A Big Conference and a Big Timberland Transaction

The Conference:
Every other year the University of Georgia's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources hosts, what in my opinion, is the best conference out there that deals with timberland investment. The speakers are always excellent and represent the full spectrum of views and perspectives on the future outlook for timberland investments. This year's conference will focus on global wood markets and trade and the opportunities that have been created for both international and domestic timberland investment.  Another focus will be the impact of the domestic housing market.

Topics for this year's Timberland Investment Conference include:
• The Affects of the Housing Market Recovery on Wood Demand
• Global Timberland Investments & Markets
• Back to Basics Timberland Management
• Timberland Appraisals Issues
• Legal Considerations for Forestland Ownership
• Global Trade Developments

The conference dates are March 23 - 25 with an optional tour to be held on Plum Creek's land on the 22nd. If you are interested in attending, information on speakers, etc. and registration info can be found here. I hope to see you there.

The Timberland Transaction:

Maine's "Bangor Daily News" is reporting that the 900,000 acres of former I-P land that went to GMO is getting ready to change hands again. The reported buyer is BBC Land LLC which is controlled by John Malone of Englewood, Colorado. He is "chairman of Liberty Media, an Englewood-based company with diverse media interests that include the cable channel QVC, the travel website Expedia.com, the Atlanta Braves baseball team and Sirius XM satellite radio."

He reportedly already owns 1.2 million acres of which 68,000 acres is in Maine. The deal is expected to close on Feb.1. Read the entire story here.

Best Wishes. --Brian