back

APPENDIX I. COMPARATIVE PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVES

(Copyright Tennessee Timber Consultants.  All rights reserved

The purpose of the following chart is to display general relationships among typical Tennessee woodland investments.  No interpretation should be made other than to see, from a very broad perspective, how one stand investment might compare with alternative strategies.  The definitions provided should only be interpreted in the broadest sense, and will not be true in all instances statewide.  Woodland owners should always discuss their options with trained professional foresters before making a final decision regarding investment strategies.

 

STAND TYPE                                               TIME               COST             RETURN       RISK

International Upland Hardwood                   V. Long           Low                 V. High           Low

Domestic Upland Hardwood                       V. Long           Low                 Medium          Low1

Low Quality Upland Hardwood                    Long               Low                 Low                 Low

Pine Pulpwood                                              Short               Medium          High        Medium

Upland Yellow Pine Sawtimber                   Medium          Medium          High        Medium

Bottomland Loblolly Pine Sawtimber          Medium          Medium          V. High    Medium

International Bottomland Hardwood            V. Long           low                  V. High    Medium

Domestic Bottomland Hardwood                V. Long           Low                 High         Medium

Low Quality Bottomland Hardwood            Medium          Low                 Low          Medium

International Cove Hardwood                      V. Long           Low                 V. High           Low

White Pine Sawtimber                                 Medium          Medium          High        Medium

Hardwood Plantations                                  Long               High                Low                 High

Paulownia Specialty                         Short               High                V. High      V High

Walnut Specialty                                           Medium          High                V. High           High

Xmas Trees Specialty                                  V. Short          V. High           V. High      V High

Streamside Management Zones                DNA                DNA                DNA         Medium

Green Stands                                                DNA                DNA                DNA        Medium

 

TIME:  The approximate relative term, or length, of the investment, defined as: Very Short = less than 10 years, Short = 20 years or less, Medium = 20-40 years, Long = 40 - 60 years, and Very Long 60+ years.

 

COST:  Relative estimated costs/acre of expenses associated with the investment, defined as:  Low = less than $50.00, Medium = $50 - $150, High = $150.00 plus annual costs for a few years, Very High = $150.00 plus annual expenses for several years or perhaps throughout the term of the investment.

 

RETURN:  Estimated relative annual returns on investments as a function of actual costs for average Tennessee conditions including growth and income defined as: Low = less than 6%, Medium = 6%-10%, High = 10%-15%, Very High 15%+. 

 

RISK:  Relative estimated investment risks for average Tennessee conditions.

 

DNA:  Does Not Apply.

 

 

 

APPENDIX II. STAND PROSPECTUSES

 

Most investors have at least seen a mutual fund prospectus.  The purpose of a prospectus is to allow investors to review detailed information about a particular mutual fund prior to them actually putting any money into it.  A prospectus may or may not have been reviewed or passed by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  However, they normally include very pertinent information including the manager's investment strategy, limitations, annual costs, and historic returns on investments over the short and long term.

 

As previously discussed, if we think about stands of timber along much the same lines as a mutual fund, then it would seem to be helpful for woodland owners to have the opportunity to review a prospectus for each of their woodland investment options.  Timber investments are clearly not regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Never the less, a prospectus for a timber stand only serves to provide woodland owners a simple, logical analysis of timber management alternatives.

 

The following provides a prospectus for each Stand Type listed in Appendix III, Comparative Portfolio Investment Alternatives.  Again, these apply to general conditions across Tennessee as a whole, and may not be accurate for individual tracts.  Woodland owners should always discuss their opportunities and risks with an experienced professional forester familiar with local conditions before they initiate any timber management investments.