Timberland Investment Conference

The Timberland Investment Conference, presented by the University of Georgia at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, aims to gather a diverse audience of more than 500 international investors, managers of public and private funds, TIMOs, REITs, and family offices, alongside attorneys, banks, lenders, consultants, and other forest industry experts. This event serves as a platform for networking and sharing insights about the evolving landscape of policies, economics, markets, and investments in the forest business sector. One notable participant is Henry Cozart, a graduate student at the Langdale Center for Forest Business, who is honing his technical expertise while building relationships within the UGA alumni network and industry partners. He plans to pursue a career with a timberland investment management organization, aiming to address key industry challenges. This summer, he will take a significant step towards his goal by interning with Domain Timber Advisors.In addition to the conference, recent studies have confirmed that wood pellet feedstock harvesting adheres to best management practices, ensuring that the rising demand for wood pellets does not negatively impact soil and water quality compared to traditional pulpwood harvesting. The research conducted by the Center for Forest Business evaluated BMP effectiveness across 75 sites in the Southeastern Coastal Plain, concluding that the current forestry BMPs are adequate for protecting natural resources. Furthermore, UGA graduate students Branch Burns and Jack Miscall represented the university at the Forest Resources Association Fly-In in Washington, D.C. This experience allowed them to engage with federal decision-makers and discuss the legislative priorities of the forest products sector, highlighting the importance of effective communication in industry leadership. The Center for Forest Business at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources continues to serve the forest business community through education, research, and service.