REGIONS

Our extensive knowledge, contacts in the industry and ongoing workload, allows us to identify and analyze nuances in the markets we do business in. This allows us to provide detailed analysis heavily supported by well researched facts and assumptions. Cause and effect is incorporated in our valuations providing our clients with an accurate assessment of value and the information needed to facilitate discussion around investment decisions in the timberland space.

Southeast

The southeastern forest products industry is the largest regional production hub of forest products in the world. Hundreds of mills produce dozens of products from the vast southern yellow pine plantation resource. Geographically, it stretches from Virginia to east Texas, encompassing 12 states. The large, diverse geography includes flatwoods, hills and bottoms, steep hillsides and mountains along with a diverse mix of soils and landscapes. These varied conditions create both challenges and opportunities specific to the region for growing trees. The forests of this region benefit from long growing seasons and a mild climate, making them highly productive.

Southern timber markets are both diverse and complex. Local mill dynamics dictate significant variations with regard to log specs, products and pricing. Site productivity, topography and management intensity contribute to differences in growth characteristics between holdings. Investors and managers focus on timber growth while conserving environmental attributes of these ecosystems including wildlife habitat and water quality by using conservation vehicles such as easements and mitigation banks.

Contact Scott Brodbeck at 386-454-1121.

Northeast

The Northeast timberland investment region stretches from northern New York through northern Maine. The diverse geography of the region supports spruce-fir forests in the higher elevations, northern hardwoods on hillsides, cedar swamps in the valley bottoms, and pine-oak forests associated with coastal areas and sandy soils.

Timber markets in the Northeast are highly diverse yet limited. End-product manufactures consist of hardwood and softwood sawmills, pulp mills, and biomass consuming facilities. Canada is a major importer of low-grade hardwood, white pine and spruce and fir logs where some of the largest spruce-fir stud mills in North America are located just across the border in Quebec. Low-grade hardwood is typically sent to pulp mills or used at one of the many pellet/biogeneration facilities in the region.

Timberland investments in the Northeast are dynamic. Non-timber attributes are routinely considered when acquiring large timberland investment holdings. Both local and national conservation organizations continue to aggressively target this region and work with investors helping to identify conservation opportunities. In addition to conservation, other opportunities specific to the region include wind development, maple sugaring and carbon credit monetization.

Contact Jesse Studley at 207-735-5858.

Appalachia

The Appalachian timber investment region includes Kentucky, West Virginia, southeast Ohio, northern Tennessee, western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, Pennsylvania, and southern New York. In terms of topography, the region is diverse consisting of valleys and plateaus giving way to the steeper areas of the Appalachian Mountains. The hardwood timber resource is diverse in both species and value and heavily dependent on past land uses.

Timber markets in Appalachia are highly variable and heavily dependent on hardwood logs of various species and grade. Log export markets are also a primary outlet, particularly in northern Appalachia, for high quality species. Investments in northern Appalachia are typically focused on prime quality sawtimber of high demand species such as hard maple and cherry as a major driver for returns. Southern Appalachia investments are driven more by total volume and species diversity. The value difference between the northern and southern areas of this region are significant and depend on many variables.

Contact Jesse Studley at 207-735-5858.

Lake States

The Lake States investment region includes Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The flat to rolling terrain of the region supports productive timber soils surrounded by a wealth of rivers, lakes and streams. The timber resource is a mix of red pine and jack pine plantations as well as various hardwood species. A good portion of the timber market in the region focuses on hardwood sawtimber with Hard Maple in the UP of Michigan being regarded as some of the highest quality veneer in the world. Pulp mill capacity is limited to a handful of large facilities located throughout the region. Softwood sawtimber demand is primarily for red pine, although markets exist for most sawtimber species. In addition to timber related revenues, timber investments in the lake states region also rely on strong markets for recreational tract disposition and farm conversion.

Contact Jesse Studley at 207-735-5858.

South and Central America

South and Central American timberland investments are highly diverse. Pine and Eucalyptus are the primary investment species with plantations found throughout Central and South America. Pine plantations are located primarily in Brazil, Chile and Uruguay and focus on sawtimber production. These markets are highly developed with a history of pine plantation management going back 75+ years.

Timberland investment money also targets high value specialty species such as Teak and Mahogany plantations located in Central America, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador and Paraguay. Central American teak plantations are rarely larger than 1,000 hectares where sites in South America can be significantly larger. Teak quality is heavily dependent on site conditions, topography, labor availability, and past management activities. South and Central American timber investments range from highly risky (Native Forest Concessions) to more typical pine and eucalyptus investments reflective of timber markets in the Southeast U.S. Teak investments are considered a moderate risk due to an investor’s ability to capitalize on spot markets. The best quality teak plantations command some of the highest timberland prices in the timber investment world.

Contact Jesse Studley at 207-735-5858.

Southeast Development
Hardwoods in Winter
APPALACHIA
LAKE STATES
Euacalyptus Plantation
Lake States Shore line
NORTHEAST