The EU Climate Law and Timber Harvest Debate with Peter Holmgren

The EU Climate Law and Timber Harvest Debate with Peter Holmgren

The ForestLink newsletter sign-up [https://theforestlink.com/newsletter-sign-up/] FutureVistas [https://bioeconomyassociation.org/membership/world-bioeconomy-association-members/futurevistas/] https://holmgrenpeter.substack.com/ [https://holmgrenpeter.substack.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-holmgren-ab58319/? [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-holmgren-ab58319/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3BAuBgOYsRRmm64l230YC9jA%3D%3D] Today, I’m joined by Peter Holmgren, Founder and Senior Advisor at FutureVistas, [https://bioeconomyassociation.org/membership/world-bioeconomy-association-members/futurevistas/] former Head of Climate Change at the FAO, and former Director General of CIFOR. In this conversation, Peter unpacks the growing debate surrounding the EU’s Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) regulation and its implications for forest management, timber production, and climate policy. We discuss the scientific controversies behind forest carbon accounting, the risks of short-term climate targets, and why reducing timber harvests may not deliver the climate benefits policymakers expect. Peter explains concepts such as leakage, substitution, and additionality, and shares his perspective on how current policy frameworks could affect forest owners, processors, and investors. We also explore the role of wood-based products in reducing society’s dependence on fossil-based materials and why production forestry remains central to Europe’s long-term sustainability and competitiveness. > Quote 1: "We need to move the forest out of the environment corner and put it as an asset for society as a whole, and raise the issues to that level." > Quote 2: "If we talk about investments and value adding to the produce of the forests, then it's interesting that only less than five percent of the value is realized when the wood is harvested and put by roadside, and only ten percent is realized after the primary forest industry. Ninety percent of the value added is happening after that when a myriad of different products are being produced, marketed, sold and used by Europeans... One way to put it is that every European uses forest products every day throughout their lives, and that's where the real economic importance of the forest is visible." * 0:12 Introduction and guest welcome * 1:08 Peter Holmgren's forestry career and current work * 2:18 What LULUCF means and why it matters * 3:47 Is LULUCF a European or global issue? * 5:40 Where policymakers have gone wrong * 7:45 Scientific controversies around forest harvest and carbon neutrality * 11:04 Short-term climate targets versus long-term forest management * 13:10 Swedish example of reduced harvest and alternative management * 16:06 Overview of the EU climate law and LULUCF regulation * 20:57 Why reducing harvest is seen as the main tool to meet targets * 22:04 Climate goals versus conservation goals * 23:41 Which EU member states are struggling with LULUCF targets * 25:25 Impacts on private forest landowners * 29:36 Leakage, processing facilities, and competitiveness * 30:42 What the regulation means for forest investors * 33:05 Which countries are pushing for production forestry * 34:46 How stakeholders can influence policy * 36:43 Forests as a broader economic asset * 38:24 Peter's current work with industry and policy * 40:41 Do we have a sustainability problem in European forestry? * 42:43 Substitution and reducing fossil dependence * 44:48 Packaging, paper products, and climate benefits * 46:06 Using every part of the tree and integrated value chains * 48:01 Bio-based fuels and climate policy incentives * 50:15 Advice for new forest investors * 51:44 Where to learn more and closing remarks Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink [https://theforestlink.com/] Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laasmagdalena/] 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 [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/n6h7o1] 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

From the Vault: Multilateral Investment in Forestry - with Daniel Farchy

The ForestLink newsletter sign-up [https://theforestlink.com/newsletter-sign-up/] World Bank Group - International Development, Poverty and Sustainability [https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/home] International Finance Corporation (IFC) [https://www.ifc.org/en/home] Homepage | European Investment Bank [https://www.eib.org/en/index] In this episode from the asset vault, I’m joined by Daniel Farchy, an expert in multilateral finance who has worked across the World Bank [https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/home], the International Finance Corporation (IFC) [https://www.ifc.org/en/home], the European Investment Bank (EIB) [https://www.eib.org/en/index], and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In this conversation, Daniel describes the development and impact mandate behind most multilateral finance institutions. We talk about blended finance (particularly what structure works well for forestry) and the power of concessional capital to crowd in more risk-averse investors. Daniel explains the conundrum of the finance available in capital markets compared to the relatively small need for climate and nature solutions – where legally restricted allocations mean the finance pool is not as big as we think. We discuss the heavy lifting that multilateral or DFI finance can do in screening and due diligence. Conversely, this can also be perceived as a downside, as the investment process in such a partnership takes more time. > Quote: For asset owners, that's [forest investment] very attractive because if you're a pension fund, and you need to be able to deliver, a boring, steady, predictable return over 10 number of years, it's great to have that kind of thing in your portfolio because that gives you a certain degree of sustainability of return, which you will not get in much more volatile sectors. 00:00 – Introduction & Guest Background 03:30 – Understanding Multilateral Development Finance Institutions 07:05 – Returns, Capital Structure & Investment Mandates 09:50 – How to Partner with Multilateral Investors 12:00 – Due Diligence, Safeguards & Approval Processes 17:20 – Blended Finance Explained 19:35 – First-Loss Capital & Risk-Sharing Structures 23:30 – The Limits of De-Risking Capital 26:30 – Capital Allocation Trends in Climate & Nature 28:30 – Public-Private Partnerships: Opportunities & Challenges 34:30 – Do DFIs Slow Down Investment? 36:30 – The Untapped Potential of Sustainable Forestry 38:00 – Advice for Fund Managers Seeking DFI Capital 40:00 – Why Forestry Appeals to Long-Term Investors 41:40 – Future Demand for Wood & Forest Products 42:25 – Closing Remarks & Further Resources Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink [https://theforestlink.com/] Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laasmagdalena/] 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 [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/n6h7o1] 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

From the Vault: Technical considerations for evaluating forest assets with Dr. Colin Smith

The ForestLink newsletter sign-up [https://theforestlink.com/newsletter-sign-up/] cs.paperbark@gmail.com [cs.paperbark@gmail.com] In this episode from the asset vault, I'm joined by Dr. Colin Smith of Paperbark Consulting. Colin is an expert soil scientist, and in this conversation he shares his vast experience in plantation forestry, giving insights that will support investors (and forest managers for that matter) with what considerations should be made and questions should be asked when evaluating several technical plantation management factors. We talk about where certain tree species do best and get into specifics on soil, water, climate, the importance of research, ecological deserts and more. > "The most dangerous thing in a forestry investment plan is a spreadsheet" 00:08 Introduction & Guest Overview 00:43 Colin Smith’s Forestry Background and Consulting Work 05:37 Lessons from Forestry Failures and Investment Due Diligence 08:50 Key Factors in Evaluating Plantation Forest Investments 13:07 Site-Level Management, Silviculture & Weed Control 15:25 Native Species vs Commercial Plantation Species 17:33 Eucalyptus, Water Use & Sustainability Myths 22:41 Does Irrigation Make Sense in Forestry? 30:12 Climate Change, Species Selection & Risk Management 35:55 Why Forestry Projects Need Research & Development Trials 39:02 Biodiversity, Soil Health & the ‘Ecological Desert’ Debate 43:21 Colin’s Top Advice for New Forest Investors 44:34 How to Contact Colin Smith 45:34 Colin’s Favourite Tree Revisited 46:26 Closing Remarks & Outro Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink [https://theforestlink.com/] Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laasmagdalena/] 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 [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/n6h7o1] 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Sustainability at Scale in Forest Ownership - with Ara Erickson

The ForestLink newsletter sign-up [https://theforestlink.com/newsletter-sign-up/] Weyerhaeuser [https://www.weyerhaeuser.com/] Today, I’m joined by Ara Erickson, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Weyerhaeuser [https://www.weyerhaeuser.com/]. In this conversation, Ara explains how one of the world’s largest private forest landowners approaches sustainability across more than 20 million acres of managed forests in the US and Canada. We discuss the evolution of sustainable forestry over the past century, the realities of managing forests for multiple values, and why healthy, actively managed forests are critical for climate resilience and wildfire mitigation. Ara shares insights into timber REIT structures, forest certification, carbon markets, renewable energy opportunities, and the growing role of forests in delivering climate and nature solutions. We also explore the future of wood as a sustainable building material and the increasing importance of integrating environmental, social, and financial outcomes in forest investment strategy. > “I think there is still yet a full recognition of how hard it is to manage for multiple values. Forests are being asked to provide so many solutions at once, and all of those values are fully integrated — they can’t really be separated.” 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Ara Erickson 01:58 – Weyerhaeuser's History & Legacy 06:23 – Weyerhaeuser's Forest Holdings 10:54 – Beyond Timber: Additional Revenue Streams 12:18 – Understanding the Timber REIT Model 18:33 – Sustainability in a Public Company 27:24 – The Evolution of Sustainable Forestry 33:16 – Wildfire, Forest Health & Forest Management 41:03 – Weyerhaeuser's Sustainability Initiatives 46:02 – The Future of Forestry & Sustainability 50:43 – Advice for New Forest Investors 52:11 – Final Thoughts & Resources Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink [https://theforestlink.com/] Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laasmagdalena/] 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 [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/n6h7o1] 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

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

From the Vault - Jasper Renk MEAG [https://www.meag.com/] MEAG on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/meag/] Jasper Renk on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasper-renk-676ba01/] Favourite trees: Spruce [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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. QUOTE > So 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 TEAM Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink [https://theforestlink.com/] Producer and editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laasmagdalena/] DETAILS 01:02 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 LIBRARY Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud Sign up now [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/n6h7o1] 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.