fall line's founders
Fall Line Forestry Consultants LLC was formed in 1987
JAMES C. BARNETT held the position of Chief Forester for Merrill Lynch Commercial Real Estate from 1983 to 1987. In this capacity he directed comprehensive management planning and supervision for 10,000+ wooded acres under foreign ownership. Jay was a continuing advisor to Merrill Lynch Realty's forest land investment clients. Property appraisal for land exchanges, timber evaluation and sales were among his responsibilities. Jay also advised clients on the tax considerations of forestry investment and management decisions.
In seven years as Unit Manager for Scott Paper Company, Jay supervised management programs and personnel for 140,000 acres in south Alabama. His experience includes planning and executing annual cutting programs, site preparation and planting, forest road construction, timber product merchandising, harvesting and chip mill operations.
Jay has a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management from Iowa State University. He is a licensed real estate broker, a Georgia Registered Forester, and holds memberships in the Society of American Foresters and Forest Farmers Association.
Decades of Forest Management Experience at your service!
MARK D. BARNETT has five years experience in forest industry with Hammermill Paper Company. As Staff Management Forester he planned land acquisitions ($2.5 million/year), was responsible for company ad valorem property taxes (250,000 acres), implemented a geographic information/stand mapping system using color infrared photography, and developed a timber inventory system. Mark performed present value and financial analyses for property and timber.
As Assistant District Forester, Mark worked with private landowners in Hammermill's Forest Management Assistance Program. He developed and carried out individualized management plans. On company lands Mark participated in annual planning, appraisal, acquisition, and harvest budgeting. He supervised operations including timber marking and sales, site preparation and tree planting.
Mark attended Auburn University, receiving a Masters degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management. He holds a real estate broker's license, is a Registered Forester in Georgia and Alabama, and member of the Georgia Multiple Listing Service.
ALABAMA FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION
"Capital Ideas" December 2025
https://afoa.org/foresters/mark-david-barnett/
Mark David Barnett
- Fall Line Forestry, LLC
- 10800 Alpharetta Highway, Suite 208,#579
- Roswell,
- GA
- 30076
- Office: (770) 857-3140
- Cell: (404) 271-2573
- Email: fallineforestry@gmail.com
- Website: www.fallineforestry.com
For consulting forester Mark Barnett, a love of the outdoors and a passion for stewardship have guided a lifelong career in forestry. After earning his degree in Forest Management and a master’s in Economics from Auburn University, Mark began his career with Hammermill Paper Company in central Alabama. When Hammermill was later acquired by International Paper, he saw an opportunity to take a different path—one that allowed him to work directly with landowners and stay connected to the land itself. In 1987, he and his brother, Jay, founded Fall Line Forestry, which has been serving landowners across eastern Alabama—from Eufaula up to the state’s northeast corner—ever since.
Fall Line Forestry provides full-service forest management, handling everything from planting bare ground to harvesting mature timber. The firm specializes in representing landowners during timber sales—whether thinning or clear cuts—ensuring a well-executed harvest and the best possible return. They also perform timber inventories and cruises with an emphasis on accuracy and integrity.
For Barnett, the rewards go far beyond the numbers. “I enjoy being outdoors,” he says. “There’s always something new to discover—wildlife, unexpected tree species, or a massive old tree that no one’s seen in decades. The surprises never stop.”
—Capital Ideas, December 2025
