Tag Archives: Forestry investment

Business

New Plantation Research could hold key to fewer Emissions claims FRA

Leave a comment

FRA has claimed that Swiss research could deliver more efficient timber plantations in the future.

Bainbridge Island, WA, January 27, 2012 – Research from Switzerland holds the key to “more efficient” timber plantations, claims research and analysis consultancy, Forestry Research Associates (FRA).

Seattle-based FRA claims that new research from the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, Switzerland, has found how to optimise forestry plantations in order to minimise bark growth while maximising log growth and quality.

The main researcher, Nic Meyer, explained that bark emits more harmful substances when burned than the rest of the timber. He told environmentalresearchweb: “In our previous investigations we had found that the emissions from burning bark had sent all of our test instruments into overdrive.”

He then found that choosing the right kind of species and spacing the trees out a certain way within a plantation can reduce the amount of bark growth and increase the number of logs a tree can produce.

Using an analysis of spruce and beech plantations in Switzerland, he and research partner Marco Mina, found that certain forestry management techniques, involving thinning crops and carefully timing harvest, for example, could help to reduce bark growth by 20 per cent.

“This could have a major impact on how forestry plantations are managed in the future,” claimed FRA’s analysis partner Peter Collins. He added, “Any techniques that can minimise bark growth and increase quality timber production must be good for forestry investors.”

One of the key findings was that delaying the thinning process until branches had reached between 20cm and 40cm in diameter significantly reduced bark growth. The reduction in bark growth could reduce emissions and costs to countries that specialise in forestry, explained Meyer: “In Switzerland alone, the damage costs from direct emissions from wood combustion activities are estimated to be of the order of 100 million Euro per year.”

FRA advocates forestry investment through plantation schemes, such as those run by Greenwood Management in Brazil and Canada.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com

Business

Gold still sparkles in 2012, claims AAA

Leave a comment

An expert who is backing gold as a top alternative investment strategy for 2012 has attracted the support of AAA, according to the advocacy group.

Boston, MA, January 14, 2012 – An expert who is backing gold as a top alternative investment strategy for 2012 has attracted the support of Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), according to the advocacy group.

AAA has said it is backing claims from former Kaana Konya and City adviser and broker, Tullett Brown, who claims that gold will continue to gain value over the coming year.

AAA’s Anthony Johnson said, “As we start a new year, many people will be looking to take a fresh perspective on their investments and may be looking to make some more alternative choices after the dire year the equities markets had.”

“Gold is a good bet as far as we can see, especially as leading analysts, such as Brown, can see it rising yet further in 2012 after a stellar year in 2011.”

The price of gold has dropped recently, after a long period of increased prices over a number of months, explained Tullett. However, this is not a time to be frightened off of investing in precious metals, he continued. Instead, investors should take advantage of this slight dip to buy up gold assets and hold onto them until the market improves later in the year.

Tullet and AAA’s argument is that all the factors that led to gold’s massive gains in 2011 are still active in 2012, such as the uncertainties over the equity markets and the Eurozone crisis. Mr Johnson explained, “People are still very wary about stocks and shares and are desperate for a tangible investment opportunity”

As a result of this demand, it is not just gold that has seen an increase in interest over recent months, Johnson added. Wine, stamps, art, antiques, forestry and property are all asset classes that gained popularity during the recession and continue that momentum today.

AAA is particularly keen to promote forestry investment as an alternative asset class that also offers an ethical choice.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

FRA reacts to article Latin American forestry

Leave a comment

A recent report from the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch blog is being championed by Forestry Research Associates (FRA) as a beneficial piece for the forestry investment industry.

Bainbridge Island, WA, December20, 2011 – A recent report from the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch blog is being championed by Forestry Research Associates (FRA) as a beneficial piece for the forestry investment industry.

FRA is a research and analysis consultancy specializing in sustainable forestry and forestry investment topics. It is not a surprise, then, that its analysts welcomed the article explaining how investing in Latin American forests can be profitable during these uncertain economic times.

The article highlights the fact that forestry in the region is an up and coming asset class and that investors are learning that there are opportunities to analyse the market and invest with schemes that specialise in certain products. FRA says that many REITs offering forestry as an option outside of Latin America can focus on land coverage, rather than what the forestry projects actually produce. However, in Latin America, investors can buy up land managed by producers who focus on charcoal production, or eucalyptus crops, for example. Greenwood Management offers investors the chance to directly invest in their plantation projects in Brazil that largely focus on producing charcoal for use in the booming Brazilian steel industry and this is an area that is attracting the attention of in vestors from outside the region.

FRA supports these kinds of projects as, as well as being profitable for investors, they offer alternative sources of timber and charcoal to using native species, thus helping to reduce deforestation.

Latin American forestry is also benefiting hugely from the growth in demand from Asia and the resulting soaring timber prices. FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins added, “Timber values have increased steadily over the past few years and over the past decade, forestry investments have outperformed returns form stock markets.” He also asserted that the volatility of the equity markets are driving more and more Western investors to the relative safe havens of alternative investments.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com

Business

FRA claims expert comments reflect its views on forestry investment

Leave a comment

An investment expert’s predictions about forestry and farmland investment reflects opinions held by Forestry Research Associates (FRA), the research and analysis consultancy has claimed.

Bainbridge Island, WA, November 12, 2011 – An investment expert’s predictions about forestry and farmland investment reflects opinions held by Forestry Research Associates (FRA), the research and analysis consultancy has claimed.

Jeremy Grantham, who is considered to be a leading investor at GMO Asset Management, has predicted that forestry investment will continue to generate strong returns: “For those with a long horizon, I am sure well managed forestry and farmland will outperform the average of all global assets.”

The expert, who has been in the business for 40 years, is obviously keen to promote the advantages of this alternative asset at a time when traditional markets are looking vulnerable and far less attractive than they once were.

“Risk averse investors are steering well clear of traditional investments,” said FRA’s analysis partner Peter Collins. He added, “It’s refreshing to hear a high profile investment expert speak so confidently about the potential returns available through forestry investment.”

FRA supports investment in sustainable forestry, through firms like Greenwood Management, which runs several plantations in Brazil in which individuals or institutions can invest upwards of EUR10,000.

FRA claims that forestry is a solid bet as it is far less affected by larger economic trends and timber prices have been on an upwards streak for many months thanks to rapid infrastructure and construction growth in Asia.

Mr Collins also added, “Investing in timber is also a safe bet from an ethical standpoint as sustainable forestry plantations and other similar projects are helping to provide countries like Brazil with alternatives for charcoal other than using native trees.”

FRA claims that investing in managed forestry can also help developing countries, such as Brazil, to thrive and begin to understand the value that can be gleaned from standing forests, as well as from timber.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com

Real Estate

Increasing Popularity Of Forestry Investment Leads To The Launch Of World Exclusive Elite Teak Tree Investment Opportunity

Leave a comment

In recent years the volatile global economy has led to an increasing number of investors looking to enter the alternative investment market as a way to cope with uncertainty surrounding traditional investments.

Forestry investment has proven to be both a profitable and ethical opportunity for investment funds for many years and has remained strong – with an increase average of 6.5% year on year for the past 10 years – throughout the global economic downturn.

With investors now in search for higher returns, alternative investments have become an increasingly popular asset class for those looking to grow their portfolio with minimal risk and strong projected returns.

In Asia, Teak is the most popular and valuable hardwood mainly because the furniture industry which accounts for approximately 85% of use due to its strong durability qualities.

There’s been a rise in Teak investment due to a combination of fast physical growth rates, high market price and extremely favourable supply and demand characteristics.

Traditionally Forestry investment was mainly only accessible to large investment funds and banks however a new elite forestry investment has now been packaged into smaller units for the private investor.

The increase in demand for forestry investment has led to Experience International’s launch of a World Exclusive Elite Teak Tree Programme, with investment packages starting from only £30,000 with projected 10 year returns of £158,000.

“We’re pleased to exclusively launch our World Exclusive Elite Teak Tree Programme to the international market,” Steven Worboys, MD of Experience International comments.

“For an investment of £30,000 investors will acquire 100 elite tissue culture teak trees planted in 2004 under the strict forestry management guidelines, using tissue culture teak plants created in laboratories by world tissue culture experts.”

This alternative forestry investment is set to attract investors looking to move away from traditional asset classes which have become increasingly volatile since the global economic downturn.

Over the past 10 years Teak has seen an average increase of 6.5% year on year and applying this rate delivers returns in excess of £158,000 over a straight 10 year period.

Experience International can offer clients, who wish for a greater degree of liquidity in their portfolio, an earlier exit strategy where investors can at any time, chose to harvest some or all of their stock from September 2016 up to the final delivery date in September 2021.

This flexible forestry investment is secured by Trust administered by Independent Trustees from London Law Firm and offers a performance guarantee.

In a market where the demand outstrips supply, it’s clear to see why many investors are entering forestry investment instead of other options.

For the further information on forestry investment / forest investment please contact Experience International for your World Exclusive Elite Teak Tree Programmed guide on 0207 321 5858 or email enquiries@experience-international.co.uk