At the Langdale Center for Forest Business, our faculty collaborate with private industry, government agencies, and academic partners to deliver cutting-edge research in forest business. We focus on developing economically sound forest management strategies, enhancing global market competitiveness, and advancing the biological understanding of forestry systems. Our interdisciplinary approach ensures that our work remains relevant, impactful, and aligned with the evolving needs of the forest sector.
06.01.2025
Is Wood Pellet Harvesting Sustainable? New Research Says Yes—With Caveats
With the southeastern U.S. supplying over 80% of America’s wood pellets—most of which are exported to Europe—questions about the sustainability of pellet feedstock harvesting are more relevant than ever.
05.06.2025
Evaluating the Environmental Impact of Pellet Feedstock Harvesting in the Southeastern U.S.
A new study by UGA researchers compared 67 harvest sites across the southeastern U.S. to evaluate whether wood pellet feedstock harvesting differs from conventional pulpwood operations in terms of soil disturbance, ground cover, and wildlife habitat.
04.23.2025
Smarter Forest Planning with Heuristic Optimization
Forest managers face a complex puzzle: how to schedule timber harvests that are profitable, sustainable, and legally compliant. Traditional planning methods can be slow and rigid, but threshold accepting, a powerful heuristic optimization technique, can be designed to generate high-quality harvest schedules quickly.
