History

Hardwood market opportunities are catalysts for new company

In the 1990s, markets emerged for hardwood products and environmental services for which hybrid poplar was uniquely suited. In 1998, Jeff Nuss leveraged his background in poplar culture, tree farm management and bio-resource engineering to establish GreenWood Resources (GWR). The company soon became a catalyst for new investment opportunities in non-traditional timber assets.

Management and poplar hybridization expertise combine

Jeff combined forces with Dr. Brian Stanton, an internationally recognized expert on poplar genetics and chair of the Poplar Genetics Working Unit for the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). Today, we own and operate the foremost classic hybrid poplar breeding and research station in the United States and have become the premier manager of fast-growing, high-yield tree farms in the country.

Expansion into China's temperate zone

Hybrid poplar is the fastest growing tree in the temperate zone, an area in which most of China falls. In 2000, we began traveling to China with Mercy Corps to explore how our tree farm systems could help alleviate poverty there. After 5 years of building business relationships and developing markets, GWR China was formed to meet China's demand for wood while preserving natural environments and bringing economic opportunities to the poor.

Diversifying the forestry industry in South America

Similarly, in 1999 we began testing plant material in Chile in response to that government's efforts to diversify the forestry industry beyond radiata pine and eucalyptus. We've tested multiple clonal selections, and research indicates that our trees will consistently outperform alternative varieties. We're engaged in discussions to establish forest management relationships and investment opportunities into tree farms throughout Chile and other areas of South America.

Core competencies cover the entire timber operation value chain

Our core competencies — capital management, superior plant material, tree improvement methodologies, tree farm operations and sales and marketing — uniquely address the broad skills required to produce superior, risk-adjusted returns for investments into short-rotation tree farms. Our strategy meets the growing demand for sustainable harvested trees and provides responsible environmental stewardship for renewable forest resources. Our operations are structured so that we capture value throughout the tree farm rotation cycle:

• Tree improvement and nursery operations support breeding and hybridization for continual plant material improvement and commercialization.
• Resource management capabilities optimize tree farms throughout the rotation.
• Sales and trading expertise develops new, high-value markets for timber products.
• Focused, regional investment funds capture non-traditional forestry investment opportunities in short-rotation tree farms.