An amazing journey: from property to forestry

Five years ago, Andrew Skeene, 32 and Omari Bowers, 33, were busy making their fortune, riding high on the wave of the property boom. However, when the market started to crumble they realised it was time to burn their boats and look for other opportunities. After following movements by the banks and hedge funds into emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, the two entrepreneurs took six months out of work to travel the globe and research trends in land, farmland and cattle purchase. It was around this time that they stumbled upon the forestry investments, a market that has grown 20% per annum in the past few decades, overtaking the growing rate of the property market in 2007.

Several years on and Andrew and Omari are now the founders of Global Forestry Investments, a company that expects to turn over £6-7 million this year and acquire 10,000ha of rainforest. Andrew says: “Five years ago there was no way in a million years we could have imagined we’d be buying land to grow trees in Brazil. I suppose you could say for us trees are the houses of the future, it’s also given us an incredible opportunity to help impoverished communities.”

Andrew and Omari’s approach to sustainable forestry will help transform the lives of villagers living in the area. As part of the project, they also want to help provide education, water supply and a stable economy – something they are extremely passionate about. Inspired by the local people, the entrepreneurs plan to establish a local school, soccer academy and performing arts centre within the next few years. They also recognise that Brazil is the main battle ground for climate change and for every tree an investor purchases through their company, Andrew and Omari will match it by purchasing a new tree that will remain completely protected - essentially helping to reforest the Amazon.

Bowers says: “As entrepreneurs, of course we want to make a profit, but for us Brazil isn’t just a business venture. It has given us an opportunity to genuinely make a big difference to many people’s lives and that is something that drives both of us. The next ten years are going to be a huge decade in the fight against climate change and it fills us with a great sense of pride that we are going to be part of that.”

To read about Andrew and Omari’s journey from property to trees and their plans for the future, read an exclusive article in the latest issue of sustain’ Magazine