Épisodes

  • The Cumberland Forest Project with Greg Meade

    The Cumberland Forest Project with Greg Meade
    Apr 13 2026


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    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.

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

    The State of British Columbia Forestry - with David Elstone
    Apr 6 2026

    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.
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    54 min
  • Building Biodiversity Credit Markets from the Ground Up - with Manesh Lacoul

    Building Biodiversity Credit Markets from the Ground Up - with Manesh Lacoul
    Mar 30 2026

    The ForestLink newsletter signup

    Biodiversity Credit Alliance

    Kratom tree


    Today, I’m joined by Manesh Lacoul, Global Coordinator of the Biodiversity Credit Alliance. In this conversation, Manesh explains how biodiversity credit markets are taking shape and why credibility must be built in from the start. We discuss the key lessons emerging from carbon markets, including the need to prioritize integrity, inclusion, equity, and innovation rather than treating them as afterthoughts. Manesh shares how the Biodiversity Credit Alliance is bringing together stakeholders across the market to develop principles, assessment tools, and comparability frameworks that can support high-integrity growth. We also talk about buyer integrity, the different use cases for biodiversity credits, the growing role of governments, and what investors and project developers should be paying attention to as this market evolves.


    “In carbon markets, integrity came more as an afterthought. For biodiversity, integrity must go hand in hand with market development.”


    0:09 Welcome to Forest Invest with Shauna Matkovich

    1:14 Manesh Lacoul on his role at the Biodiversity Credit Alliance

    3:30 The key actors shaping biodiversity credit markets

    5:58 What success looks like: integrity, inclusion, equity, and innovation

    7:17 Lessons biodiversity markets should learn from carbon markets

    12:44 Inclusion and equity across different local contexts

    15:37 Market readiness on the buy and sell side

    19:00 Why buyer integrity matters as much as supplier integrity

    24:47 How current biodiversity credit buyers are approaching the market

    26:52 Where biodiversity credit activity is emerging globally

    28:58 The EU roadmap for nature credits

    31:14 Biodiversity stacked on carbon credits

    32:31 Biodiversity credits versus payment for ecosystem services

    35:04 How new buyers, investors, and developers can get started

    37:58 Why there are so many methodologies and whether consolidation will happen

    41:01 High-level principles, assessment tools, and comparability frameworks

    44:10 Why growing government involvement is encouraging

    46:02 Advice for forest investors and the role of biodiversity credits in production forests

    48:21 Where to find Biodiversity Credit Alliance resources

    48:36 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.
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    49 min
  • Tele-operated Forestry Operations with Merritt Jenkins

    Tele-operated Forestry Operations with Merritt Jenkins
    Mar 23 2026

    The ForestLink newsletter signup

    Kodama


    Today, I’m joined by Merritt Jenkins, CEO and Co-founder of Kodama Systems. In this conversation, Merritt explains how Kodama is using tele-operation and automation to run forestry equipment remotely, starting with skidders in the southeastern US. We discuss the technology behind the system, including Starlink connectivity, real-time video feeds, LiDAR, GPS, and onboard computing, and what it takes to make that technology reliable in tough forest conditions. Merritt also shares how remote skidding can help address some of the industry’s biggest challenges, from operator shortages and long commutes to physical strain and safety risk. We also explore the practical questions logging contractors ask around productivity, terrain, maintenance, and cost, before looking at what’s next for Kodama as the company expands into new regions and machine types.


    “It's very challenging for logging business owners to find skidder operators. Whether you're in BC or the Florida panhandle, it's really the same theme—the industry is aging out, and the younger generation just isn’t as motivated to do this type of work.”


    0:19 Meet Merritt Jenkins of Kodama Systems

    0:28 Favorite tree: Southern yellow pine

    0:53 Merritt’s background and Kodama origins

    1:26 What Kodama does: remote skidding

    2:28 Technology stack: Starlink, cameras, LiDAR, GPS

    4:17 Ruggedising hardware for forestry conditions

    5:17 Compatible skidders and OEM integration

    7:43 Addressing the forestry labour shortage

    10:23 PS5 controllers for machine operation

    11:15 Remote site awareness and mapping

    13:55 Key industry pain points solved

    15:00 Logger concerns: costs and operations

    16:08 Remote operation across locations and time zones

    18:11 Cameras, visibility, and maintenance

    20:35 Terrain handling and machine feedback

    23:02 Business model and day rates

    25:48 Ideal operating environments

    26:51 Logger reactions and adoption

    29:14 Collaboration with logging crews

    30:26 Kodama team and skill sets

    32:00 Lessons learned in the field

    33:15 Future plans and expansion

    34:07 Safety systems and fail-safes

    35:35 Where to learn more

    36:05 Outro


    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.
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    36 min
  • Drone Reforestation at Scale: How Ki Reforestation Is Restoring Burned & Remote Forests in Canada with Trevor Grant

    Drone Reforestation at Scale: How Ki Reforestation Is Restoring Burned & Remote Forests in Canada with Trevor Grant
    Mar 16 2026
    The ForestLink newsletter signupKi ReforestationKi Reforestation (Instagram)This episode is brought to you by Ki Reforestation, a Canadian reforestation technology company restoring difficult landscapes using drone seeding, with a seed-agnostic approach and an Indigenous-aligned ecological restoration model. Today, I’m joined by Trevor Grant, Founder & CEO of Ki, to unpack Canada’s growing reforestation deficit and why new tools are needed to rebuild forests after increasingly severe wildfires — especially in steep, remote terrain where traditional crews face safety and access constraints. We dig into Ki’s system, from heavy-lift autonomous drones and real-time environmental sensing to AI-informed seeding prescriptions and the “magic sauce” behind the work: pharmaceutical-grade seed encapsulation designed to improve soil contact and reduce predation and withstand environmental factors. Trevor also shares where drone seeding is (and isn’t) a fit, early field learnings since 2022, how costs can compare to manual planting, and what Ki is building next through a proposed five-year R&D program with academic, government, industry, and Indigenous partners. Learn more and join Ki on its mission through visiting Ki's website.“We’re able to tailor density down to the number of seeds dispersed per square meter and adjust prescriptions in real time based on slope, soil, vegetation, and microsite conditions observed during flight.”0:10 Introduction to Forest Invest0:20 Sponsor spotlight: Ki Reforestation1:01 Meet Trevor Grant, Founder and CEO of Ki Reforestation1:12 Trevor’s favourite tree and why it stands out 2:21 The origin story behind Ki Reforestation 3:32 Canada’s wildfire crisis and the reforestation deficit 4:36 Restoring forests after wildfire: timing, access, and safety 5:27 How Ki’s drone seeding technology works 7:20 Heavy-lift drones, species mixes, and microsite planting 10:00 Seed encapsulation: the core innovation behind the model 12:53 Can drone seeding compete with manual tree planting? 17:08 Ki’s use cases: harvesting, wildfire recovery, and mine-site rehabilitation 19:44 Where aerial direct seeding is not the right fit 20:56 What Ki knows so far, and what still needs to be proven 22:11 Field trials, early results, and lessons learned since 2022 24:03 Indigenous partnerships and holistic restoration approaches 25:18 Customers, collaborators, and the 5-year research programme 28:39 What governments should ask before choosing an aerial reforestation company 31:08 Addressing scepticism and proving where the technology works 33:00 Seed sourcing, supply bottlenecks, and planning timelines 37:09 Government interest, funding gaps, and public-sector support 38:55 Carbon markets, additionality, and who should benefit 41:19 Why Ki is taking a slower, research-first approach 42:18 What excites Trevor most about Ki’s current stage 43:33 The future of Ki beyond Canada 45:33 Where to learn more and get involvedFounding 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)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.
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    47 min
  • Women Leading the Future of Forestry

    Women Leading the Future of Forestry
    Mar 9 2026
    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)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.
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    35 min
  • The EU (Forest) Carbon Market is Coming! - With Asger Strange Olesen

    The EU (Forest) Carbon Market is Coming! - With Asger Strange Olesen
    Mar 2 2026


    The ForestLink newsletter signup

    Asger Stragne Olesen (LinkedIn)

    IWC AM+

    International Woodland Company (IWC) on LinkedIn


    Today, 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 Invest

    00:11 — Host intro: Shauna Matkovich (The Forest Link)

    00:19 — Guest intro: Asgar Strange Olesen (IWCAM Plus)

    00:40 — Favourite tree: European beech

    01:29 — 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 differences

    11:45 — Draghi, competitiveness & climate targets

    14:52 — The “declining sink” challenge

    20:41 — Why forestry is excluded from the EU ETS

    27:46 — The missing piece: lack of demand

    29:13 — What is the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF)?

    31:37 — How CRCF differs from existing standards

    37:37 — Built-in revision + piloting phase

    40:00 — Performance certificates vs tradable credits

    41:41 — GHG Protocol uncertainty & EU reporting shift

    44:45 — Investment outlook: country-by-country reality

    47:58 — Actionable advice for investors

    49:37 — 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.
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    50 min
  • Science-Backed Forest Carbon Investing with Susan Cook-Patton

    Science-Backed Forest Carbon Investing with Susan Cook-Patton
    Feb 23 2026
    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)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.
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    50 min