08.06.2026
One-Year Forest Carbon Contracts: Do They Create Meaningful Benefits?
For many forest landowners, 100-year carbon contracts are a non-starter. But what about 1-year harvest deferrals? New research led by Bruno Kanieski Da Silva shows that short-term harvest deferral programs can increase carbon storage at the landscape level. However, if successful and widely adopted, they can also raise timber prices and push mills to source wood from farther away. The study used agent-based modeling to examine 100 years of timber and carbon market dynamics in the U.S. South.
07.08.2026
A Review of Economics as a Driver of Forest Landscape Change and Management Strategies
New research by Pete Bettinger and collaborators Bruno da Silva, Jacek Siry, Stephen Kinane, and Krista Merry explores how forest landscapes have evolved since settlement and the answer is clear: forests are shaped as much by economics as by ecology. The findings reinforce the argument that when landowners have opportunities to generate income from their forests they have a stronger incentive to keep forests as forests. Early forest use focused on short-term timber extraction and land changes for agricultural expansion. Over time, rising timber demand, increasing prices, and concerns about timber scarcity led to a shift toward long-term forest management and investment-oriented forestry.
06.16.2026
How Declining Pulpwood Markets Influence Timberland Investment Returns
A recent study in the Journal of Forestry led by Bruno da Silva and supported by graduate students and faculty at the Center for Forest Business explores an important question for the forestry sector: what happens to pine plantation investment returns when pulp mills close and pulpwood prices fall? The research focused on regions in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina and found that lower pulpwood prices can substantially reduce expected returns to landowners.
01.15.2026
Balancing Risk and Reward: Fertilization Decisions in Timberland Investments
Timberland management is a long-term investment shaped by biological growth, market dynamics, and strategic decisions. One silviculture option, fertilization stands out as a key treatment with the potential to enhance productivity and financial returns. However, Dr. Bruno da Silva and fellow researchers from the Center for Forest Business found that fertilization outcomes are uncertain, and this uncertainty complicates decision-making for landowners and investors.
09.10.2025
The 2025 Georgia Timber Tax Credit FAQ is Available!
If you or your client’s timberland was impacted by Hurricane Helene, the 2025 Georgia Timber Tax Credit can offer some financial relief. Our new FAQ guide, authored by faculty at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, breaks down eligibility, application steps, and how to claim or transfer the credit.
02.26.2025
Empowering Forest Carbon Decisions: What the Latest Research Means for the Forest Sector
Forests are increasingly recognized as vital players in the global climate solution. A recent study supported by Drs. Bronson Bullock and Stephen Kinane convened over 100 experts to identify the biggest gaps in forest carbon modeling.
Associate Professor, Forest Economics & Taxation Outreach Specialist
Stuckey Professor of Forest Economics and Taxation Graduate Coordinator
