New RISI Report Analyzes South American Tree Farm and Biomass Energy Investment Opp...( BEDFORD Mass. July 14 /- RISI t...)

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 com
  '/>"/>