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These concepts are nothing new to timberland investments where “green” and “sustainability” have long been associated concepts. In today’s landscape, conservation, carbon banking, and environmentally sound stewardship are underwritten by third-party certification and other oversight mechanisms. TIMBERLAND INVESTING Investments in forestland are not necessarily every day/mainstream for most investors; however, it is a well-established industry with investors of all stripes and offers some unique and desirable investment characteristics. Timberland represents a real/hard asset capable of return from biological growth, cash flow operating activities, and product and price appreciation in their most basic forms. Many investors, applying portfolio theory, allocate 3-10% of their portfolio value to real assets, including timberland. Timberland investments offer a low correlation to equities and many other asset classes, tend to be long-term and low risk, are often used as a hedge against inflation, and, in some situations, are a vehicle to preserve wealth. Investments in timberland are inherently an attractive ESG investment when managed ethically and sustainably, which the vast majority of investment-grade timberland is and which any investment in land can become. Timberland and timber management often involves layers of these principles beginning at the ground level with concern for soil productivity and water quality at the forefront of the management decisions. Conservation ideals, carbon sequestration, and mitigation banking opportunities provide more formal stewardship opportunities. Third-party oversight and chain of custody “certification” is available to interested investors. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS Conservation easements are a common overlay to timberland properties. “Working Forest Conservation Easements” (WFCEs), as they are often termed, are most prevalent across Northeastern and Midwestern timberland regions; however, examples can be found throughout the country. Although most WFCEs are custom-tailored to each property, they share similar terms and principles depending on the situation. The purpose of these instruments is primarily to conserve open space, protect sensitive sites and species, limit future fragmentation and development, promote public access and outdoor recreation, and to encourage or mandate a productive working forest into perpetuity. WFCEs often include a comprehensive forest management plan or third-party sustainability certification requirement, ensuring long-term, professional-quality timber and forest management. Whether by implementing a new conservation easement or by virtue of stewarding an existing easement, each provides for very real ESG intangibles. CARBON SEQUESTRATION Carbon sequestration is a more recent value and benefit associated with timberland properties. Sequestering carbon is done to mitigate/offset carbon emissions elsewhere to maintain climate health. Supported by both compliance and voluntary markets, certain timberland properties provide desirable conditions for this type of activity. Ownerships capable of additive carbon sequestration and those developed for this purpose, offer investment flexibility by creating a parallel cash flow option to the sale of forest products, depending on the current market forces. Stewarding assets of this nature is a clear example of ESG investing. FOREST CERTIFICATION Forest certification offers landowners a voluntary check and balance, third-party verification system oversight of management practices, and chain of custody. Certification offers accountability and compliance with ESG principles, maintains chain of custody continuity, and can also contribute to favorable forest product pricing and marketability. Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®C120428) are the two primary oversight bodies for timberland owners. For more information about ESG and investing in timberland properties, please contact David Speirs at dspeirs@landvest.com or (207) 874-4982 or any one of our many land brokers at LandVest. We would love to hear your thoughts and better understand how we can help you achieve your ESG goals. Please click the button to take our survey (3 min): AVAILABLE ESG PROPERTIES Corporate Headquarters Ten Post Office Square Suite 1125 S Boston, MA 02109 617.723.1800 Timberland Headquarters One Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301 603.228.2020 Policies Privacy Policy Accessibility Get In Touch Contact Us Join Our Team Agent Login LandVest is an exclusive Affiliate of Christie's International Real Estate in Maine and New Hampshire and select areas of Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island. LandVest is powered by IDC Global and Datafloat Real Estate website solutions | Big data and market report products for the real estate industry