Timberland

Strategies seeking investments in themes like nature-based solutions, biodiversity and natural resources – or natural capital – have begun to sprout in various infrastructure asset managers’ mandates.

New Forests will sell forestry estates in New Zealand with potential for carbon markets investors, as ANZFF2 approaches the end of its life.

Managing director Olly Hughes says LPs are generally still in the early stages of their sustainability journeys and very wary of committing too far in any one direction.

Peter Cashion, managing investment director for sustainable investments, will present the plan, which includes another $53bn for climate solutions investments, 10 more sustainability staff, scenarios analyses and options for divestment.

Director of business development Patrick Neuman discusses how the timber fundraising landscape has changed since Domain’s acquisition of Timbervest funds in 2017.

The local authority pension scheme asset manager has launched several ESG and responsible investment public and private market vehicles in the last three years.

An individual with credibility across academic, environmental and financial stakeholders would be an asset for increasingly complex timberland markets.

Investors convened at the Who Will Own the Forest? conference in Portland discussed timberland’s newfound sexiness, as demonstrators’ sawdust attack and reports of smashed windows reflected the growing profile of the asset class.

APG’s Ben Avery said the asset was a 'very high-quality plantation forestry resource' with significant potential to increase carbon sequestration.

The firm will invest growth capital in companies supporting emissions avoidance in agriculture and emissions sequestration via natural assets.