just in timber, but across the entire asset, including sustainability and long-term management.” - Tapani 0:11 Introduction to the episode 0:20 Meet Jyri Hietala and Tapani Pahkasalo from CapMan Natural Capital 0:37 Favorite trees: pine and cork oak 1:46 Guest backgrounds and introductions 3:52 Why Dassos joined CapMan 7:07 CapMan Natural Capital’s investment approach 9:37 Value creation beyond timber 12:46 Current investment markets in Europe 13:40 The Inter IKEA transaction 14:35 How the Baltic portfolio was built 17:34 Previous owners and local forest management 20:12 Why Inter IKEA was the right buyer 21:22 What made the transaction successful 23:19 What the deal signals for European forestry 25:09 Forest health, bark beetles and wood supply 27:00 Industrial buyers and vertical integration 29:05 Biodiversity and ecosystem services 31:15 How buyer types shape portfolio strategy 37:02 Offtake agreements and exit flexibility 38:03 Why Europe remains attractive for investors 39:32 Advice for new forest investors 40:29 Where to learn more about CapMan Natural Capital Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay) Sign up now for the ForestLink’s newsletter, where you’ll receive technical advice, reflections, and best-practice guidance to support you with your forest-linked investment strategy or business straight to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  7. The Cumberland Forest Project with Greg Meade

    Apr 13

    The Cumberland Forest Project with Greg Meade

    The ForestLink newsletter sign-up NatureVest (The Nature Conservancy) The Cumberland Forest Project Blended Finance Today, I’m joined by Greg Meade, Cumberland Forest Project Director at NatureVest. In this conversation, Greg explains how the Cumberland Forest Project was structured as a closed-end private investment fund designed to put conservation and community outcomes on equal footing with financial return. We talk about blended finance, sustainable timber harvesting, carbon offsets, conservation easements, renewable energy, and the project’s community fund in rural Appalachia. Greg also shares what NatureVest has learned from building this model, how the fund is performing relative to US timberland benchmarks, and what investors and forest managers can take away from this whole-forest-value approach. “What makes this project different is that we didn’t treat conservation as an add-on—we embedded it directly into how the asset operates, which allowed us to attract concessional capital and approach forest management in a fundamentally different way.” 00:12 – Introduction to Forest Invest   00:34 – Greg Meade’s favorite tree: sourwood   01:32 – Greg Meade’s background in forestry   03:07 – What NatureVest does   03:30 – Overview of the Cumberland Forest Project   04:38 – Fund assets and geography   05:51 – Blended finance and concessional debt   09:49 – Who invested in the fund   11:54 – How the project differs from traditional TIMOs   13:27 – Exit strategy and protecting long-term impact   15:48 – Forest management and revenue streams   18:05 – Community fund and local economies   20:41 – Mineral royalties and reclaimed coal revenue   23:35 – Revenue diversification across the portfolio   26:21 – Investor concerns about geographic concentration   27:40 – Local staff and operational setup   29:54 – Impact outcomes achieved so far   33:37 – Financial performance   34:06 – Lessons learned   38:32 – Advice for replicating the model   40:40 – What’s next for NatureVest   43:37 – Advice for new forest investors   44:52 – Closing remarks   Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay) Sign up now for the ForestLink’s newsletter, where you’ll receive technical advice, reflections, and best-practice guidance to support you with your forest-linked investment strategy or business straight to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  8. The State of British Columbia Forestry - with David Elstone

    Apr 6

    The State of British Columbia Forestry - with David Elstone

    The ForestLink newsletter sign-up Spar Tree Group Today, I’m joined by David Elstone, managing director of Spar Tree Group and author of View from the Stump. In this conversation, David unpacks the current state of the British Columbia forest sector and explains why this globally important wood basket is facing such intense pressure. We discuss the long decline in timber harvest and lumber production, the legacy of the mountain pine beetle, mill closures, log exports, and the structural differences between BC’s coast and interior. David also shares his perspective on old growth deferrals, First Nations reconciliation, wildfire risk, forest policy, and why a clearer regional economic strategy is needed to make BC forestry more competitive and investable. “British Columbia is one of the biggest single-jurisdiction forest management units in the world, with about 95% of the land base publicly owned and managed under one provincial system.” 0:10 Welcome to Forest Invest with Shauna Matkovich 0:53 David Elstone on his background and Spar Tree Group 3:08 The current state of the forest sector in British Columbia 4:42 Why BC matters in global wood markets 10:23 Log exports, mill closures, and domestic demand 19:45 Internal versus external pressures on BC forestry 25:28 Key actors and the biggest challenges facing the sector 28:48 Policy changes and old-growth deferrals 34:15 Conservation, wildfire, and active forest management 38:17 Private timberland, AAC, and structural change in BC 42:13 Where private investors may still find opportunity 47:07 What would make BC forestry more investable and competitive 50:32 Why there is no single fix for the sector 51:39 David Elstone’s advice for new forest investors 52:53 Where to learn more about Spar Tree Group 53:37 Closing remarks with Shauna Matkovich Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay) Sign up now for the ForestLink’s newsletter, where you’ll receive technical advice, reflections, and best-practice guidance to support you with your forest-linked investment strategy or business straight to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
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About

Meet experts in forest investment from different corners of the forestry asset class. From investors to entrepreneurs, market players to service providers. Tune in to hear stories from the trenches, insights and best practice guidance to build your toolbox for creating profitable and impactful forest investments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Shauna Matkovich
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Shauna Matkovich
  • Show Website
    Forest Invest

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