In this episode, I speak to Jen Stebbing, a communications strategist working at the intersection of climate, nature, and markets. Jen shares her key takeaways from New York Climate Week, where forests are increasingly being seen as essential infrastructure rather than “nice-to-haves.” We discuss the emerging portfolio approach to forest finance—integrating conservation, restoration, improved management, and avoided deforestation—to help investors and policymakers see the full picture. Jen also shares insights on Brazil’s leadership through the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), the role of blended finance and philanthropy in catalyzing capital, and the importance of risk-sharing models that protect communities. She encourages listeners to explore the Forest Finance Roadmap as a key resource for developing new forest investment strategies.

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Jen Stebbing

Jen Stebbing (LinkedIn)

TFFF - Tropical Forest Forever Facility

Generation Restoration: How to Fix Our Relationship Crisis with Mother Nature (book)

HIFOR - A single investment, with multiple benefits

[0:00] Welcome and introduction

[0:21] Meet Jen Stebbing

[2:00] Highlights from New York Climate Week

[5:00] Forests as essential infrastructure

[8:46] The portfolio approach to forest finance

[11:41] Indigenous leadership and equity

[13:42] Brazil’s TFFF and the Forest Finance Roadmap

[18:13] Risk-sharing and community protection

[21:47] Blended finance and the Restoration Generation

[29:05] Overcoming capital-raising challenges

[33:03] Optimism and collaboration in climate finance

[34:10] Final advice for forest investors

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)

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In this episode, Shauna is interviewed by Matthew Kristoff of the Your Forest Podcast. In this conversation, they talk about what it means to invest in forests today – starting with the basics. Can individuals invest in forests? What is the traditional timberland investment model, and why doesn't it fit in most of Canada? Shauna shares insights on how timber remains a key driver of forest investment returns, but that new investors are approaching the asset class as part of a broader strategy that also values biodiversity, carbon, and cultural outcomes. They explore how investors can begin to account for forest benefits that have historically been valued existentially rather than financially, from climate resilience to community well-being. The discussion touches on practical pathways for finance—such as Indigenous partnerships, accessing secondary markets like biomass for bioenergy, and fire risk mitigation—that could open new pathways for forest investment in Canada.

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Your Forest Podcast

[00:11] Introduction by Shauna – framing forest investment basics

[02:32] Matthew opens – news about the podcast winding down

[04:55] Introducing guest Shauna Matkovich and The Forest Link

[15:56] Putting a value on biodiversity and carbon

[22:06] How timberland investment began and pension fund role

[29:42] Beyond carbon credits – biodiversity and risk reduction strategies

[33:44] Partnerships and aligning different capital objectives

[37:12] Timber, biodiversity, and investor–manager roles

[42:03] KPIs and impact pathways for investors

[44:28] Linking financial and ecological objectives

[52:58] Public vs private land investment opportunities

[01:17:51] Spectrum of investors – safe returns vs impact

[01:24:00] How forest investment might change management in 30–50 years

[01:31:44] Final reflections – facilitators of change and investor roles

[01:33:01] Closing thanks and 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.

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Virginia Dale, Research Professor at the University of Tennessee, about forest bioenergy, biomass energy, and sustainable forest management. We explore how post-harvest waste, sawdust, and rejected logs can be transformed into biomass pellets that generate renewable energy while lowering wildfire and insect risks.

Virginia explains why the carbon footprint of bioenergy depends on the carbon cycle, landscape scale, and timeframe. We also discuss bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), certification standards, and transparent monitoring to strengthen trust. The conversation highlights economic opportunities for rural communities, the challenges of inland transport, and the limits of bioenergy when it fails to meet sustainability goals.

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Dr. Virginia Dale's University of Tennessee profile

[00:00] Introduction and welcome

[00:36] Virginia Dale’s favourite tree and climate change insights

[01:21] Academic background and path to mathematical ecology

[02:26] Why bioenergy is central to her work

[03:01] Bioenergy basics and the value chain from forest to grid

[05:24] Forest residues, sawdust, and rejected logs explained

[06:03] The controversy around bioenergy and carbon accounting

[09:21] Species protection, biodiversity, and sustainable forestry practices

[11:14] Perceptions, policy gaps, and the reputation of bioenergy

[12:30] Where critics have valid concerns and the role of monitoring

[14:00] Rural jobs, pellet mills, and environmental justice issues

[15:47] Climate benefits, carbon cycle, and wildfire risk reduction

[19:51] Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)

[20:53] Social and economic impacts for local communities

[23:37] Forest owners, smallholders, and certification challenges

[27:00] The issue of unloved wood and the role of sustainable aviation fuel

[30:15] Opportunities for bioenergy in sustainable forest management

[31:56] Indirect land use change and food security concerns

[34:39] The role of ecological models in decision-making

[35:15] Investor perspective: bioenergy as part of forest investment

[37:56] Constraints facing the bioenergy industry

[40:44] Final advice for new forest investors

[41:40] Where to find Virginia Dale’s research

[42:35] Closing remarks and 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.