Foresight Sustainable Forestry Company

🌲After the de-listing of Foresight Sustainable Forestry it’s time to say goodbye to its dedicated web presence for now, as we embark on an exciting new chapter with the entity continuing in its un-listed private format, Foresight Natural Capital. Since inception, we have built a diverse portfolio of forestry investments aimed at boosting biodiversity, enhancing natural capital, and delivering lasting environmental impact. From sustainable timber production to new afforestation projects, our focus is on creating value for both people and the planet.   🌿Follow Foresight Group for more updates around natural capital, forestry and afforestation, and how we’re driving positive change through innovative investment strategies. #NaturalCapital #Forestry #Biodiversity

Foresight Sustainable Forestry is delighted to celebrate the completion of initial works at the newly created Glaisters Bridge Community Woodland Site located in south-west Scotland, collaborating with Galloway-based charity Upper Urr Environmental Trust (UUET). The site was created following an agreement between FSF and the UUET, for the UUET to develop for public amenity and environmental purposes. Once completed, the site will provide recreational and educational opportunities in the area whilst simultaneously achieving #biodiversity benefits and #environmental habitat enhancement. Robert Guest, Managing Director at FSF commented: “We are thrilled with the progress made at the Glaisters Bridge Community Site. This first-round planting of 250 native broadleaf trees and completion of pathways is a real milestone for the project, improving accessibility and laying the groundwork to enhance biodiversity whilst delivering a publicly accessible recreation and educational site. We are excited to see the next stage of work beginning on this project and hope to see more schemes like this one appear at forestry projects across Scotland and the rest of the UK, providing a template for sustainable timber production to operate alongside local communities and environmental charities for the benefit of all.” Hamish Trench, Scottish Land Commission commented: “It is good to see this milestone reached as a result of collaboration. Investment in land use change in Scotland should be delivering benefits for local communities and arrangements to lease land as in this case, or to discuss shared ownership and decision-making offer ways to deliver more directly on community ambitions. The Scottish Land Commission has published guidance to support communities, landowners and project developers to adopt this approach more widely.” #commercialforestry #sustainableforestry #charitycollaboration https://lnkd.in/eT-yWk4U

We are proud to once again partner with Tilhill Forestry to continue the “Foresight Sustainable Forestry Skills Training Programme” in Wales, with the aim of better equipping contractors in the region.   Richard Kelly, Co-Lead of FSF said: “FSF is on track to have planted its entire 5,379-hectare afforestation portfolio by spring 2025. To put this in context, once completed, this is equivalent to one-third of the total area the whole of the UK planted in the year to 31 March 2023. Given the scale of FSF’s ongoing woodland creation operation, it is vital we have the skilled workers needed to help shape the next decade of sustainable forestry. Rural communities must be empowered to participate in the UK’s burgeoning natural capital economy and we are delighted to see this essential skills programme running for the third consecutive year in Wales.   “Afforestation will form a key pillar of the UK’s fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. Placing local Welsh communities at the forefront of accessing the career opportunities offered by this thriving industry and enabling them to shape its evolution will support a just transition and more sustainable future for all.”   Applications are now open here: https://lnkd.in/gahFnSsN   #ForestryTraining #SustainableForestry

Richard Kelly, Co-Lead of FSF, recently spoke to Rich Stockdale PhD at Oxygen Conservation, sharing his insights on sustainable and natural capital investments in forestry, the significance of admitting Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) into the UK-ETS, as well as FSF’s afforestation programme in the UK.   Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/d7vd7VqX   #NaturalCapital #SustainableForestry #ForestryInvestment

Delighted to see the introduction of legislation by the EU to restore degraded ecosystems across at least 20% of land and sea by area size this decade, with restoration expanded to all ecosystems in need of repair up to 2060. Global economic development has historically been dependent on an unsustainable consumption of nature and natural resources, so recognition that nature forms a critical cornerstone of the solution to climate change is an important milestone.   At FSF, we are committed to making a positive contribution to biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Afforestation in the UK is an important pillar of the fight against climate change with sustainable forestry practices providing a template to protect and restore the natural environment. Read the full article on edie below:   https://lnkd.in/eBPnqtND   #NaturalCapital #Afforestation #Biodiversity #SustainableForestry #Timber #Forestry #EcosystemServices

Last week, the U.S. government outlined a policy to enhance the integrity and transparency of the Voluntary Carbon Markets (#VCMs), acknowledging that confidence in the integrity of credited emissions reductions and removals is critical for VCMs to reach their potential.   Treasury Secretary Janel Yellen noted that "VCMs can help unlock the power of private markets to reduce emissions, but that can only happen if we address significant existing challenges".   Foresight Sustainable Forestry believes this is an important step forward to setting a new standard for high-integrity VCMs, delivering real and quantifiable atmospheric carbon avoidance and removals that wouldn’t have otherwise taken place.   Learn more about us on our website: https://lnkd.in/eT-yWk4U #CarbonOffsets #CarbonCredits #CarbonEmissions #Forestry #GreenFinance

🚨 New podcast episode has dropped 🚨   Last week, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme Authority launched a consultation into the potential integration of greenhouse gas removals (GGRs) into the UK ETS, seeking expert views on policy design, cap policy options, and pathways to integration. A key discussion point is whether carbon stored by UK forestry projects under the Woodland Carbon Code should be included. This move by the UK ETS Authority begs the question: what is the rationale for the convergence of the voluntary GGR carbon market and the compliance markets of the UK ETS?    🎙️ In the latest episode of 'New Frontiers in Climate Finance', host Angel Miao speaks with Raúl C. Rosales, CCFI Senior Executive Fellow and Professor of Practice in Net Zero Asset Management at the Net Zero Centre, King's College London. They discuss his research on the economic and environmental benefits of incorporating the Woodland Carbon Code into the UK ETS and his recommendations for UK policymakers to enhance decarbonisation incentives. This episode features insights from: - Richard Kelly (Foresight Sustainable Forestry Company & Foresight Group) - Gordon Bennett (ICE) - Rym M'Hallah (King's College London Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences) Tune in to gain valuable perspectives on this significant development in climate policy! 👇 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eJ3J534b   Apple podcast: https://imprl.biz/AppleEp7   Podbean: https://lnkd.in/e7a326Bx #ClimateFinance #NetZero #SustainableForestry #NFCF #ImperialBiz

As part of the new Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (#SDR) and investment labels regime, the FCA’s new guidance on its anti-greenwashing rule requires all FCA-authorised firms to be able to substantiate any sustainability-related claims when communicating with clients.   Commenting on the rule, Robert Guest, Co-Lead of FSF, saw this as an encouraging signal that investors are becoming more sophisticated in their understanding of this area and are seeking assurances of accuracy.   “As the rule becomes more established over time, it will have the positive effect of increasing stakeholder confidence in sustainability claims and hopefully encourage more corporates to adopt robust sustainability frameworks as part of their standard reporting procedures. The framework will benefit Foresight and the funds it manages which are invested in the renewable energy transition and the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, and this will become even more apparent with a comparable and standardised way to measure sustainability performance.”   Read the full article in Wealth DFM here: https://lnkd.in/eKj9ixKa   #AntiGreenwashing #Greenwashing #SustainabilityFramework

We’re delighted to announce that our unaudited Net Asset Value increased to £175.8 million (30 September 2023: £169.2 million) as at 31 March 2024, with NAV per share increasing to 102.2 pence. This represents an increase of 3.9% or 3.8 pence for the six months to 31 March 2024.   The key drivers of the increase have been the successful completion of planting of approximately 2.9 million trees across 13 sites over the last six months and the value ascribed towards the creation of carbon credits at newly planted afforestation properties.   But we’re not stopping there! Planting season continues, and since 31 March 2024 we have planted an additional c.650,000 trees at four more afforestation properties. Based on an independent RICS Red Book property valuation and the Company's comparable transactions-based approach to carbon credit valuation, the additional four completed planting schemes are expected to result in a further £2.1 million or 1.2 pence per share of net portfolio value gains.   Our Chairman, Richard Davidson, commented:   "I am delighted to report that FSF has been successfully driving NAV gains by planting a further 2.3 million trees during the period, bringing the total number of trees planted since IPO to 4.3 million at the reporting date. Planting has continued at pace since period end with a further 650,000 trees planted since 31 March 2024, and we are pleased to outline the additional impact that this is expected to have on the value of our portfolio.   "Despite headwinds seen in the investment trust market, we continue to build meaningful value across our afforestation portfolio. Add to this strengthening timber and property prices and it is clear that we have a strong platform from which to build."   Read the full announcement here: https://lnkd.in/eVUBs2ck

Encouraging to see Fergus Ewing MSP’s recent article in The Times, highlighting the importance of commercial afforestation in Scotland and dispelling some myths that often surround the industry.   The article discusses how domestic afforestation provides an opportunity to reduce timber imports and increase carbon sequestration, all whilst providing a local supply of responsibly-produced materials for new housing and other uses. Not only that, but the commercial forestry industry turns over upwards of £1bn a year and supports over 2,000 skilled and semi-skilled jobs, all of which rely on a source of accessible, local timber.   To read the full article, please follow the link below:   https://lnkd.in/eHan3VFW   #Forestry #Foresight #ForesightSustainableForestry #SustainableForestry #Afforestation #Conifer #FergusEwing #Scotland #ScottishForestry #ScotlandForestry #CommercialForestry