Investing the Spectrum of Natural Capital and Climate with Martin Berg and James Bullen

Show notesJoin me today, where I speak with Martin Berg, CEO, and James Bullen, Head of forest investment at Climate Asset Management (CAM). In this conversation, Martin explains how this young asset management firm has reached a significant goal across three investment strategies, with objectives ranging from timber-driven financial returns in developed markets to high-quality carbon-credit-driven returns in developing markets. We learn about how CAM is different, where their impact focus often is a deciding factor in asset eligibility to their strategy. If you’re curious how they’re, listen to James explain three concrete examples of assets they’ve invested in across these different strategies.QuotesMartinForestry is always the first step of natural capital that investors get their head around. What we find is that it takes a long time for these investors to find the right place where they house this, so where does it sit, what allocation should we use in order to finance this, what is the risk profile? It is a relatively low risk asset class, you learn a lot by actually doing it.JamesIn terms of forestry, it is a limited resource, it is sustainable and our demand for timber and also the co-benefits that forestry bring are just going to increase. The high-quality, well-managed forests are always going to be valuable. Important linksClimate Asset Management (CMA): https://climateassetmanagement.com/Restore Africa Project: https://www.evergreening.org/restoreafrica/Production teamHost: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLinkProducer and editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted CreativesDetails01:12James Bullen's and Martin Berg's professional background03:14Climate Asset Management (CMA) & climate themes/assets07:06Corporate players08:05The evolvement of investment strategy09:35One billion in commitments - two strategies: natural capital & nature-based carbon11:01Natural capital fund - investment assets13:48Investors14:12Carbon credits & impact objectives17:24Investment requirements - institutional, corporate vehicles18:24Diverse portfolio19:59Mitigation banking, reforestation, biodiversity credits21:41Asset characteristics & flexibility in opportunities in asset classes26:53Examples of why some assets do not fit into strategy28:31The challenge to originate pipeline for deals29:55Target for agriculture exposure vs. forestry31:41Challenge of emerging markets, generating investment interest34:02Carbon projects, timber components, greenfield establishment of forests in emerging markets35:27Concrete examples of strategies - agricultural, forestry, biodiversity/regenerative/carbon credits38:51Restore Africa project04:21Land management and environmental impact41:59AdviceSound libraryNature by MaxKoMusic/SoundcloudSopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/SoundcloudSign 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.