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Frequently Asked Questions

How do we work out our financial projections?
Our financial projections are based on two primary factors; the value of the trees/product at sale and the rate at which it can be grown. We try to project harvest maturities realistically.

How safe is my Investment?
The security of your Investment is of paramount importance. We have endeavored to make owning your own plantation as secure as possible by:

• Providing you with a full lease on the land upon which your trees are planted. This lease is registered with the Land Registry for the full period your trees are growing.
• Providing you with a Forestry Title Deed, giving you full title over your trees.
• Using our plantation partners years of experience in forestry backed up by the scientific advisory.
• Our resident foresters living on your land to help monitor and protect it.
• Using very conservative independent figures in our projections to ensure we meet your expectations.
• Protecting you from any potential crop loss by undertaking to replace any trees of yours which do not reach maturity with our own trees.

How do I know what's happening with my trees?
Our professional foresters, who monitor the growth profiles of your trees in the plantations, will report on the condition of your trees and help you determine the actual harvests of your trees.

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

Who owns the trees?
As the tree 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, harvest 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.

Are there any Teak diseases?
There are no known diseases on the Belem Sky plantation but the foresters of your chosen rental company will continually monitor the trees.

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

Why do Global Forestry Investments need me?
By inviting individuals and companies to invest in their own forestry units, 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, which is in the state of Paragominas Brazil.

Which types of trees are on the plots?
Teak and a percentage of Parika within our plantations in aid of growth.

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 15 to 18 years?
To sell the freehold of land would be contrary to one of the main goals of Global Forestry Investments; to reforest the land so 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.

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.

What are the payment methods you utilise?
Card payments, money transfers, and cheques.

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 Brazil- The typical pattern is at 5-7, 10, 13, 17, 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 a forestry engineer who will inspect your trees regularly to monitor their growth and care.

How do the projected returns compare with leaving my money in a bank? Nobody knows what interest rates will be offered to savers in the future, but if we assume an average rate of 5% per year for the next 25 years, a £5,000 deposit would increase to £16,932 if the interest were compounded. This compares to the projected return of £56,849 (over 12% ROI) that you will receive by buying trees.

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

Why would I invest with you?
When you buy trees with Global Forestry Investments, you are making a permanent change in the amount of tropical forests 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.

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 trees via the website and on the open market.

When would I get a return on my investment?
The financial projections that we have provided in the returns section give a good indication of when you see a return on your investment.

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

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.

When is the rainy season and the dry season?
Once again it depends on the country you’re investing in, please check the section under countries on our website.

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 and located by GPS (Global Positioning Satellite). After your trees have been planted you will receive a certificate stating where your trees are.