GFC eUpdate [Jan. 28, 2014]

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GFC eUpdate

Contents
Forestry Economic Report Strong for 2012
Firewise Communities Receive Mitigation Grants
Forest Management Matters
How's Your Seedling Supply?
Upcoming Events
Tree Board Webinar Series
2/4/2014
Turf and Trees Seminar for the Green Industry
2/4/2014 Macon, GA
Forestry Day at the Capitol 2/12/2014 2/13/2014 Atlanta, GA
Statewide Arbor Day
Celebration/GUFC Quarterly Program
2/18/2014 Rome, GA
Georgia Arbor Day Webcast for
Schools 2/20/2014

Forestry Economic Report Strong for 2012
For the second consecutive year, Georgia's forest industry has posted positive economic gains for the state. According to the 2012 Economic Benefits of the Forest Industry report produced by the Georgia Institute of Technology, the upward trends noted in 2011 continued into 2012 in all three economic indicators - output, employment and wages/salaries. In total impacts on the state, output increased 15.88% to $28.94 billion, the highest increase since tracking began and nearly $4 billion over 2011. Industry employment rose 6.7% to nearly 50,000 jobs and total (impact) employment rose 14.58% to nearly 136,000 jobs, roughly 17,000 over 2011. The complete report can be viewed at gatrees.org.
Firewise Communities Receive Mitigation Grants
Homeowners who live in selected Firewise USA communities across Georgia are receiving special grants to help reduce their risk of wildfire. In 2013, the Georgia Forestry Commission's Forest Protection Department awarded the fire hazard mitigation grants to 18 Firewise communities. The grant's purpose is to assist communities-at-risk with planning, education and mitigation activities to help reduce their overall risk to wildfire. The next opportunity for grant funding will be in the fall of 2014. All grant submissions and questions should be directed to the mitigation program manager at georgiafirewise@gfc.state.ga.us or by phone at 478-752-1193.
Forest Management Matters
What services does the Georgia Forestry Commission offer landowners? Click here to learn more about the many ways forest landowners can benefit from services offered by the GFC.
It's tree planting season!Bare-root seedlings are typically planted from early December through the end of February in Georgia. Containerized seedlings have a slightly wider planting window, but now is the best time to act. If you have land that has been harvested, contact either a consulting or Georgia Forestry Commission forester to ensure your forest remains productive.
Georgia will celebrate Arbor Day on February 21 this year. Many communities have celebrations planned for that day - check with officials in your community for more information. GFC is hosting a live webcast program for Georgia schools on February 20. For more information about how to get your school involved in this special virtual Arbor Day celebration, email Wendy Burnett or call 478-7513535.

How's Your Seedling Supply?
If you haven't ordered your GFC seedlings yet for this planting season, now is the time! Stock remains in most categories, but will be going faster now that the holidays are behind us. Trees can be delivered to any GFC county office or picked up at the Flint River Nursery in Dooly County (phone 229-2687308.) Visit GaTrees.org/Reforestation to review GFC's wide selection of seedlings. Also - please join the GFC in wishing Reforestation Chief Russ Pohl the very best on his retirement. After more than 30 years with our agency, Russ will begin a new chapter in his life on January 31.

Willard Named GFC Utilization Chief
Risher Willard has been promoted to chief of Utilization of the Georgia Forestry Commission. Prior to joining the GFC in 1992, Willard worked in the private sector in sales, marketing and logistics. At the GFC, Willard has held a variety of positions as a forester, working in urban and rural forest management and wildland firefighting. Most recently he worked as a staff forester in the Utilization Department, which he says "ties it all together, because utilization is about maximizing markets and protecting the forestry resource so it's used in a sustainable way." The department provides marketing and technical services to existing and prospective forest products industries including bioenergy and carbon offset projects, ecosystem services evaluations, forest certification training and more.
Willard contributes to his community as a city councilor for the City of Claxton and served as a volunteer member of the Claxton-Evans County Industrial Development Authority. He earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Forestry and Business Administration from the University of Kentucky and is a Georgia registered forester. Originally from Kentucky, Risher and his wife, Tally, live in Claxton and have a married daughter.
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