About Forest Fund
Forest Fund is a business with one purpose, to end the destruction of old growth forests. We do that by promoting profitable, low barrier to entry reforestation projects, that scale up really big.
By promoting environmentally friendly tree farming to businesses, in a way that is accessible, scalable and tax efficient, we reduce the need for illegal logging in the world’s natural old growth forests. Forest Fund uses business as a force for good, putting nature at the heart of the economy.
If you’re interested in working or collaborating with us please contact us:
85 Great Portland Street,
London, W1W 7LT
United Kingdom
Until science comes up with something really clever to help climate change, the best thing we can do is plant trees.
Environmentally friendly tree farming for businesses. Accessible, scalable & tax efficient.
Nature-based solutions & forests of the future
Mankind is rapidly overshooting its carbon budget, with global emissions still increasing every year despite the international community’s efforts.
At the same time, a growing global population is further increasing the pressure on our precious natural resources, including carbon-storing natural forests for timber.
In the words of Sir David Attenborough: ‘We need to use more wood, and that can be a good thing, but on their own, natural forests can’t provide all the wood we need.”
> Watch Sir David Attenborough discuss the need for farming trees.
The Solution: Forest Fund uses business as a force for good, investing in the planet by farming trees globally, thus encouraging its use as a substitute to steel and concrete.
Trees are a wonderful resource that, if grown and used correctly, will reduce atmospheric carbon and help us achieve Net Zero by 2050. They provide many practical uses, moving us closer to a true circular bioeconomy.
We see this as a key part of humanity’s necessary transition to a socio-economic model in harmony with nature, where economy and ecology are in synergy rather than at odds with one another.
However, trees take time to grow and sequester carbon. The sooner we plant them, in massive numbers, the better.
Impact investing for a circular bioeconomy
Forest Fund was founded as a business to talk directly to businesses. We understand the language you use and priorities you have. We educate around the environmental benefits of farming trees, the potential profit, and the tax efficiencies it can bring.
By working closely with a number of trusted providers, Forest Fund’s grassroots strategy enables us to talk directly to business leaders about their company’s environmental impact and discuss potential solutions. We encourage open dialog and honesty in addressing the challenges we all have in transitioning from users of natural resources to its custodians.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals provide a visionary framework and multi-stakeholder approach for humanity’s future involving public and private sector. Businesses will have a major role to play in meeting the SDG objectives, while also having a lot to gain in the process.
Executive Team &
Advisory Committee

Jamie A Cowan
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
We need to restore balance in the relationship between people, planet, and profit by putting nature back at the centre of our economy. I believe in business as a force for good.

Jamie Mackenzie
FOUNDING PARTNER
Ex-military turned environmental warrior in a pinstripe. Saving the world one tree at a time.

Amélie Bavetta
ADVISORY DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL EXPANSION
Using contemporary digital practises in the ancient industry of forestry.

Nicholas Morgan
VP PARTNERSHIPS
Industry veteran, environmental lobbyist and failed astronaut. Their loss is our gain.

Jasjit Mudhar
GLOBAL FINANCE DIRECTOR
20 years of consulting experience within the banking and financial sector, yet still a nice guy.
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LinkedIn
Q. Why follow us on LinkedIn?
We post content on how organisations can do their bit and become part of 'The Solution'.
We also educate on the need to protect our remaining natural forests, explain why timber is better than concrete and steel, and show how timber is sustainable, recyclable & can reduce atmospheric carbon.
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Ask Forest Fund a Question
FAQs
What is Forest Fund and what do you do?
- We help protect the world’s remaining natural Forests, one of the ways we do this is by farming trees and encouraging other businesses to do the same.
- We talk to businesses about their environmental impact and educate around the circular bioeconomy.
- We explain how this can be profitable and tax efficient.
The Legal purpose and status of Forest Fund:
- We are acting solely as an introducer or representative agent for Climate Positive Organisations, institutions and initiatives for which we are remunerated, we then uses some of this money in reforestation projects.
- We are not a collective investment scheme, and therefore are not regulated by the FCA.
- Forest Fund is formed as sole trader under Jamie A Cowan
- We are not an unregulated collective investment scheme, and therefore not managed by an authorised alternative fund management company which is regulated.
Ask Forest Fund a question
How can cutting trees down be good for the environment?
This is an interesting topic and one that cannot be answered in full in the small space here.
At a high level this falls in two categories
Protection of the forests.
- Trees are great and we need more of them to help reduce atmospheric carbon.
- Natural forests have so far been reduced by about 50% due to human activities.
- We need to protect our remaining natural forests.
- In order to protect the remaining forests we need to plant trees specifically with the intention to harvest for timber. This will reduce our dependence on the remaining forests.
Timber as a substitute for concrete and steel
- We need to be using more wood, not less.
- Timber is renewable and recyclable. (If worked responsibly)
Growing Timber and using it as a building material has a net positive impact on the environment.
Concrete and steel have a negative impact.
We need to substitute timber for concrete and steel.
Please read David Robarts article
Watch the David Attenborough documentary HERE.
Ask Forest Fund a question
How is Forest Fund protecting natural forests?
We connect businesses with environmentally beneficial projects. Some are designed to make money for the business, some designed as passive or easy ways to help the environment and some as philanthropic activities, all however with the purpose of protecting the remaining forests we have.
Our goal is to protect the remaining natural forests, we do this by educating business about the circular bioeconomy and encourage them to farm trees which helps alleviate the pressure on our limited resources. We explain the simple thing companies can do like switching search engines, and planting trees for their staff members.
Ask Forest Fund a question
What type of trees will my organisation be growing?
This depends on what your company’s goals are. We work with a number of organisations ranging from planting deciduous trees in the UK, to highly efficient carbon sequestration trees like Teak which grows in the tropical zone around the equator. Depending on what your company’s objectives are we can help find the right trees.
Ask Forest Fund a question
How do I know how many trees my company should grow?
This depends on what your company’s goals are. Some companies work with us on the basis that they wish to give back to the planet, they feel the business activities they conduct have a negative impact on the environment, they work with us to find projects that have a genuine positive impact on the environment and atmospheric carbon.
We encourage organisations to advertise to their customers what they are doing, adding sections to there website and marketing material about the positive activities they are conducting.
Ask Forest Fund a question
What are the tax advantages of growing trees?
The international Accountancy community (IAS) and the British government’s treatment and application under GAPP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) are now addressing biological assets of which trees are one, the world is changing and the accountancy has moved with it.
The information on this website is not intended as advice. A company or individuals tax affairs depend on circumstance. Please speak with a qualified Accountant regarding you or your organisation’s position.
We would recommend discussing with your accountant
- IAS 23 Borrowing costs
- IAS 41 Biological assets
- FRS 102
Ask Forest Fund a question
How much money is needed to start growing trees?
Our solutions are very scalable therefore typically we would like to work with companies that are comfortable discussing hundred of thousands.
However this depends on your company’s goals.
We work with a number of organisations ranging from planting deciduous trees in the UK, to highly efficient carbon sequestration trees like Teak which grows in the tropical zone around the equator. Depending on what your company’s objectives are we can help find the right tree.
We work with companies that can help you plant your own trees, sources from UK seed stock for as little as £15 all the way to companies farming trees with a minimum of £5k.
Ask Forest Fund a question
What are carbon emissions and how do they contribute to climate change?
The building you are currently in and the buildings around the world account for 40% of global carbon emissions (Source) By addressing how we build we can make a huge difference to the ongoing effects of climate change and carbon emissions. If you need information on why our current carbon emissions are harmful are go here (source)
Growing trees and specifically farming trees are currently the only way to reduce atmospheric carbon at scale. Technology is doing its best to find innovative ways, however trees remain our cheapest option at present.
Ask Forest Fund a question
Can I make money from growing trees and if so how much?
Depending on your companies goal, you may feel a philithotopc desire to donate to the tree cover of the world, or we have projects that aim to make a profits on the sale of the timber.
However, here we need to be careful how we answer:
Trees are a biological entity and as such their growth is dictated by numerous factors. The value of the timber thereafter is also dependent on many things.
What we can say is that we can help you find projects that have a proven history of being profitable for their clients growing specific timber that has had a long history of impressive financial value.
For years Royal families, the church, university endowment funds have trusted timber trees and forests with their capital. (Source) we wish to educate the business world that trees can be beneficial from an environmental standpoint as well as the bottom line.
Ask Forest Fund a question
How long does it take for the trees to grow to maturity?
Depending on where your interests and goals lie we can introduce t you to various trees in different locations across the world. From fast growing carbon sequestering trees in tropical zones that can take 10-12 years to be at a harvestable state to slow growing Oak in the UK countryside that typically grow for hundreds of years.
Ask Forest Fund a question
Can I sell my trees before they are harvested?
If your goal is to farm trees for potential profit and you work with a organisation that helps you achieve this then we need you to know upfront that trees are very illiquid.
You will need to be sure that your objectives are on a timescale that suits the growing of trees. There is currently no established market for for selling a tree farming business.
Ask Forest Fund a question
Why is using wood better than traditional building materials?
So we need to direct you to our Friend David and the VOX article he wrote last year. Here it explains why using concrete and steel is harmful to the environment, why 40% of Co2 in the atmosphere is from the buildings we live and work in.
Please read David Robarts article
Ask Forest Fund a question
What are the risks of growing trees?
We need to be growing the right tree in the right place. When we do they have a positive impact on the environment.
Trees are a biological entity and as such are susceptible to many factors: disease, fire ect more to add…
Ask Forest Fund a question
Why is farming trees a good financial investment?
For centuries the Church, The Royal family and University endowment funds have known about the benefits of placing their capital in growing timber.
More arroud:
Recession proof
Inflation proof
Pandemic proof
Always growing
(LINK) the FT article
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(LINK)
Ask Forest Fund a question
Why is farming trees a good environmental investment?
Trees are great, they’re currently the only way to reduce atmospheric carbon at scale… we have high hopes for technology but we need to plant now for two reasons.
- For growing timber as a substitute for concrete and steel
- For the beneficial properties of reducing atmospheric carbon.
More more more to come
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