At the present rate of tropical deforestation, the world's remaining tropical rainforests will vanish in just 30 years. By working together we can make a difference! Tropical American Tree Farms offers a unique retirement investment opportunity which helps save the tropical rainforests.
Deforestation in the tropical areas of the world is following a course similar to the earlier clearing of the forests in Europe and North America, only advancing more rapidly. Since just 1950, the world's population has more than doubled to more than 6 billion people, with the fastest population growth being in the tropics. Today, more than 3 billion people live in the tropics alone, more than lived in the entire world in 1950.
Even with tropical deforestation at an all-time high, tropical hardwood prices continue to climb as world demand for tropical hardwoods continues to grow. A single teak log for example can now bring as much as $20,000. Annual world consumption of tropical hardwoods is now more than 250 million cubic meters, or over 100 billion board feet, per year.
Southeast Asia until recently has been the largest source of supply for tropical hardwoods, but that area will largely be depleted within the next five years. All of the primary forests in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh are gone. Ivory Coast's forests are essentially non-existent. Nigeria's forests have been decimated as well. As Asia's and Africa's tropical forests are depleted, consuming countries are turning increasing attention to Latin America and the Amazon, whose own rapidly growing population is also a source of pressure on the rainforests..
Scientists estimate that until as recently as 10,000 years ago, the world had 6 billion acres of tropical rainforests. By 1950, we had a little less than 2.8 billion acres of rainforest. It was then being cut down at the rate of about 10 to 15 million acres per year. Today we have less than 1.5 billion acres left, and we are clearing this remaining rainforest at the rate of 30 to 50 million acres per year, two to three times as rapidly as just a few decades ago. If the present rate of tropical deforestation continues, there will be nearly no tropical rainforests left in just 30 years. Instead of holding steady however, the rate of deforestation is actually predicted to increase even further. Scientists project that the rate of tropical deforestation will continue to increase for the next 10 to 15 years until there simply will not be enough forest left to sustain the rate of cutting.
We must do everything reasonable we can to protect the world's remaining rainforests. One important way to help is to plant tropical hardwood trees for harvests, to produce tropical hardwoods that aren't taken from the natural rainforest. As individuals, we may at times feel insignificant, but by working together, we can indeed make a difference. And by being an example for others, we can multiply the result. Tropical hardwoods provide tree owners with a unique retirement investment.
As international demand for tropical hardwoods increases and the availability of the natural rainforests as a source of supply of these hardwoods decreases, both because of continued harvesting and because the dwindling remaining forests will be increasingly protected, the prices of all tropical hardwoods will likely soar.
There is substantial opportunity in planting nearly any species of tropical hardwoods - and even more opportunity in planting tropical hardwoods that are sought after for their beauty or unique properties.
The following excerpts from two articles by recognized retirement investment professionals in Smart Money Magazine and the Bloomberg Wealth Manager underscore the benefits of investing in trees for harvest.
". . . timber is a near perfect asset"
". . . real prices for timber have steadily risen for more than 100 years - better performance than any other commodity . . ."
"clients inclined toward socially responsible investing will find even more to like in timber . . .."
"Timber's qualifications as a solid alternative investment are too impressive to dismiss."
". . . compared with oil and gold, for example, whose value can be affected by new finds, 'we know where all the world's forests are.'"
It is increasingly vitally important to plant tropical hardwood trees for harvest and to protect the world's remaining tropical rainforests. With the help and faith of the tree owners, Tropical American Tree Farms has planted more than 2 million tropical hardwood trees planted to date. They are making a difference in the future of the rainforests. Their tree owners are also enjoying a unique and rewarding retirement investment.
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