Wednesday, August 6, 2003

State of Georgia forests in 2003

Georgia forests are well-managed and growing, but landowners and industry face global and home-grown challenges. A new government/private report finds Georgia's 24 million acres of forests "diverse, well-managed, and healthy" but says the forest community must overcome mounting challenges at home and abroad to remain a "critical contributor to Georgia's economy and overall quality of life."

The study, State of the Forest: A Report on Georgia Forests 2003, was developed jointly by the Georgia Forestry Commission, a state agency; the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, an industry-related organization that worked cooperatively on the study with the Warnell School of Forest Resources' Center for Forest Business of the University of Georgia; and the Georgia Forestry Association, which represents all segments of the forestry community-from landowners to harvesters to wood product manufacturers. The report includes updated assessments of Georgia's forest resources from a number of perspectives - economic, environment, and social - and sums up the challenges and opportunities that will define and determine forestry's future in Georgia - near and long-term.

In something of a surprise - given Georgia's dramatic urban growth - the report said the state's forestland base has remained relatively stable over the last 70 years. The base has even grown by 200,000 acres in the past five years due to conversion of agricultural land to trees. Some 600,000 private landowners - most of them families - own 72 percent of the forests in Georgia.

Economic data developed by Georgia Tech and included in the report show forestry has a direct impact (business output) of $19.5 billion on the state's economy and an indirect impact of $30.5 billion. Georgia forestry is directly responsible for 77,266 jobs with a payroll of $3.6 billion. Indirectly, forestry is the basis for 204,000 jobs with a payroll of more than $7.7 billion.

The economic impact numbers do not take into account the non-economic benefits that flow from Georgia forests, such as improved air and water quality, abundant and diverse wildlife, and green space and recreational opportunities for an enhanced quality of life for all citizens.

"Challenges that affect the future of the state's vital forest industry and related forestry community need to be addressed now," the report said. "Global competition, available markets for wood fiber, taxes, and continued urbanization and resulting impact on land values and taxation are just some of the factors that have already begun to influence the future of the industry. These issues affect forest landowner decisions about future investments in forests and industry decisions about making investment in manufacturing facilities."

"State of the Forest: A Report on Georgia Forests 2003" can be found at www.gfc.state.ga.us/Publications/Educational/StateOfTheForestReport. pdf.

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