Wednesday, September 17, 2003

See all those trees? Ever wonder whom all that belongs to?

By JEFF KENNERLY
Georgia Forestry Commission

Ever wonder who owns the forestland in Georgia? Is it national forests? Does it belong to the state? Of the 37 million acres in Georgia 24.4 acres is in forestland. That's two-thirds of the state. Would you believe that 72 percent of the forestland in Georgia is privately owned?

So what is ownership composition on the local level? Fayette County has 126,300 total land acres, of which 59,600 acres are forested. Who owns the land in Fayette County? The county and municipalities own 0.3 percent. 8 Percent is owned by corporations. That leaves the private landowner who owns 91 percent of the forestland in Fayette County.

What does this mean? In terms of forestry, private individuals hold the vast raw materials base for the forest products industry. Forestry creates an economic impact of $30.5 billion annually to Georgia. Proper management of the state's forestland is crucial to supporting our environment, economy and forest products industry that supplies the more than 5,000 products we use every day that comes from trees. Many acres of forestland are actively managed for eventual harvest and reforestation, as well as to enhance and preserve the environment and wildlife habitat. Special care is taken to protect the environment and water quality. Landowners use the help of private and government forestry professionals to manage their forests and realize the potential of what can be a profitable investment.

Our forests also provide economic, social and environmental benefits. Clean water, community pride and economic stability are just a few benefits. Many people think the destruction of our forests is because too many trees are being harvested. However, the reality is that more acres of forestland are lost to development and urban sprawl than are cut for wood products. In fact, approximately 1.78 trees are planted for every one cut, as well as nearly 80,000 acres that naturally regenerate each year.

So, the next time you take a drive, take a moment to notice the many trees across the county and across this state. Georgia is known as the "greenest" state in the South and private landowners are responsible for the stewardship and care of these acres. The Georgia Forestry Commission invites you to visit our web site at www.gfc.state.ga.us to learn what state forestry is doing to help landowners protect and manage their forests. For more information and assistance, contact your county forestry unit at 770-227-5522 or 358-1459.