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Forestry Now

Forestry Now

By: Dermot McNally
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Every two weeks this podcast explores the forces impacting the profitable and sustainable management of commercial forests and natural woodlands. I speak with forest owners, forestry professionals and industry stakeholders on the biggest operational, environmental and economic challenges affecting the sector. I'll interview people involved in the harvesting and processing side of the forestry business as well as those who are trying to maximise carbon sequestration and general ecosystem services. Finally I'll investigate political and legislative changes that are coming down the track as well as highlight new technologies and big opportunities that are around the corner. Subscribe to Forestry Now with me Dermot McNally, to hear more.© 2026 Dermot McNally Economics
Episodes
  • Carbon Markets for Forest Owners with Eeva-Liisa Heinaro

    Carbon Markets for Forest Owners with Eeva-Liisa Heinaro
    Jun 22 2026
    Today I speak with Eeva-Liisa Heinaro from Finland. She spent decades working in the paper industry before moving into Carbon Lab (as COO) who help businesses manage and monetize carbon sequestration and ecological compensation projects. Carbon Lab are very well placed to deliver this service because they are a subsidiary of Conifer Consulting who manage more than 135,000 hectares of Finnish forestry for institutional investors. In this interview Eeva-Liisa explains a little about her background and the forestry sector in Finland. We then move on to discuss whats happening in carbon markets and she explains how the institutional architecture around carbon recording, transparency, integrity and pricing are being rebuilt for the future and what that means for forest owners. Special Acknowledgement to Peter Hasulyó of the Forestry Brief (and former guest on the podcast) for his detailed written analysis of all aspects of carbon markets and who credits Eeva Liisa as a critical source in his own research. For topical and insightful analysis of European and Worldwide forest markets go to: https://forestrybrief.com/ Click here for the ForestryNow podcast newsletter signupKey Points:Eeva-Liisa's role as COO at Carbon Lab and working with both forest owners and carbon credit buyers.An overview of the Finnish forestry industry - 75% forestry with a substantial amount planted on peaty soils and 600,000 forest owners of different sizes!Previously, the carbon market was viewed as unregulated and opportunistic, leading to distrust among buyers. Recent changes to improve carbon market regulation and transparency are leading to increased investor confidence which in turn gives European carbon projects a competitive edge over initiatives in less regulated countries. Understanding where PEFC and FSC certification fit into forest carbon projects.The interaction between certification systems like Verra, Gold Standard and EU frameworks.Understanding measured additionality, financial additionality and the voluntary nature of eligible additionality.Understanding longevity and permanence in carbon sequestration projects.Challenges inherent to peatland forestry and possibilities offered by "ecological compensation" projects.Things to consider if starting on a carbon certification project.Quotes:"Additionality is one of the two really core concepts when we talk about carbon projects. The other one is permanence.""The forest certification is actually a requirement in the carbon certification systems... your forest ....has to be certified by FSC or PFC."Carbon certification... "is a big commitment and money-wise it can get very expensive..""The risks involved with peatlands is really that you cause more more negatives than positives with your carbon project, with the soil emissions."Follow the Guest on:Eeva-Liisa Heinaro on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eeva-liisa-heinaro/Carbon Lab: https://carbonlab.fi/Conifer Consulting: https://conifer.fi/en/Other Links of Note:The Finnish Forestry: https://www.metsakeskus.fi/en/about-us/the-finnish-forest-centreGold Standard Forest Carbon: https://www.goldstandard.org/VERRA Forest Carbon Standards: https://verra.org/The EU's Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulations https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/carbon-removals-and-carbon-farming/carbon-removals-and-carbon-farming-crcf-regulation_enFollow the Forestry Now Podcast on:Website: https://forestrynow.eu/Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forestry-now-podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForestryNowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestry_now_podcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForestryNowPodcast/Contact Dermot: forestrynowpodcast@gmail.comOr at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction to Forestry Now & Carbon Lab00:01:18 Eeva-Liisa’s Background & Carbon Lab's Focus00:02:59 Snapshot of the Finnish Forestry Sector00:05:23 Forest Data, Regulation & Certification in Finland00:08:32 Building Trust in European Carbon Markets00:12:31 The Competitive Advantage of European Carbon Projects00:14:09 Intersecting Certifications: Timber vs. Carbon00:16:51 Unpacking "Additionality" in Carbon Projects00:21:50 The Concept of "Permanence" & Credit Pricing00:24:45 The Cost of Entry for Forest Owners00:28:36 The Peatland Dilemma00:31:30 How Forest Owners Can Get Started00:34:00 Timelines for Reaching the Carbon Market00:35:10 Protecting Investments Against Acts of Nature00:37:25 Future Trends: Ecological Compensation00:39:14 Balancing Carbon, Ecology, and the Timber Industry
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    41 mins
  • Reimagining Scottish Forestry with Douglas MacMillan

    Reimagining Scottish Forestry with Douglas MacMillan
    Jun 8 2026
    Today I speak to Douglas MacMillan who shares his analysis and criticisms of the current forestry model in Scotland - Douglas worked in the industry in the 1980's before moving into research related to forestry and sustainable land use systems. In this conversation Douglas explains the historical background to afforestation in Scotland, current ownership, species selection, management techniques and ultimately who he says benefits from the status quo. Douglas gives his views on where Government policy and financial support structures are actually compounding the problems he sees. He also questions the wisdom of replanting Sitka Spruce on marginal sites and this leads onto broader ideas about how Scottish forestry could adapt to benefit the wider community and the environment more broadly. Key Points:Sitka Spruce dominates Scottish Forestry in terms of planting and processing. The benefits of forestry are often concentrated in urban and peri urban areas, leaving little immediate benefit for rural communities (who host the plantations).Tourism in the Highlands could be enhanced by replacing the clearfell and replant model of forestry with more native woodlands.There is a need for more diversity in forestry in terms of species selection and supports for small scale sawmills and processors.A combination of low yield class and high wind throw risk render some highland plantations uneconomical - these sites offer great potential for rewilding.Moving forestry "down the hill" into the Scottish lowlands offers opportunities for more diverse species, integration of farming and forestry and improved silvicultural techniques.Quotes:"Why are we talking about yield class when we should be talking about meeting societal demand.""I'm not saying you don't need the big mills, I'm saying you don't have anything else only the big mills.""The benefits are shipped out to mills in urban areas.""Forestry was traditionally owned by the laird, not farmers.""Sitka is actually a beautiful tree - if it grows to 120 years, not when it's a spotty teenager at 40!""The Government needs to take the bull by the horns and say we need a different kind of policy.""We have to take account of inequities and social disconnect between where the benefits are and where the costs are."Click here for the ForestryNow podcast newsletter signupScottish Forestry: https://www.forestry.gov.scot/Tilhill Forestry: https://www.tilhill.com/The Scottish Rewilding Alliance: https://www.rewild.scot/Follow the Guest on:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-macmillan-440319202/?skipRedirect=trueInconvenient truths about Sikta Spruce: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7437119413868445696/A timber processing strategy for the Uplands: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7450583561277149185/The John Muir Trust: https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/Follow the Forestry Now Podcast on:Website: https://forestrynow.eu/Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forestry-now-podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForestryNowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestry_now_podcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForestryNowPodcast/Contact Dermot: forestrynowpodcast@gmail.comOr at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Forestry in Scotland01:33 Historical Context of Afforestation05:00 Species Selection and Management Techniques08:09 Current Ownership and Structure of Forestry10:08 The Role of Small Forest Owners13:10 Global Context and Economic Challenges14:21 Profitability and Public Subsidies18:25 Disadvantages of the Current Forestry Model22:24 Impact on Tourism and Community Engagement27:19 The Future of Timber Processing in Scotland31:15 Challenges in Forestry Grant Systems36:59 Reassessing Replanting Strategies45:10 Envisioning a Sustainable Future for Scottish Forestry49:44 Bringing Forestry Down the Hill
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    55 mins
  • IPlan and Certification for Forest Owners with Kathleen Lucey

    IPlan and Certification for Forest Owners with Kathleen Lucey
    May 25 2026

    Today I speak with Kathleen Lucey who works with the Irish Forest Owners. The IFO support and represent forest owners across Ireland through a vibrant producer group network. In this interview we focus on Kathleen's role as Group Certification Manager at the IFO. We discuss the background to getting a forest certified under FSC and PEFC, the benefits, the costs, the ongoing management requirements, the Irish Governments new IPLAN system and everything in between.


    Key Points:

    • The new I-Plan system - a game changer for private forest management in Ireland.
    • Steps in creating a management plan.
    • Forest certification standards (FSC and PEFC).
    • Benefits and costs of group certification for private owners.
    • Group certification scheme advantages.
    • Scenarios to consider for forest owners.


    Quotes:

    "The I-Plan standardises forest management plans"
    On the I-Plan Grant for Forest Management Plans: "it will go a long way towards covering the cost of your forester producing that. So that's been a game changer."
    "Stakeholder engagement is a key part of the process"

    Click here for the ForestryNow podcast newsletter signup

    Follow the Guest on:
    Kathleen Lucey on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-lucey-015780b/

    Website of the Irish Forest Owners https://irishforestowners.com/

    Certification at the IFO: https://irishforestowners.com/resource/certification/

    Details on the IPLAN scheme https://teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/grants/iplan-scheme/
    FSC - Forest Stewardship Council - https://fsc.org/en

    PEFC - Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification https://www.pefc.org/

    The Pilot Study on Group Certification in Ireland https://www.groupcertification.ie/

    Follow the Forestry Now Podcast on:
    Website: https://forestrynow.eu/
    Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forestry-now-podcast/
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForestryNow
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestry_now_podcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForestryNowPodcast/

    Contact Dermot:
    forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com
    Or at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/

    Chapters:

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    55 mins
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