OUR STORY
Forever Forests were born in 2020 by two friends from the forestry industry having a chat about their passion for native forest, a gap they saw in the industry, an overheard conversation questioning how people can make a difference in climate change, and an idea that sparked an endless bound of optimism and energy to get it off the ground. Realising that achieving environmental good and making it financially sustainable is no easy feat, we had to make it good. But that gap we mentioned earlier? It got the creativity flowing, and we came up with a plan that benefits both landowners, businesses and this planet we call home.
Since then, we’ve grown into a small team of passionate and purpose-driven people doing big things. Our team have over 100 years of experience between them within the forestry industry, have forests of our own, and have a vested interest in some of the reforestation projects we manage.
At the root of it, our vision is to enhance the growth of native forests in New Zealand by giving businesses a platform to offset their carbon and connect them with local landowners running regeneration projects.
So with a depth of forestry expertise, a platform to make a change, and connections with the right people we’re working on restoring our land, one tree at a time.
WHAT WE DO
Carbon exchange, native project management & land consultancy
Work with landowners to grow and protect native forests in Aotearoa
Provide an easy-to-use tool to measure and offset carbon emissions
Make it sustainable for the land, our landowners and businesses
OUR IMPACT
With a few reforestation projects under our belt, we’ve been able to; protect more than 5,000 hectares of native forest, support our landowners, offset 40,000,000 kg’s of local businesses’ CO2 emissions, and partner with like-minded people also putting in the mahi to make a positive contribution to climate change. What does this all mean? It means biodiversity within these protected and new forests will increase, our waterways will be cleaner, more carbon gets sucked out of the atmosphere, and best of all - we reap the rewards with cleaner air to breathe and purified streams and rivers!
MEET THE TEAM
Adrian Loo, Co-Founder & Director
Adrian is a Founder of Forever Forests and a Director of Forest Management Limited. He's a past graduate of the University of Canterbury, completing a Bachelor of Forestry Science with First Class Honours, a Certificate in Commerce and a Masters of Forestry Science with Distinction.
And as if that wasn't enough in the way of credentials, Adrian also holds a Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forestry for his unwavering dedication to growing New Zealand’s forest area in an environmentally sustainable way, and actively promoting these concepts to others! Adrian’s commitment to sustainable practices, aspirations and concepts are all over the Forever Forests brand and long-term strategy and is something he’s super passionate about.
Adrian lives in Christchurch with his wife and daughter. At weekends, you’ll find him up in the hills mountain biking, surfing along the Canterbury coastline, and working on his own personal native restoration block on Banks Peninsula.
Chris Myers, Managing Director
Chris is a global business expert focused on enabling the sustainable convergence of climate finance, biodiversity improvements, native forest regeneration projects and supporting organisations to improve their sustainability profiles.
Chris has extensive corporate and governance experience including 20 years with Air Zealand, where he established the e-commerce offerings and headed up offshore activities across Asia, the Americas and Europe. He was previously CEO of JUCY Rentals NZ and Head of Partnerships at Contact Energy. Chris also has an active portfolio of board roles across tourism, transport, technology and regional economic development.
With his masters degree in Commerce and Management, a tonne of experience and connections in business, he brings a bounty of knowledge to Forever Forests.
Chris lives in Wellington with his partner on 120 acres of regenerating native and exotic forest.
Grace Hughes, Forester
Coming from a forestry family provided Grace with a passion for the outdoors and background knowledge about the industry, making her decision to pursue forestry an easy one. Growing up in rural Masterton, she developed a love for native space, spending many weekends exploring the backcountry of the Wairarapa and trips out and about in her family forest in Marlborough.
What drew Grace to Forestry was a love for science and practicality, where the degree lets you get your hands dirty and get amongst the industry. Grace spent four years doing internships as part of her degree, where she got to work in a native nursery and multiple forestry companies, establishing and learning vital skills both indoors and in the field.
Grace recently graduated from Canterbury University with a Bachelor of Forestry Science and has entered the workforce with enthusiasm and is excited to be a part of the team at Forever Forests, where she can mix her love for native species and passion for forestry.
David Chandler, Co-Founder & Director
Dave is a founder of Forever Forests and a Director of Forest Management Limited. Dave’s love for trees, land and people started from a young age, having grown up surrounded by family working in both commercial and native state-owned forests in New Zealand.
An initial Bachelor’s degree in commerce led to working in the outdoor tourism industry where the mix of people, landscapes and adventure gave insight into how fragile these environments can be. This is where his love affair for land protection began!
With the pull of trees too great, Dave went on to complete a Post Graduate Forestry Diploma. You’ll most likely run into Dave talking with landowners on the side of a hill, a smile on his face and mud on his boots - the best way to dish out advice and valuable insights in forestry, contract and land management! Spare time is spent with his young growing family, on hunting expeditions, travelling, camping and outdoor furniture craft.
Sarah Helleur, Forestry, ETS, and Land-use Consultant
A proud Cantabrian, Sarah completed a Bachelor of Forestry Science degree at Canterbury University and has worked in the forestry sector for over 10 years in New Zealand and the UK.
On graduating, she worked in the forestry sector in Canterbury before embarking on her OE to the UK. While there, she worked with the Forestry Commission as the recreation ranger for Cornwall and North Devon. Since returning to forestry after her children left home, she has worked for Environment Canterbury in forestry environmental compliance and forestry legislation, and more recently in the private sector as a Forestry, ETS, Land-use Consultant advising land owners on current and future carbon opportunities on their properties.
Outside of the forest, Sarah is a qualified music teacher who’s taught the flute for many years. She regularly plays in an orchestra and performs in bands for amateur musical productions. Now with two grown-up children, she has more time to devote to music, studying te reo Māori and tikanga, and travelling more with her husband.
Glenn Moir, Director
Evan McClure, Director
David Janett, Director
ARE YOU A BUSINESS INTERESTED IN offsetting your carbon emissions? OR A LANDOWNER LOOKING TO RETIRE SOME OF YOUR farm LAND?
Get in touch to find out more about our services and how we can help you.
