Overview
Dr. Mei's program of research centers on forestland investment, nature-based climate solutions, and decision-making under uncertainty. His book, Forestland Investment - Valuation and Analysis, which was published by Routledge in July 2023, offers a thorough review and provides an in-depth analysis of timberland as an alternative asset class. Prior to joining Duke, Dr. Mei was Hargreaves Professor of Forest Finance at the University of Georgia. Dr. Mei's work has been funded by numerous agencies such as NASA, USDA NIFA, US Forest Service, and FAO of the United Nations. In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Mei has more than 15 years of experience as a timberland investment consultant.
Dr. Mei oversees the Natural Resources Finance Initiative, which was launched in 2019 to train professional master’s students in a broad array of financial skills critical to natural resource management and conservation today.
Dr. Mei oversees the Natural Resources Finance Initiative, which was launched in 2019 to train professional master’s students in a broad array of financial skills critical to natural resource management and conservation today.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Professor of the Practice of Natural Resource Finance in the Divsion of Environmental Science and Policy
·
2023 - Present
Environmental Sciences and Policy,
Nicholas School of the Environment
Recent Publications
On the corporate performance of issuers of various green assets
Journal Article Finance Research Letters · May 1, 2025 This study examines the corporate performance of green and brown asset issuers in China and the driving forces for the asset premium of green bonds, asset-backed securities (ABSs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Using quarterly data from 2016 to ... Full text CiteOn the carbon additionality of working forests
Journal Article Forestry Economics Review · January 21, 2025 PurposeUsing a 62,742-ha working forest in New Brunswick, Canada, we examine the benefit and cost of carbon additionality at the landscape level. Full text CiteImpacts of COVID-19 and contractual changes on the financial performance of lumber futures
Journal Article Canadian Journal of Forest Research · January 1, 2025 The United States lumber futures market has followed a volatile path since 2017. Two key events in this market are the COVID-19 pandemic and the release of newly revised lumber futures contracts in August 2022. This study aims to examine how these two even ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Exploration of Increasing Participation of Underserved and Small Holder Landowners in Ecosystem Services Markets
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Croatan Institute · 2025 - 2027REVISED BUDGET ONLY Economic Analysis of Property Rights Encumbered by Forest Conservation Easements
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Mississippi State University · 2024 - 2026National Timber Asset Account and Stumpage Price Database
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by US Forest Service · 2023 - 2025View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of Georgia ·
2010
Ph.D.