Manulife Investment Management, Timberland and Agriculture

We know that bats call many of our properties home, so we do what we can to support their habitat to keep this important species thriving. One practice we implement is creating notches on snag trees – during harvest or thinning, our foresters save dead or dying trees (snags) for the wildlife habitat they provide. Notches are created in the snags, which provide roosting, or shelter, habitat for bats. In the Northwest, bats are partial to loose bark on trees, barns and other protected crevasses. These notches allow the bats to land on the lower cut portion and climb into the notch, mimicking constructed bat houses. As an added bonus, these notches aid in the decomposition of the snags, which is beneficial to wildlife. #BatConservation #Wildlife #ForestManagement

Soil is a living and life-giving natural resource filled with billions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that create an elegant symbiotic ecosystem. In our agriculture operations, we work to ensure the soil is taken care of so we can produce quality crops. We have been trialing green compost on our operations in California, which is laid down before planting cover crops – planted to cover the soil and help improve soil quality. Our cover crops consist of safflower, soil builder and silver bullet blend. The soil builder and silver bullet blend consist of clover, mustard, ryegrass, winter peas and radish. Each species is designed to help increase water infiltration and bloom as pollinator forage. With the combination of green compost and cover crops, we are working to restore the soil, a necessary process to ensure water regulation, sustainability of plant and animal life, filtration of pollutants, nutrient cycling and physical stability and support. #CoverCrops #SoilHealth

We are committed to managing our lands to help create valuable ecosystems for all inhabitants within the properties we manage. In Texas, our team members are working hard to preserve lands that aren’t suitable for timber but can be for rare and native plants! Last year, a sandhill and a bog on a forest property in Texas was discovered. We knew special measures would need to be taken to understand this site, so we teamed up with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife biologists and botanists. Several site surveys lead to discoveries of rare and native plants. The sites are now formally known as the “globally rare (G1) Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain Xeric Sand Barrens” and the “G1 Texas Post Oak Savanna Quaking Muck Bog. We are maintaining the sandhill with periodic prescribed fire, which will allow the more native species to proliferate and prevent species we don’t want from growing. Since the ecosystem is very diverse and there are different times of the year when different plants bloom, we will survey the site seasonally. The sandhill and the bog won’t grow any timber, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t valuable,” said Corey Stover, area manager. Stay tuned to learn what conservation measurements the Texas team will take and what rare and native plants may be found throughout the coming year! #EcosystemHealth #SustainableLandManagement

Last week, we celebrated #NationalAgDay and #ForestsDay. As one of the world’s leading natural capital investment managers, we have a lot of ground to cover. We’re so grateful for our teams who go above and beyond daily for our clients, the environment and the communities in which we live, learn and work. #GoodStewardshipIsGoodBusiness

On this International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the women in our lives and thanking them for their contributions. #IWD2025

Do you eat blueberries? While there is a growing consumption of blueberries, research shows that almost half of households consume no or very little blueberries. We are excited to be contributing of this industry, supplying local communities and the world with nutritious food. While you likely see blueberries in the grocery store year-round, blueberries grown in the U.S. are just now being harvested or coming out of dormancy! Our client’s blueberry properties in North Carolina are coming out of dormancy and budding appears to be set up for a decent crop in 2025. Client properties in Oregon are going through maintenance including pruning and weed mat installations for spring plantings. #Blueberries #CropManagement

In 2023, our clients’ timberland investment properties had over 50 million seedlings planted; produced enough lumber to build approximately 101,000 houses; produced enough fiberwood to make approximately 2.2 million tons of paper; yielded enough biomass to produce electricity for the equivalent of 1,500 American homes for a year. Thanks to sustainable forest management, we can meet today’s needs while helping ensure forests remain a valuable resource for future generations. #ModernAmericanForestry #ForestProducts

By 2050, the global population is expected to increase to 10 billion, requiring 56% more calories than were produced in 2016. Producing more food on a finite land base while reducing emissions, increasing soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and protecting water security will require significant innovation, investment, and commitment to sustainable management, and we believe we’re ready for it! Growing pistachios is one of the many ways we help contribute to healthy and nutritious food and providing food security. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4h2w94x #NationalPistachioDay #SustainableManagement

Lead Mechanic: Looking for the next step in your career? Join Manulife Investment Management at Hillston and let your technical and leadership skills shine! Farm Hand – Almond: Sustainably grown, passionately shared. We are looking to expand our team, with permanent opportunities available. Farm Hand – Row Crop: Let your skills shine on a station with a rich Australian history!

How incredible is it that such small critters can make such big impacts? We love you, pollinators! Check out Pollinator Partnership to learn how you can support pollinators. #Pollinators #Biodiversity