Tropical Forestland Management Services For Latin America
Donald Zeaser. With over 30 years of experience throughout Latin America, Donald is a world renowned expert in tropical forestry. Donald is a widely published expert in forest genetics and seed improvement programs, having worked both as a forestry consultant, and as a Professor of Forest Science. Donald's experience includes extensive work in the genetic improvement of Gmelina plantations. Gmelina is a fast growing, high value tropical hardwood with tremendous potential for carbon sequestration. Donald serves as La Foresta's Chief Forester.
Richard P. Ludington. Dick has more than 30 years of experience in natural resource management and conservation land acquisition. He draws on a wealth of knowledge and expertise to successfully negotiate and complete major land transactions, having acquired and sold more than two million acres of timberland. Formerly, Dick was Vice President for Real Estate at The Forestland Group and a founder of its predecessor company. Dick received his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is a licensed real estate broker and certified review appraiser. Dick was Florida’s first Director of State Lands, and was an instructor in conservation land acquisition at Duke School of Forestry, and later at Duke School of the Environment. As executive director of the Florida Nature Conservancy, and Southeast Regional Director of Land Acquisition for The Nature Conservancy, Dick has accomplished much in private sector land conservation and served as the principal on several key conservation projects throughout the United States.
Hugh Hackney. Hugh is a partner in Greenberg Traurig, one of the world's largest international law firms. In this capacity, Hugh serves as a chair of GT's Dispute Resolution practice group focusing on complex commercial litigation and international law. Hugh is a member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, the International Bar Association, the Society of International Business Fellows, the Charter Institute of Arbitrators, and the London Court of International Arbitration. Hugh has participated in international arbitrations involving disputes in Central America, Russia (expropriation of facilities), Kazakhstan (expropriation of an oil field interest), Japan (litigation over a breach of contract), Spain (litigation involving a contract dispute), China, and India. Hugh serves as La Foresta's Chief Legal Counsel.
Milton Lehman. A finance, mergers and acquisitions professional, Milton began his career with Potlatch Corporation, a prominent diversified forest products company based in the Pacific Northwest. As a specialist in private finance and corporate development, Milton has worked extensively in venture capital start ups, culminating in his successful facilitation of two NASDAQ IPOs. Most recently, Milton managed the successful divestiture of EcoAmerica Forest Products, one of Costa Rica's larger operators of tropical forest plantations, to a large North American Timber Investment Management Organizations (TIMO). Milton serves as La Foresta's Chief Executive Officer.
