GFC eUpdate [July 2015]

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GFC eUpdate

Contents
Forest Management Acorns
Forest Protection Update
Forest Utilization Updates
Reforestation Matters
Upcoming Events
GFA Annual Conference and Expo
08/01 - 08/03/15 Jekyll Island, GA
Smokey Bear's Birthday 08/09/15
Forest Herbicide Workshop
08/25 - 08/26/15 Statesboro, GA
Conservation Easements for Forest Landowners and their
Advisers 09/01 - 09/02/15
Tifton, GA
Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day
09/15/15 Griffin, GA


Forest Management Acorns
Forest health experts at the Georgia Forestry Commission, Southern Group of State Foresters, USDA Forest Service, and University of Georgia are reassuring the forestry community and the public that "southern pine decline" is not an issue. Contrary to the alarm sounded by some claiming large-scale deaths of pine trees have occurred due to unexplained reasons, UGA and USDA researchers examining hard data say there is no evidence to support the claim. The three year study examined copious forest inventory data looking for patterns in tree mortality rates and pine health issues in the Southeast. It showed only a small percentage of pine plots were dying, and virtually all of those died for identifiable reasons, including fire, insects, weather or invasive vegetation. Study co-author David Coyle concluded that there "isn't a big problem," and that landowners should "stay the course on established management practices." The GFC recommends the forestry community carefully review information about this issue by visiting http://tiny.cc/wfku0x (Warnell) and https://tiny.cc/seku0x (SGSF).
The Georgia Forestry Commission's Sustainable Community Forestry Program has launched a new publication, called "Urban Update." This biannual newsletter contains a variety of articles and information that will be of interest to Georgia tree boards, Tree City and Tree Campus USAs and other community partners. The inaugural issue contains lots of valuable content, including: details on an upcoming tree board webinar series, a tree identification app, GFC's involvement with the USDA Forest Service's Community Forestry Assistance program, a calendar of events, several human interest features, and a tree planting specs program (AutoCAD and PDF) designed for landscape architects, engineers, architects, contractors, urban foresters, arborists, municipalities and state agencies. Find it at https://gfccommunityforestry.wordpress.com/.
Forest Protection Update
The Georgia Forestry Commission's Protection Department is recognizing an important partnership whose beginnings date back more than four decades. The Rural Fire Defense (RFD) program provides local city and county fire departments with state and federal excess vehicles and equipment to help protect people and property throughout Georgia from wildfire. In addition to equipment, the program offers construction of specific types of fire apparatus as well as the training needed to support operations at local fire departments. The RFD program enables volunteer fire departments to better respond to local structural, forest and grass fires, while also affording the GFC ready back up with equipment and trained people when emergency forest fire situations take place. For more information on this outstanding program, contact GFC RFD Program Manager, Mark Millirons.

Forest Utilization Updates
U.S. manufacturing and use of wood energy continue to grow despite recent "anti-wood for energy" campaigns that have made news. Globally,the US is now the world's largest exporter of wood pellets, with most of these pellets being shipped to Europe for use in electricity generating plants. In the US, wood is the second-largest renewable energy source, behind hydroelectric power. http://tinyurl.com/nn3hato.
Georgia ranks first in US exports of wood fuel to the world, valued at $165 million, a figure that includes wood chips and pellets. Georgia ranked sixth in the US (and second in the South) in the 2014 dollar value for wood products exports, an increase of 25% over 2013. China is the number one export destination.
Green Power Solutions of Georgia, LLC in Dublin (Laurens Co.) began commercial operations in May at Georgia's third biomass electricity power plant. The 34 megawatt biomass co-generation power plant, located at the SP Fiber Technologies paper mill, provides steam to SPFT and generates electricity for the grid. An estimated 300,000 tons per year of woody biomass will fuel the plant.

Reforestation Matters
How will you improve the productivity or character of your forested land next season? Planning for cool planting days is a great way to spend some time during Georgia's hot summer, and orders for GFC's wide selection of seedling varieties are now being accepted for the 201516 planting season. New offerings include the GFC exclusive Georgia Giant (third cycle coastal loblolly pine) that produces 54 percent more volume per acre than local unimproved check lots, which is ideal for areas in the fall line and southward. Historically, these trees sell out quickly, along with another popular variety, the Elite Straight Loblolly, ranked very highly for straightness and resistance to fusiform rust. For more information and to place an order, visit GaTrees.org, call 1-800-GATREES, or contact your local GFC county unit.
Copyright 2005 Georgia Forestry Commission, all rights reserved 1- 800- GA- TREES
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