AI for Forest and Land-use Optimization - with Danan Margason

Danan Margason, Founder & CEO of Aarden AI, joins me in conversation to explain how their platform helps Timberland Investment Management Organizations (TIMOs) and natural capital managers find the highest and best use of land. From geospatial AI and NPV/IRR scenarios to conservation, carbon, solar, and data centers, we explore where it works best, where it’s less effective, and why better data boosts liquidity and attracts new capital to forests. Danan shares how integrating biodiversity and community indicators can inform trade-offs and what he’s seeing with early beta clients ahead of Aarden’s launch this autumn.Quote“Properties with multiple use cases will command premium prices as more buyers recognize value streams beyond timber.”“Bringing more data and transparency to land will increase liquidity, drive better financial returns, and improve sustainability outcomes.”Useful ResourcesThe ForestLink newsletter signupAarden AIChapters [1:17] Danan’s journey – from law, real estate & tech to forestry and carbon credits [3:34] Founding story – why landowners need better tools for highest and best use [4:15] Lifecycle of land investments – strategy, acquisition, management, exit [5:41] How Aarden supports TIMOs & institutional capital [6:29] Alternative uses – carbon credits, conservation, data centers, even space launchpads [8:03] Valuation methods – geospatial data, historical comps, forward NPV/IRR [10:29] Platform limits – rigid fund structures vs flexible mandates [12:13] Blending timber, solar, and sustainability goals [13:19] Modeling biodiversity & carbon credits with scenario planning [15:25] Data inputs – species indexes, water quality, jobs, and more [16:55] Technology shift – AI enabling richer, faster land insights [17:44] Breaking silos – moving beyond single-use forestry models [21:05] Focus on the U.S. market – early days, next Canada, then global [22:12] Platform demo – natural language map queries & scenario testing [23:53] Opportunity scoring – blending multiple land-use returns [25:12] Innovations – talking to maps and valuation modeling [26:43] Scaling regionally – from parcels to counties to states [28:33] Future feature – scraping public land listings for deal flow [30:39] Forestry software gap – why land lags other asset classes [33:24] Ideal use cases – institutional landowners, portfolio optimization [34:52] Less useful – narrow timber-only mandates or very small owners [35:24] Looking ahead – how tools like Aarden could transform forestry [39:05] Advice for new forest investors – financial + environmental returns [40:52] Where to learn more – Aarden.ai, climate week, CanopyProduction TeamFounding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesSound LibraryNature 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.