Timberland

Politicians and farming advocacy groups have slammed the acquisition of Rushy Lagoon by Gresham House, Aviva Investors, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, but Gresham House’s CIO says the criticism is unwarranted.

Sydney-based Michael Barbara joined the Portland, Oregon-headquartered timberland manager in 2024 after nearly two decades at New Forests and succeeds veteran Stan Renecker in leading global acquisitions.

Private investment into nature hit $14bn in 2025 after increased diversification within the natural capital asset class.

NCREIF reported that the leading region – the US South – produced an average return of 6.56% for the trailing-year period ending March 31.

The Global Landscape Opportunities fund will invest in forestry, agriculture, infrastructure and processing assets, while also exploring carbon and biodiversity opportunities.

Johann Theron, developer of the second project registered on the Nature Repair Market, hopes biodiversity certificates will help to more accurately compensate Australian Carbon Credit Unitholders.

Investors should pursue proactive asset management in a ‘mixed’ market that expects an uplift from lower mortgage rates, a recent report suggests.

Head of natural capital Andrew Champion has left QIC two years after former head Tom Murphy departed the firm.

Managing director Philippe Crete says Fondaction has anchored the Value Nature Fund with C$25m to pursue a value-add ag and forestry strategy across the US, Canada and Europe.

BTG Pactual TIG head Gerrity Lansing says there is an openness among institutions with a majority of their assets deployed in US dollars to invest in Latin America.