NativState has acquired Neeley Forestry Service, a forestry and land management firm serving landowners across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The transaction strengthens NativState’s landowner-focused model by adding deeper field expertise, established community relationships, and expanded operational capacity across the Southeastern United States. It also advances the company’s strategy of combining forest carbon development with practical land management services for private landowners.
Acquisition Overview
The deal brings Neeley Forestry Service and its team into NativState, allowing the combined business to continue serving existing clients while broadening the services available to landowners. Neeley Forestry Service was founded in 1972 by Jim Neeley and has built a long-standing reputation as an adviser to landowners managing timberland and rural properties. Under JD Neeley’s leadership, the firm has remained closely connected to regional landowner communities and has supported clients with forestry, land stewardship, appraisal, and real estate expertise.
Strategic Rationale
For NativState, the acquisition is designed to reinforce its position as a long-term operating partner for landowners rather than only a forest carbon project developer. By integrating Neeley Forestry Service’s local forestry capabilities, NativState can offer landowners broader support across carbon market participation, sustainable forest management, wildlife management, recreational leasing, and land planning. The company said the move supports its goal of helping landowners generate new economic opportunities while maintaining the health and resilience of working forests.
Landowner Network Expansion
NativState has focused on small private landowners in the Southeastern United States, particularly within the region often described as the country’s timber basket. The company has enrolled more than 750,000 acres across the region, while Neeley Forestry Service adds more than 200,000 acres across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. That expanded footprint gives NativState a larger base from which to deliver carbon development, forestry services, and ongoing project management to landowners facing long-term decisions about timber, conservation, and revenue diversification.
Continuity and Service Offering
A key element of the acquisition is continuity, with Neeley Forestry Service’s team joining NativState to preserve existing relationships and maintain support for landowners already working with the firm. NativState said the integration will allow it to build on Neeley’s community trust while adding resources tied to carbon project development, geospatial analysis, verification support, and long-term management. The transaction also includes Neeley’s appraisal and real estate services, giving landowners additional tools to understand property value, manage timberland assets, and evaluate acquisitions or sales.
Leadership Perspective
NativState CEO Stuart Allen said the combination would allow the company to deliver greater value to landowner partners while staying focused on sustainable forest management. JD Neeley said NativState was the right partner because both companies share a commitment to landowners, local relationships, and responsible stewardship. Their comments underline the central theme of the acquisition, which is expanding NativState’s platform without losing the local credibility that has made Neeley Forestry Service a trusted regional adviser for more than five decades.
The acquisition of Neeley Forestry Service marks another step in NativState’s effort to build an integrated model for forest carbon development and land management. By adding a respected forestry firm with more than 50 years of regional experience, NativState gains deeper operational capabilities and a larger landowner network across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The deal positions the company to offer private landowners a broader set of services as they seek income from carbon markets while continuing to manage working forests for long-term stewardship, habitat, and resilience.