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Our clients own land for many different reasons; most want to see a financial return on their investment, while others want to promote wildlife and recreation. All place the highest priority on taking care of the resource.
Our business was built on managing the land's natural resources; specifically, managing them to achieve our clients' goals. Effective Resource Management is a multi-part process that will typically involve several of the following:
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Management Plans
Essential to managing any investment is having a good plan. Developing a good plan includes ...
Completing an analysis of the property.
This includes locating and mapping the land, obtaining volume estimates of the timber, analyzing road access, topography, soil conditions, availability of markets and even wildlife populations. Added to that is historical information, current ownership profiles, legal and regulatory restrictions, and tax information.
Getting a clear understanding of the client's objectives.
Understanding their goals whether it be maximizing returns, generating income, increasing wildlife populations, or protecting the property for heirs is essential to any management plan.
Identifying the steps necessary to accomplish the client's objectives.
Every plan is a balance between what is wanted and what is possible.
Adjusting the plan over time.
Changes in the client's objectives, the market, and a host of other relevant factors will obviously mean changes in the plan will be necessary.
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Mapping
Our offices are equipped with state-of-the-art GIS (Geographic Information System) computer mapping software, and GPS (Global Positioning System) mapping capabilities. Along with these technologies, our foresters use satellite imaging and aerial photography to create detailed and accurate tract, stand, and feature maps.
We are also available to provide these mapping services to other firms.
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Inventories & Appraisals
We are often asked for appraisals of land and/or timber. Appraisals of land are done in association with appraisers who specialize in timberland to insure accurate and knowledgable results. Timber appraisals are done by our foresters going to the property and systematically taking sample plots in which all trees are measured, and then recorded according to size, species, and product classification. The total volume and distribution of the timber is then estimated using this information. The latest market values for each by-product classification are then applied to calculate the total estimated timber value for the tract.
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Forest Establishment
In this part of the southeastern United States there are basically two types of forests: pine and hardwood. In the management of each there comes a time when the mature forest is harvested (or eliminated by nature), and the forest is re-established. For hardwood, this regeneration usually occurs naturally and our job is to encourage and facilitate regrowth. For pine, the trees need to be planted, usually by hand. Every year we prepare sites and plant over 1 million pine seedlings for our clients.
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Timber Stand Improvement
To maximize returns on a timber investment, it is often necessary to make improvements to the forest by doing ...
- Mid-rotation fertilization
- Chemical application
- Burning
- Road construction
- Site preparation, etc...
Our experienced foresters can ...
Examine the cost/benefit ratio of various improvements,
Recommend which, if any, are needed, and
Make sure the job is done properly.
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Timber Sales
Most of our clients have as their primary goal the sale of their mature timber. Timing in the sale of timber is crucial and a knowledge of the markets and buyers can make all the difference. We pride ourselves on being able to get the most money for our clients' timber. We also place special emphasis on making sure that the timber is harvested in such a way as to protect the land and the environment.
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Wildlife & Recreation Management
Many of our clients own land for their personal recreation and/or hunting. Our experience and training can maximize their land's potential to meet those needs.
Some clients like to lease their land to hunting clubs for additional income. We can help them find highly regarded clubs, and we work closely with these clubs to promote healthy wildlife populations and ensure non-destructive use of the land.
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Information Management (Growing Assets®)
The key to managing any investment is making good decisions, and the key to good decisions is having complete, accurate, and updated information at hand. To accomplish this, our firm offers the Growing Assets® service to our clients.
Growing Assets® is an information management service designed by professional forest managers and information system developers for the use of those who own or manage forests. It includes a powerful software program that allows the resource manager to collect and store all the wealth of information about your land investment in one place. We find it an invaluable tool.
Our clients who are not individuals, such as partnerships, corporations, and trusts, find the Growing Assets® reports an ideal way to provide updates to nonactive partners and stockholders.
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Total Management
Many of our clients are absentee landowners whose investment portfolios include land. For these clients our firm offers a total management package, that in addition to the primary services such as management plans, inventories, and timber sales includes services such as ...
- Negotiating and executing agreements such as hunting and mineral leases
- Paying taxes and other recurring expenses
- Monitoring and correcting problems such as beavers, insects, and diseases
- Providing detailed reports to our clients to keep them abreast of what is happening with their investment
These clients turn the everyday details of land management over to us with confidence, knowing that this is what we do best. At the Natural Resources Group we use our experience and knowledge to manage your natural resources.
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