What happens after I invest?

Once we receive your investment, Timberland Futures begins readying your seeds for germination. Once your trees are germinated and the Melina saplings begin to grow, the plot of land where your trees will be planted is prepared. Once planted, we take GPS readings of the plot of land and register the land with the Costa Rican Registry, giving you all cropping rights of the plot of land. You will then receive a Certificate of Ownership of your trees in your Investors Pack.

How are my trees or plots identified?

We provide GPS coordinates that outline each plot of trees. All trees within each plot are allocated to a single investor or a single investment group. Every tree within each GPS-demarcated plot is your tree. Each tree is uniquely numbered to allow for transparent and accurate accounting.

How do I know how many trees I have in my plot?

Every plot starts with 1,100 uniquely-identified trees. Timberland Futures prepares annual progress reports detailing any changes in the number of trees in each plot. These detailed progress reports indicate which trees have been pruned, which trees have been harvested and other pertinent information about your trees.

Can I come visit my plot of trees?

Yes, you can arrange a visit to the plantation through our outreach director. Call or email ahead of time to arrange for a visit of your plot.

When is the first harvest of my plot of trees?

We begin to harvest or thin your plot of trees after year 4, which allows for more sun and increased yield for the rest of the strongest trees.

Is Costa Rica a stable country?

Yes, Costa Rica is a peaceful, Democratic nation that abolished its army in 1949 and because there is no military, the threat of any type of military coup is impossible. Tourism drives the economy of Costa Rica and the safety of the tourists is the number one priority for the police force. In addition, the tax incentives offered for foreign investment, has attracted multi-national companies, like, Intel and Procter & Gamble to have operations in Costa Rica.

Is Costa Rica in the path of Hurricanes?

No. Technically Costa Rica is in the hurricane belt, but no hurricanes have actually reached Costa Rica, because of its southern proximity. Hurricanes don’t usually hit close to the equator because of the lack of spinning of air in the atmosphere and with Costa Rica’s close proximity to the equator, no hurricanes have actually hit Costa Rica.

Are my trees at risk to forest fires?

Not really, as all our plantations are planted in the humid tropical highlands of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Our plantations are not technically in a rainforest, however due to the high humidity and high rainfall, our plantations are very rainforest like. The high rainfall we enjoy promotes rapid tree growth and prevents the formation of dry fuel and forest fires.

With so much rain, is flooding of my plots a problem?

No. The majority of our plantations are located on sloped land with good draining routes to the adjacent rivers.

Are my trees at risk to insects or fungus infestations?

The Melina trees we grow have been genetically modified to ward off against disease and are resistant to infestations of both insects and fungi. Also, during entire the growth cycle of the Melina tree plantation, our technicians and engineers are constantly monitoring your trees for infestations of any type.

Can I buy more than just one plot of Melina Trees?

Yes, our investment packages are structured for both the large institutional investment organizations as well as the individual investor who may be interested in investing a portion of his IRA or pension fund. Please feel free to contact one of our investment specialists to find out what type of investment is right for you.

How are my returns of my investment determined?

As an investor in our Melina plantations, you will receive all proceeds from the sale of the Melina trees in your plot or plots of trees. We harvest your trees at three different times during the 12 year growth cycle; years 4, 8 and 10, with final harvest at year 12. At each harvest, your trees are sold locally or on the open international market, with all sales going back to you, minus a harvest fee we charge for cutting and transporting your trees.

How do I know which trees are mine?

Once you place an order with Timberland Futures, and we receive your investment, we begin to ready your trees for planting. This involves germinating and growing the amount of trees you purchased in one of our nurseries and once the saplings have grown to a specific size, we plant them in a plot that will be outlined by GPS. These GPS coordinates will be registered with the Registry of Costa Rica and a Certificate of Ownership will be sent to you, giving you legal cropping rights to your plot of trees.

Can I redeem my investment earlier than 12 years?

Yes. If you want to sell your trees earlier than the 12 year growth cycle, we can have an appraiser come and value your plot of trees at the standing value. The value of a standing tree is less than that of a cut, dried and cured tree, and we can only redeem the value of the standing tree.

Why invest in Melina trees and not Teak?

Melina trees grow twice as fast as Teak trees, 12 years as opposed to 25 years. This fast growth cycle, presents less risk for the investor, while enjoying all the benefits of steady rise in wood prices.

Who owns the land property of the plots?

Timberland Futures owns or controls all ownership of the properties being forested.

If you have any additional questions please contact us using the number below or Contact a Timberland Futures account representative HERE to download our free prospectus.