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FAQ

Can my trees be uniquely identified in the field?
Yes. The trees on your plot are individually marked with your unique number.

Who owns the trees?
As the plot owner, you do for the duration of the Certificate of Declaration of Trust

Is there a minimum investment?
Yes, £5,000.

Can I redeem my investment?
You have the right to sell, or transfer your Certificate of Declaration of Trust at any time to whomever you choose after 3 years. We cannot guarantee the value of your trees/plot, but, it is possible that we may be able to help find a buyer for your trees/plot.

Will too many plantations reduce the value of the timber?
Plantations today produce less than 1% of the tropical hardwoods consumed in the world. Every year 50 million acres of rainforest are felled. It is unlikely that enough plantations can ever be established to keep timber prices from spiraling out of control.

Is drought a problem?
Water is a vital resource in managed forestry and your plot will have access to nearby water
sources.

Why do GFI need me?
By inviting individuals and companies to invest in their own forestry plots we improve our future profits by increasing the number of plantations we can create, thereby demonstrating that ethical profit helps create sustainable forestry projects for the benefit of owners, local communities and the environment.

Where are the plots?
In Belem, this is in the state of Paragominas Brazil.

Which types of trees are on the plots?
The main trees are Teak and the secondary growth trees are a percentage of Parika (in
aid of growth). The Belem Sky Plantation is based on the harvesting of Teak only.

Are the trees already growing on the plots?
Yes, Our Belem Sky Plantation has existing 8 yr old Teak.

Why is the Term of the Project approx 19 years?
To sell the freehold of the land would be contrary to one of the main goals of Global Forestry Investments: to reforest the land such that a permanent perpetual forest is created. Therefore, we sell the beneficial rights to the land and the trees growing on it for 15 to 18 years after which the plots revert to Global Forestry Investments.

Can we visit the plantations?
Your chosen Rental Company will liaise with you regarding visits to the plantation.

How often are the plantations patrolled for poaching, vandalism,
pest management, etc.?
Theft almost never happens, but your appointed Rental Company should ensure that this is part of the management of your plot. They should also keep (and build up) the wild areas between the trees. This provides natural barriers so that disease does not spread from one planted field to another. Hurricanes very, very rarely come that far south.

Are the years in which thinning harvests and final harvest take place fixed? Or are they dependent on the growth rate?
The year of thinning/final harvest is dependent on the growth rate of the trees. Also in Brazil The typical pattern is at 3 - 6, 9 -12, 15-18 -21 and 25, depending on what your rental company’s forestry engineers advise. All these time scales are estimated due to the nature of growing trees. At the final harvest after the trees are grown and cut, when the project ends and the plots revert to GFI, there will be no replanting and no more cutting in the same area, except in ways that maintain the health of the new forest. The wood harvested in this way will go to support the people caring for and guarding the forest. The land will be returned to perpetual forest after one plantation cycle.

Is the number of trees being thinned a fixed number?
The exact number will be determined at the time of thinning by your Rental Company’s forestry engineer, who will inspect your trees regularly to monitor their growth and care.

The investment:

What are the yearly returns on this investment?
10% return on investment every year. This means if someone invests £5000 they will receive £500 after one year. The Return in simple and effective. Rental fees are £500 per 0.1 hectare plot per annum. This is the equivalent to 10% return.

Do I have to pay tax?
Each investor is responsible for his own tax arrangements and we advise you should check with an accountant or a qualified tax advisor.

Why would I invest with you?
When you buy a plot and the trees with Global Forestry investments, you are making a permanent change in the amount of tropical forest in the world. The land under your trees will never again be pasture and will remain forest forever, thanks to an easement that rides in perpetuity with the property title. Not only do you get a good return on your investment, but you are investing in the future of us all.

What if my financial situation changes?
GFI understands that 25 years is a long time and that peoples’ circumstances change.
Therefore should you require, GFI will assist you in selling your plot and the trees growing on it.

Is there a minimum or maximum purchase?
The minimum investment is £5,000 (equivalent to approximately 100 trees). There is no maximum.

What is the minimum investment term?
The minimum investment term is 3 years. After this GFI will buy the plots back of you if you wish at the price which you purchsed them.

Can you be sure that the value of Teak will go up?
There are no guarantees, but Teak has gone up every year for the past 20 years and timber is a very safe commodity. Demand is rising so we agree with many financial experts that timber is an excellent investment.

Are you planting trees that will not be harvested?
Yes. We are committed to returning one hectare of deforested land to its natural state for every hectare of land we replant with your trees. This land will remain as natural forest.

How will I know which are my trees?
Every tree is numbered. After your purchase you will receive a plot map trees have been
planted you will receive a certificate stating where your trees are.