Ethical Forestry, an entity that traded under multiple trading names, such as EF Forestry Management Ltd, Ethical Forestry Holdings, EF Sales & Marketing Ltd and Ethical Forestry S.A, stood out as a promising investment venture, operating Melina tree plantations in Costa Rica and proposing attractive returns on fast-growing hardwood saplings.
However, the collapse of this scheme in 2015 left numerous investors grappling with substantial financial losses and unfulfilled promises.
For close to a decade, Ethical Forestry Ltd had been pivotal in the aggregation of investments starting from £12,000, in tree plantations located in the terrains of Costa Rica. This proposition painted a picture of lucrative returns upon the maturity, logging, and eventual selling of the trees.
The scheme, known as “Sustainable Timber Management”, was advertised as being compatible with Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) and required investors to acquire 600 tree plots for a sum of £18,000. Investors were enticed with projections exceeding £100,000 post a 12-year period, corresponding to the harvesting and selling phase of the trees.
Unfortunately, the anticipated green gold turned into a source of despair for around 3,500 UK investors when the company voluntarily liquidated in 2015, triggering rigorous scrutiny by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
Ethical Forestry, operating under a myriad of names, left thousands of UK investors, who had put their faith and finances into this venture, facing potential losses. The promise of high-yield profits over time became a distant dream, leaving many questioning the legitimacy and the misrepresentation of this investment.
In connection to Ethical Forestry, GPC SIPP Ltd, formerly known as Guardian Pension Consultants Ltd, emerged as a significant pension provider, managing a substantial number of SIPPs and holding assets totalling over £130m. The unfortunate unraveling of investments such as the following, led to the company plunging into administration on 11th June 2019, officially failing on 17 February 2020:
Ethical Forestry
SCS Farmland
The complex web of failed investments interconnected with GPC SIPP has raised concerns about the potential mis-selling of these investments, prompting many to contemplate compensation claims.
This scheme was undergirded by the investments of countless UK citizens, many of whom were attracted by the promises of substantial financial gains. The investment was presented as a secure and sustainable venture, aligning with the growing emphasis on ethical and environmentally conscious investments.
The collapse and subsequent investigations have cast a shadow over the intentions and the ethical stance of the company, emphasising the importance of diligence and caution in investment decisions.
While the events surrounding Ethical Forestry and GPC SIPP Ltd have been regrettable, it is crucial for affected investors to seek avenues for redress and compensation. This is where we at CP Financial Claims step in as a beacon of hope.
We specialise in assisting those who have been adversely impacted by the mishaps in investments and pension schemes. If you, or someone you know, have channeled your pension into a GPC SIPP or invested in Ethical Forestry or any of the other failed investments above, and feel that there might have been misrepresentation or mis-selling involved, we are here to guide you through the compensation claim process.
Please submit your contact details below for a free, no-obligation chat with our team.
