TITLE:
Timberland Investing and Private Property Rights in the United States of America
AUTHORS:
Caroline Harris, Tom Harris, Jacek Siry
KEYWORDS:
Forest Economics, Property Law, Property Rights, Private Land Ownership, History of Forestry, Alternative Asset Classes, Premises Liability, Recreational Land Use, Business Law, Capital Use, Real Estate Title, Rule of Law, United States Constitutional Law, Legal History
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Forestry,
Vol.10 No.4,
October
12,
2020
ABSTRACT: Investments in rural land for agriculture, timber, and other natural resource purposes occur frequently and globally. Fundamental principles of liberty and property found in the United States of America’s (“US”) legal system, from its origins to recent US Supreme Court decisions, continue to positively benefit holders of real estate in the Southern US, through a deep-rooted public policy of supporting private property rights and rural economic development. This stable rule of law enhances the long-term adaptability and sustainability of timberland as an asset class. This article is a commentary. It combines legal research methodology with the observations and conclusions of the authors. Its purpose is to demonstrate that the existence of alienable, documentable ownership, and related property rights create inherent stability and security. These principles form the basis of a culture that is defined by the rule of law and is “open for business.” This business mindset is particularly prevalent in the Southern US.