KATSARAKISPlant Your Future
Forestry News · 14 October 2026 · By Kostas Katsarakis

Who owns Australia's plantations, and insuring forest carbon

Weekly digest for people considering tree and forestry investments.

This week: a look at who really owns plantation forests in a mature market, and a new attempt to deal with one of the biggest risks in forest carbon credits.

Long-term institutional investors own 70% of Australia's plantations

Long-term institutional investors now own 70% of Australia's plantation forests, according to Dr David Brand, founder of the forest investment manager New Forests, speaking at a forestry investment event reported by Wood Central.

The same report covers plans for an engineered wood hub at Portland, in south-west Victoria, and research into using bluegum for engineered wood products.

Why it matters for tree investors: In mature plantation markets, most of the land is held by professional owners who plan in decades, not years. A small investor buying a few trees is in a very different position: shorter horizon, less information and less control. Ask how your contract handles the bad years that long-term owners simply wait out.

Source: Wood Central: Australian forestry investment

Insurance for forest carbon reversals takes another step

According to the trade publication The Insurer, CarbonPool and Oka have released an insurance product covering the risk of reversals in forest carbon projects, under Verra's pilot framework. A reversal happens when carbon that has been credited is released again, for example through fire or illegal logging.

It follows Verra's approval in July 2026 of the first two insurance policies for its durability pilot, from CarbonPool and Kita. Verra's announcement does not describe the coverage terms of those policies.

Why it matters for tree investors: Reversal risk is one reason forest carbon income is uncertain. Insurance may help credit buyers, but it is new and untested at scale. If a tree investment promises carbon income, ask who carries the reversal risk, and whether any insurance exists, on what terms and from whom.

Source: The Insurer (via Google News) · Verra: insurance policies approved for the durability pilot

I'm a long-term tree-plantation investor, not a forestry scientist or a licensed financial adviser. I earn referral commissions from a plantation company I work with. Nothing in this digest is investment advice. Always read the original sources.

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