New RISI Report Analyzes South American Tree Farm and Biomass Energy Investment Opportunities

New RISI Report Analyzes South American Tree Farm and Biomass Energy
Investment Opportunities

BEDFORD, Mass., July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- RISI, the leading information provider
for the global forest products industry, today announced the publication of
the South American Tree Farm Update: Opportunities for Investment in Forest
Industry and Biomass Energy Plantations. This new study updates and expands on
the South American section of an earlier RISI study -Global Tree Farm &
Managed Forest Industry. The report describes in detail how the convergence
of the timberland, bioenergy, and carbon markets is creating a flood of new
investment opportunities in South America's plantation forest industry and
analyzes the structure of that industry. The study also provides an outlook on
future fiber supplies, and includes RISI's database of 130 ownerships in 8
countries, totaling 6.2 million hectares.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080521/NEW122LOGO )

Robert Flynn, study author and RISI director of international timber,
commented, "Over 15% of plantation forests in South America are owned by
overseas investors, including more than 500,000 ha owned by financial
investors like TIMOs. This is only about 3% of the area owned by timberland
investors in North America." He continued, "However, RISI projects that South
America and especially Brazil, will be the focus of the next surge in
timberland investment. Brazil already has more dedicated wood energy
plantations than Europe, North America, and Africa combined, and the area of
these plantations is projected to more than double over the coming decade.
This report will be an essential tool for senior managers and analysts wanting
to evaluate investment opportunities in this rapidly growing sector."

The report features:
-- A comprehensive outlook on the current status of South America's
tree farm industry, including estimates of plantation area, species
planted, ownership, and investment trends.
-- Overview of South America's plantation forest-based wood products
and pulp and paper industries, including industry structure, timber
demand trends, importance in global markets and the outlook for new
projects.
-- Insight into potential investment and timberland acquisition
opportunities for North American and European organizations, and
problem
areas to avoid.
-- Brief descriptions of nearly 80 companies currently involved in tree
farm investment in South America.

-- Dedicated woody biomass energy plantations in South America:
importance
within the region, potential fiber source for bioenergy demand in
Europe, major industry players and avenues for new investment.

The data and analysis in this new study will help organizations answer the
following strategic questions:
-- Who have been the major foreign investors in South American plantation
forestry, and which countries and industry sectors have they focused
on?
-- What is the current and expected role of biomass energy markets in
plantation development, and which countries/regions offer the best
opportunities for this type of new project?
-- What impact has the current financial crisis had on forest industry
development, product markets, and plantation log prices in South
America?

-- What are the primary drivers of plantation development in the region,
and what are the most challenging stumbling blocks?

The South American Tree Farm Update is currently available and can be
purchased at www.risiinfo.com/satreefarm.

About RISI
RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products
industry. The company works with clients in the timber, wood biomass, wood
products, pulp and paper, tissue, nonwovens, printing and publishing
industries to help them make better decisions.

Headquartered in Boston (Bedford), Massachusetts, RISI operates offices in
Brussels, Belgium; Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California; Portland,
Oregon; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Shanghai, China; Singapore; and Charlottesville,
Virginia. More information can be found at www.risiinfo.com.

Contact:
Dan Blenk
Director of Marketing, Wood & Timber Information
RISI
4 Alfred Circle,
Bedford, MA 01730 U.S.A.
Tel: +1.781.734.8942
Email: dblenk@risiinfo.com

SOURCE RISI

Dan Blenk, Director of Marketing, Wood & Timber Information of RISI,
+1-781-734-8942, dblenk@risiinfo.com