Forest Invest

About Forest Invest

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 (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Shauna Matkovich

Category

business · business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 May 2024

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

101 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Scellec Teca with Michael Hayden

   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 (mailto:sdm@theforestlink.com) to learn how to apply Watch on You Tube (https://youtu.be/COW89228N_U) The ForestLink newsletter sign-up (https://theforestlink.com/newsletter-sign-up/) Scellec Teca (https://www.scellec.ie/) The Ask: Up to $60M EUR to acquire land and establish high value teak plantations in Colombia Blurb: Today on Pitch Pod, I'm joined by Michael Hayden, CEO of Scellec Teca (https://www.scellec.ie/) to explore the company’s investment model for developing high-quality teak plantations in Colombia. Building on a first project that has deployed €32 million across nearly 4,000 hectares, Michael introduces Project Two – a greenfield teak investment seeking up to €60 million in institutional capital. We discuss why Colombia’s Caribbean region offers attractive growing conditions for teak, Scellec's approach to land acquisition and plantation management, and the role of FSC certification and carbon credits in the investment model. Michael explains the long-term supply and demand dynamics behind teak, including opportunities in Asian roundwood markets and higher-value end uses. We also dig into projected returns, timber growth and price assumptions, land values, currency and operational risks, and potential exit pathways. Finally, Michael shares lessons learned from Project One and explains why strong relationships with employees and local communities are fundamental to managing forestry assets for the long term. “We would go as far as saying that the world needs Latin America to plant three million hectares of commercial teak. That is the only real solution we see as being able to take the pressure off the natural tropical hardwood forests.” Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink (https://theforestlink.com/) Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laasmagdalena/) Sound Library Ecology-Agriculture-Environment (https://cdn.pixabay.com/download/audio/2025/05/31/audio_c1991b2b40.mp3) via 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.

2. 

   28 Sept 2026

   The Numbers proving that Natural Capital Investment is on the Rise - with Genevieve Bennett

   The ForestLink newsletter sign-up (https://theforestlink.com/newsletter-sign-up/) Forest Trends (LinkedIn) (https://www.linkedin.com/company/forest-trends-association/) Read the report (https://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/) Today, I’m joined by Genevieve Bennett, Senior Advisor and Interim Director at Forest Trends (https://www.forest-trends.org/)’ Ecosystem Marketplace. In this conversation, we unpack findings from the State of Private Investment in Nature 2026 report and the numbers behind the rapid growth of natural capital investing. Genevieve explains why private investment in nature has grown five-fold over the past decade, where capital is being deployed, and how institutional participation has evolved. We discuss evidence that the repositioning of Timberland around natural capital is more than a branding exercise, with carbon and other natural capital revenues increasingly incorporated into forest investment strategies and underwriting. We also explore the growing sophistication of investors, why impact measurement and diligence can slow capital deployment, and the role of catalytic capital in building the next generation of nature investment opportunities. "Deployed capital in 2025 exceeded $14 billion. And on top of that, we tracked more than ten times that $14 billion figure in publicly announced planned allocations for the next three years. So there is a lot of dry powder." "When you look at the share of forestry deals that are layering carbon revenue or other natural capital revenue onto timber revenue, they have jumped from one in five deals five years ago to half of deals in the last couple of years.” 00:00 Introduction 01:09 Genevieve Bennett and Forest Trends 06:05 Who benefits from Ecosystem Marketplace's data? 08:35 Why private investment in nature matters now 13:39 Defining nature finance: the six categories 19:13 Report methodology and data sources 21:41 Private investment in nature grows fivefold 23:08 Which nature finance strategies are growing? 28:44 The impact of large transactions and institutional investors 31:57 Forestry investment: three case studies 34:39 How forestry's share of nature investment has changed 38:47 Is natural capital changing forestry underwriting? 45:34 Investor priorities, impact and due diligence 49:40 Where is nature investment heading? 50:41 Looking ahead to 2036 55:33 The role of catalytic capital 59:19 Advice for new forest investors 01:00:29 Where to find the report and learn more 01:01:13 Closing 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.

3. 

   7 Sept 2026

   Building an Impact-driven Natural Capital Investment Strategy – with Chris Larson

   Forest Invest Connect – What’s happening in carbon markets? With Margaret Morales, Maria Filmanovic and Renat Heuberger. Attendance is limited. REGISTER HERE (https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jhSUdIyBTEGg78B9MjdvkQ) When: Wednesday, September 30th, 16:00-17:00 CET The ForestLink newsletter sign-up (https://theforestlink.com/newsletter-sign-up/) Alder Point Capital on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/alder-point-capital-management/) Today, I’m joined by Chris Larson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Alder Point Capital (https://www.alderpoint.com/). In this conversation, Chris shares the journey behind launching Alder Point and its approach to investing across timberland and farmland. We discuss where the team sees opportunities to create value in non-core and sub-institutional timberland markets through land aggregation, conservation transactions, carbon, and hands-on operational improvements. Chris explains Alder Point’s approach to impact investing, including its focus on biodiversity, climate resilience, and rural prosperity, and why intentionality matters when investing for environmental and social outcomes. We also explore the importance of showing up in rural communities, building trust with local stakeholders, and considering aligned exit opportunities with tribes, nonprofits, and community organizations. Finally, Chris reflects on moving from the allocator to the GP side of the table and shares his advice for investors considering their first allocation to forest investment. “We take what we call a ‘listen first’ approach. It’s never a good move to show up and start explaining why you think you’re going to save the day. Learn and understand what the local perspective is and how you might fit into that.” Chapters 00:33 – Welcome to Forest Invest 00:52 – Chris Larson and Alder Point Capital 04:54 – Why Alder Point Was Founded 06:15 – Launching a New Investment Strategy 09:16 – How Alder Point Creates Value 13:23 – Operational Improvements in Forestry 15:33 – A Look at a Timberland Investment 18:42 – Community Forests and Local Land Ownership 20:11 – Who Invests in Alder Point? 24:24 – Measuring Impact in Forest Investments 26:30 – What Makes Alder Point’s Impact Strategy Different? 29:41 – Finding Biodiversity Opportunities 30:51 – Where Alder Point Invests 33:38 – Managing Climate Risk 35:16 – Investing in Climate-Risky Areas 37:13 – Working With Rural Communities 42:23 – Building Relationships for Successful Exits 44:25 – Lessons From the Allocator Side 48:04 – What’s Next for Alder Point? 50:14 – One Piece of Advice for New Forest Investors 52:17 – Where to Learn More 52:41 – Closing 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.

Who has been a guest on Forest Invest

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Hans Lemm
• Alessandro Materni
• Olly Hughes
• David Gardner
• Charlotte Kaiser

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

88

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Forest Invest

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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