Investors looking for diversification can now add another asset class to their universe. Timber and forestry, which until recently has been the preserve of landholders and US foundations, is now available to a much wider investor base, thanks to Barclays Global Investors, which has today launched the first exchange traded fund on the sector on the London Stock Exchange.

"Forestry is something we're coming to value a lot more, and in many different ways," said Suzanne Williams, senior product development manager who was instrumental in developing the iShares Global Timber and Forestry ETF.