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CapMan Natural Capital

Today, I’m joined by Jyri Hietala and Tapani Pahkasalo, Managing Partner and Co-Managing Partner of CapMan Natural Capital. In this conversation, we discuss CapMan’s approach to active forest investment management across Europe and unpack the recent sale of a Baltic forest portfolio to Inter IKEA. Jyri and Tapani explain how they build institutional-scale portfolios, create value through forest management, renewable energy, and other ecosystem services, and position assets for different buyer profiles at exit. We also talk about what this transaction may signal for the future of European forest investment. From industrial demand for long-term wood supply to the growing importance of biodiversity, carbon, and natural capital value creation, this episode explores why high-quality forestry assets are attracting attention from both financial and strategic buyers.

0:11 Introduction to the episode

0:20 Meet Jyri Hietala and Tapani Pahkasalo from CapMan Natural Capital

0:37 Favorite trees: pine and cork oak

1:46 Guest backgrounds and introductions

3:52 Why Dassos joined CapMan

7:07 CapMan Natural Capital’s investment approach

9:37 Value creation beyond timber

12:46 Current investment markets in Europe

13:40 The Inter IKEA transaction

14:35 How the Baltic portfolio was built

17:34 Previous owners and local forest management

20:12 Why Inter IKEA was the right buyer

21:22 What made the transaction successful

23:19 What the deal signals for European forestry

25:09 Forest health, bark beetles and wood supply

27:00 Industrial buyers and vertical integration

29:05 Biodiversity and ecosystem services

31:15 How buyer types shape portfolio strategy

37:02 Offtake agreements and exit flexibility

38:03 Why Europe remains attractive for investors

39:32 Advice for new forest investors

40:29 Where to learn more about CapMan Natural Capital

Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives

Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud

Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

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NatureVest (The Nature Conservancy)

The Cumberland Forest Project

Blended Finance

Today, I’m joined by Greg Meade, Cumberland Forest Project Director at NatureVest. In this conversation, Greg explains how the Cumberland Forest Project was structured as a closed-end private investment fund designed to put conservation and community outcomes on equal footing with financial return. We talk about blended finance, sustainable timber harvesting, carbon offsets, conservation easements, renewable energy, and the project’s community fund in rural Appalachia. Greg also shares what NatureVest has learned from building this model, how the fund is performing relative to US timberland benchmarks, and what investors and forest managers can take away from this whole-forest-value approach.

00:12 – Introduction to Forest Invest  

00:34 – Greg Meade’s favorite tree: sourwood  

01:32 – Greg Meade’s background in forestry  

03:07 – What NatureVest does  

03:30 – Overview of the Cumberland Forest Project  

04:38 – Fund assets and geography  

05:51 – Blended finance and concessional debt  

09:49 – Who invested in the fund  

11:54 – How the project differs from traditional TIMOs  

13:27 – Exit strategy and protecting long-term impact  

15:48 – Forest management and revenue streams  

18:05 – Community fund and local economies  

20:41 – Mineral royalties and reclaimed coal revenue  

23:35 – Revenue diversification across the portfolio  

26:21 – Investor concerns about geographic concentration  

27:40 – Local staff and operational setup  

29:54 – Impact outcomes achieved so far  

33:37 – Financial performance  

34:06 – Lessons learned  

38:32 – Advice for replicating the model  

40:40 – What’s next for NatureVest  

43:37 – Advice for new forest investors  

44:52 – Closing remarks  

Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives

Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud

Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

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Spar Tree Group

Today, I’m joined by David Elstone, managing director of Spar Tree Group and author of View from the Stump. In this conversation, David unpacks the current state of the British Columbia forest sector and explains why this globally important wood basket is facing such intense pressure. We discuss the long decline in timber harvest and lumber production, the legacy of the mountain pine beetle, mill closures, log exports, and the structural differences between BC’s coast and interior. David also shares his perspective on old growth deferrals, First Nations reconciliation, wildfire risk, forest policy, and why a clearer regional economic strategy is needed to make BC forestry more competitive and investable.

0:10 Welcome to Forest Invest with Shauna Matkovich

0:53 David Elstone on his background and Spar Tree Group

3:08 The current state of the forest sector in British Columbia

4:42 Why BC matters in global wood markets

10:23 Log exports, mill closures, and domestic demand

19:45 Internal versus external pressures on BC forestry

25:28 Key actors and the biggest challenges facing the sector

28:48 Policy changes and old-growth deferrals

34:15 Conservation, wildfire, and active forest management

38:17 Private timberland, AAC, and structural change in BC

42:13 Where private investors may still find opportunity

47:07 What would make BC forestry more investable and competitive

50:32 Why there is no single fix for the sector

51:39 David Elstone’s advice for new forest investors

52:53 Where to learn more about Spar Tree Group

53:37 Closing remarks with Shauna Matkovich

Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives

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Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

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Biodiversity Credit Alliance

Kratom tree

Today, I’m joined by Manesh Lacoul, Global Coordinator of the Biodiversity Credit Alliance. In this conversation, Manesh explains how biodiversity credit markets are taking shape and why credibility must be built in from the start. We discuss the key lessons emerging from carbon markets, including the need to prioritize integrity, inclusion, equity, and innovation rather than treating them as afterthoughts. Manesh shares how the Biodiversity Credit Alliance is bringing together stakeholders across the market to develop principles, assessment tools, and comparability frameworks that can support high-integrity growth. We also talk about buyer integrity, the different use cases for biodiversity credits, the growing role of governments, and what investors and project developers should be paying attention to as this market evolves.

0:09 Welcome to Forest Invest with Shauna Matkovich

1:14 Manesh Lacoul on his role at the Biodiversity Credit Alliance

3:30 The key actors shaping biodiversity credit markets

5:58 What success looks like: integrity, inclusion, equity, and innovation

7:17 Lessons biodiversity markets should learn from carbon markets

12:44 Inclusion and equity across different local contexts

15:37 Market readiness on the buy and sell side

19:00 Why buyer integrity matters as much as supplier integrity

24:47 How current biodiversity credit buyers are approaching the market

26:52 Where biodiversity credit activity is emerging globally

28:58 The EU roadmap for nature credits

31:14 Biodiversity stacked on carbon credits

32:31 Biodiversity credits versus payment for ecosystem services

35:04 How new buyers, investors, and developers can get started

37:58 Why there are so many methodologies and whether consolidation will happen

41:01 High-level principles, assessment tools, and comparability frameworks

44:10 Why growing government involvement is encouraging

46:02 Advice for forest investors and the role of biodiversity credits in production forests

48:21 Where to find Biodiversity Credit Alliance resources

48:36 Closing remarks with Shauna Matkovich

Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives

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Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

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Kodama

Today, I’m joined by Merritt Jenkins, CEO and Co-founder of Kodama Systems. In this conversation, Merritt explains how Kodama is using tele-operation and automation to run forestry equipment remotely, starting with skidders in the southeastern US. We discuss the technology behind the system, including Starlink connectivity, real-time video feeds, LiDAR, GPS, and onboard computing, and what it takes to make that technology reliable in tough forest conditions. Merritt also shares how remote skidding can help address some of the industry’s biggest challenges, from operator shortages and long commutes to physical strain and safety risk. We also explore the practical questions logging contractors ask around productivity, terrain, maintenance, and cost, before looking at what’s next for Kodama as the company expands into new regions and machine types.

0:19 Meet Merritt Jenkins of Kodama Systems

0:28 Favorite tree: Southern yellow pine

0:53 Merritt’s background and Kodama origins

1:26 What Kodama does: remote skidding

2:28 Technology stack: Starlink, cameras, LiDAR, GPS

4:17 Ruggedising hardware for forestry conditions

5:17 Compatible skidders and OEM integration

7:43 Addressing the forestry labour shortage

10:23 PS5 controllers for machine operation

11:15 Remote site awareness and mapping

13:55 Key industry pain points solved

15:00 Logger concerns: costs and operations

16:08 Remote operation across locations and time zones

18:11 Cameras, visibility, and maintenance

20:35 Terrain handling and machine feedback

23:02 Business model and day rates

25:48 Ideal operating environments

26:51 Logger reactions and adoption

29:14 Collaboration with logging crews

30:26 Kodama team and skill sets

32:00 Lessons learned in the field

33:15 Future plans and expansion

34:07 Safety systems and fail-safes

35:35 Where to learn more

36:05 Outro

Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives

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Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

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Ki Reforestation

Ki Reforestation (Instagram)

This episode is brought to you by Ki Reforestation, a Canadian reforestation technology company restoring difficult landscapes using drone seeding, with a seed-agnostic approach and an Indigenous-aligned ecological restoration model. Today, I’m joined by Trevor Grant, Founder & CEO of Ki, to unpack Canada’s growing reforestation deficit and why new tools are needed to rebuild forests after increasingly severe wildfires — especially in steep, remote terrain where traditional crews face safety and access constraints. We dig into Ki’s system, from heavy-lift autonomous drones and real-time environmental sensing to AI-informed seeding prescriptions and the “magic sauce” behind the work: pharmaceutical-grade seed encapsulation designed to improve soil contact and reduce predation and withstand environmental factors.

Trevor also shares where drone seeding is (and isn’t) a fit, early field learnings since 2022, how costs can compare to manual planting, and what Ki is building next through a proposed five-year R&D program with academic, government, industry, and Indigenous partners. Learn more and join Ki on its mission through visiting Ki's website.

0:10 Introduction to Forest Invest

0:20 Sponsor spotlight: Ki Reforestation

1:01 Meet Trevor Grant, Founder and CEO of Ki Reforestation

1:12 Trevor’s favourite tree and why it stands out

2:21 The origin story behind Ki Reforestation

3:32 Canada’s wildfire crisis and the reforestation deficit

4:36 Restoring forests after wildfire: timing, access, and safety

5:27 How Ki’s drone seeding technology works

7:20 Heavy-lift drones, species mixes, and microsite planting

10:00 Seed encapsulation: the core innovation behind the model

12:53 Can drone seeding compete with manual tree planting?

17:08 Ki’s use cases: harvesting, wildfire recovery, and mine-site rehabilitation

19:44 Where aerial direct seeding is not the right fit

20:56 What Ki knows so far, and what still needs to be proven

22:11 Field trials, early results, and lessons learned since 2022

24:03 Indigenous partnerships and holistic restoration approaches

25:18 Customers, collaborators, and the 5-year research programme

28:39 What governments should ask before choosing an aerial reforestation company

31:08 Addressing scepticism and proving where the technology works

33:00 Seed sourcing, supply bottlenecks, and planning timelines

37:09 Government interest, funding gaps, and public-sector support

38:55 Carbon markets, additionality, and who should benefit

41:19 Why Ki is taking a slower, research-first approach

42:18 What excites Trevor most about Ki’s current stage

43:33 The future of Ki beyond Canada

45:33 Where to learn more and get involved

Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives

Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud

Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

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Bettina von Hagen

Candice Taylor

Gwen Busby

Katrina Amaral

Kirstie White

Mary Ignatiadis

Rita Hite

In this special International Women’s Day episode, I bring together seven remarkable women working across the forestry sector—from investment and forest economics to sustainability, supply chains, and policy. In no particular order, Bettina von Hagen, Candice Taylor, Gwen Busby, Katrina Amaral, Kirstie White, Mary Ignatiadis, and Rita Hite share the pivotal moments, mentors, and decisions that shaped their leadership journeys. Through personal stories and candid reflections, the conversation explores themes of curiosity, resilience, and the power of mentorship in building a career in forestry. The guests also discuss the realities of working in a sector where women remain underrepresented, sharing experiences that range from subtle bias to moments of opportunity and influence. Together, these voices highlight how diverse perspectives are helping reshape forestry—from community-centered supply chains and natural capital investing to sustainable forest management and climate solutions—and why supporting the next generation of female leaders is essential for the future of the sector.

00:00 Introduction – Women Leaders in Forestry

00:23 Podcast Welcome & International Women’s Day Special

01:56 Women in Forestry – Representation and Industry Statistics

04:37 Introducing the Leadership Stories

05:01 Bettina von Hagen – Finding Your “True North” in Leadership

07:16 Candice Taylor – Continuous Learning and Career Reinvention

09:35 Gwen Busby – Economics, Nature, and Timberland Investment Strategy

12:05 Katrina Amaral – Community Forestry and Small-Scale Supply Chains

14:30 Kirstie White – Stewardship, Sustainability, and Leadership

17:13 Mary Ignatius – Forest Economics, Carbon Markets, and Collaboration

19:41 Rita Hite – A Leadership Journey to CEO

21:51 Gender Experiences in Forestry – Stories from the Field

24:08 Candice Taylor – Proving Expertise and Creating Space

25:32 Gwen Busby – Navigating Finance and Forestry as a Minority

28:06 Katrina Amaral – Logging, Perception, and Gender Bias

29:34 Kirstie White – Changing Representation in Forestry

31:25 Mary Ignatius – Confronting Gender Bias in Organizations

32:39 Rita Hite – Leadership Confidence and Authenticity

34:29 Closing Reflections – Celebrating Women in Forestry

34:37 Outro – Forest Invest

Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives

Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud

Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

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Asger Stragne Olesen (LinkedIn)

IWC AM+

International Woodland Company (IWC) on LinkedIn

Today, I’m joined (for the second time) by Asger Strange Olesen, Global Head of Climate and Biodiversity at IWC AM+, and an independent expert deeply embedded in Europe’s forest policy arena. In this conversation, Asger explains why the EU has historically kept forestry out of the EU ETS, why voluntary forest carbon activity in Europe has remained limited, and what’s changing as the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) builds the market infrastructure for EU carbon removals. We unpack the EU’s “declining sink” problem, the complexity of forest ownership across member states, and why Mario Draghi’s competitiveness agenda is pushing Europe toward leaner regulation—and clearer signals for investment. Finally, we explore what the CRCF is designed to enable (and what it still doesn’t solve), how it compares to existing standards, and why country-by-country implementation will determine where EU forest carbon markets—and forest investment—move first.

00:09 — Welcome to Forest Invest

00:11 — Host intro: Shauna Matkovich (The Forest Link)

00:19 — Guest intro: Asgar Strange Olesen (IWCAM Plus)

00:40 — Favourite tree: European beech

01:29 — Asgar’s EU policy roles (CRCF, EU Taxonomy review, FSC, SBTi)

05:27 — Why EU forest policy is complex (no direct EU forest mandate)

08:21 — EU forest diversity + ownership differences

11:45 — Draghi, competitiveness & climate targets

14:52 — The “declining sink” challenge

20:41 — Why forestry is excluded from the EU ETS

27:46 — The missing piece: lack of demand

29:13 — What is the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF)?

31:37 — How CRCF differs from existing standards

37:37 — Built-in revision + piloting phase

40:00 — Performance certificates vs tradable credits

41:41 — GHG Protocol uncertainty & EU reporting shift

44:45 — Investment outlook: country-by-country reality

47:58 — Actionable advice for investors

49:37 — Closing remarks

Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives

Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud

Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

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The Nature Conservancy

Susan Cook-Patten on LinkedIn

Today I’m joined by Susan Cook-Patton, Lead Reforestation Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, to get into the weeds on applying science to forest carbon investment decision making. In this conversation, Susan breaks down what “durability” really means in practice—how risks vary by location, project type, and species, and why investors should be assessing likelihood, severity, and the probability of regrowth. She shares how her team is developing tools and maps to help investors quickly identify higher- and lower-risk landscapes, bringing greater certainty to carbon outcomes under future climate conditions. We talk project design choices that can reduce wildfire impacts, the role (and limitations) of buffer pools, and emerging alternatives like permanence trust funds and storage years. Susan also shares where remote sensing is improving fast—and why data sharing may be the biggest unlock for better, cheaper carbon accounting.

00:10 — Welcome to Forest Invest + today’s guest

00:30 — Icebreaker: Susan’s favourite tree (and why caterpillars matter)

01:16 — Who Susan is + her role at The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

02:27 — What “reforestation” really means (working forests, conservation, agroforestry)

03:05 — Applying science to forest carbon investment decisions

04:43 — Durability 101: why risk varies by place, species, and project type

06:36 — Mapping risk: likelihood, severity, and probability of regrowth

09:00 — Social context: designing projects communities actually want

10:12 — Project design for resilience: species choice, density, thinning, prescribed fire

11:55 — Buffer pools: minimums vs risk-based contributions

13:08 — Beyond buffer pools: trust funds, stacking strategies, “ton-year” approaches

15:54 — Monitoring innovation: shifting from field plots to remote monitoring

16:53 — Remote sensing challenges: uncertainty, benchmarks, and inconsistent methods

20:08 — Terrestrial laser scanning: better carbon estimates (and how to use it wisely)

22:08 — Data sharing as the big unlock (and reducing duplicated fieldwork)

23:42 — Standards are evolving: learning fast without “throwing the baby out”

26:44 — “Permanent” vs “durability”: making rules fit how forests really work

29:40 — Portfolio thinking: balancing approaches across climate action

32:21 — Output vs durability: designing for short-term volume or long-term resilience

34:37 — Investor time horizons vs climate timescales (why storage years help)

40:06 — Science in policy: how Susan’s work spans local to global decision-making

42:19 — Carbon insurance: what it can teach us about actuarial risk in forests

44:26 — What’s next: durability risk maps + Susan’s “magic wand” wishlist

47:44 — Final takeaway: the greatest risk is inaction

48:42 — One actionable advice for new forest investors

49:28 — Where to learn more (LinkedIn + nature.org) + closing remarks

50:12 — Outro: see you next time on Forest Invest

Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives

Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud

Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

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ISFC

Today, I’m joined by Ross Hampton, CEO of the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition (ISFC). In this conversation, Ross shares what he’s hearing from forest businesses and institutional capital as geopolitical volatility collides with the accelerating push toward a circular bioeconomy. We unpack why nature and climate are now inseparable on the global stage, what COP-level discussions are signaling for forestry, and why “a thousand flowers blooming” in biodiversity schemes is hindering a scalable market. Ross also walks through ISFC’s work with TNFD and the Capitals Coalition to standardize ecosystem services measurement—laying groundwork for investable nature markets—and offers practical advice for governments who have an important enabling role, and investors who want to be early movers in natural capital.

1:29 – Ross’ background: politics/journalism → forestry, and why ISFC was created

2:35 – ISFC scope: member footprint, countries covered, and why scale matters

3:15 – Who ISFC represents: ownership structures across regions (investors, REITs, trading houses, integrated firms, quasi-government agencies)

4:47 – ISFC mission: accelerating a climate- and nature-smart circular bioeconomy

6:02 – The policy–finance disconnect: why capital isn’t linking to on-the-ground forestry needs

7:31 – The four funding streams (philanthropy, government, concessional finance, markets) and why markets are the only scalable answer

9:24 – Setting the stage: geopolitics and its impact on forest business/investment

10:09 – Global signals from recent events: COP momentum and “climate + nature” convergence

12:20 – The big project: working with TNFD + Capitals Coalition to measure ecosystem services

13:46 – “A gazillion initiatives” problem: why fragmentation prevents real markets

15:37 – What the project aims to prove: consistent measurement across global forest estates (7 ecosystem services)

17:09 – Timeline and milestones: outputs aimed for COP 17 (Armenia) and COP 31 (Turkey)

18:24 – Member sentiment (within limits): timberlands as a long-game, “stable island” asset class

22:08 – Whole-forest value vs “back to basics”: why the shift beyond timber isn’t slowing

23:41 – The “diamond in the rough”: externalising ecosystem services to unlock restoration at scale

26:02 – Policy fragmentation: why nature markets don’t scale when governments go it alone

27:08 – The hardest leap: paying for what used to be “free” (nature services)

28:51 – Shadow pricing: nature value already showing up in estate pricing above stump value

31:02 – Beyond measurement: enabling conditions governments must create (tech, incentives, stacking)

33:43 – A counterintuitive principle: don’t only pay for “uplift” (avoid penalising good stewards)

39:13 – Global South vs Global North: differing contexts, shared opportunity, where growth may happen

43:38 – Where policy conversations get stuck: finance vs industry vs forestry/agriculture vs environment

45:29 – Davos/WEF touchpoint: reception and momentum

45:42 – Crystal ball: what’s next, and key 2026 moments (Japan, Climate Week NYC, COPs)

48:10 – One actionable takeaway for new investors: lean into natural capital and nature markets early

49:39 – Where to learn more: ISFC website + natural capital report

Founding Director and Host: Shauna Matkovich - The ForestLink

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas - Unscripted Creatives

Nature by MaxKoMusic/Soundcloud

Sopwell Woodlands and Scohaboy Bog SAC, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, IRELAND by wild_rumpus/Soundcloud

Ambient Documentary by Sound Guru (Pixabay)

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