GFC eUpdate [Jan. 25, 2017]

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GFC eUpdate

Contents
Districts and Units of the Year Named
New Fire Prevention PSA with Coy Bowles from Zac Brown Band
Help Us Read Across Georgia!
Forest Management Acorns
Forest Protection Updates
Forest Utilization Updates
Reforestation Matters
Upcoming Events
Prescribed Fire Awareness Week 02/05 - 02/11/17
Forestry Day at the Capitol 02/08/17
Atlanta, GA
Mayors Symposium on Trees/State Arbor
Day Celebration 02/14/17
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Arbor Day 02/17/17
Tree Risk Management
Workshop 03/16/17
Lawrenceville, GA
Arborist Certification Review Class 03/22 - 03/23/17 Macon, GA


District and Units of the Year Named
The Georgia Forestry Commission annually recognizes employees for supporting the agency's mission to provide leadership, service, and education in the protection and conservation of Georgia's forest resources. For Fiscal Year 2016, the Flint District team earned GFC's District of the Year. Employees in Flint led the state in Forest Management productivity with over 3,000 cases and Forest Stewardship plans covering 15,000 acres. They also excelled in plowing, harrowing, seed collection and prescribed burning. Flint employees sent numerous resources to help others during fires and ice storms, completed five large building projects and enhanced district communication with the establishment of an electronic newsletter. The McDuffie/Warren Unit earned North Region Unit of the Year, leading the region in workload analysis productivity. Employees contained 39 wildfires that burned 111 acres with an average fire size of only 2.85 acres, performed 48 burn assists on 3,432 acres, and provided equipment services and repairs. The South Region Unit of the Year was earned by the Ware Unit. Ware Unit employees were recognized for their excellent productivity, ongoing maintenance at the Dixon Memorial State Forest and firefighter training assistance. Ware County provided numerous outreach programs and wildfire risk assessments, led the district in pre-suppression plowing and harrowing, prescribe burned 1,660 acres, and also collected 277 units of seed. Congratulations to all our outstanding GFC professionals!
New Fire Prevention PSA with Coy
Bowles from Zac Brown Band
Keep your eyes and ears open for a special public service announcement from the Georgia Forestry Commission! The television and radio spots recognize GFC personnel for their service during the north Georgia wildfires, and remind everyone to stay vigilant with outdoor fire use as the drought continues. The spot was produced by Atlanta's KPK Interactive and features Coy Bowles of Zac Brown Band strumming his guitar by the fire pit of his house on the Flint River. You can also see the spot on You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFZji4_9bOQ. Let us know how you like it!
Help us Read Across Georgia!
Help spread the good word about forestry in Georgia to students and educators, as "Read Across Georgia" is celebrated in March! Volunteers are needed to visit their local elementary schools and read Chuck Leavell's children's book, The Tree Farmer. Primary audiences are Pre-K through third grade, and the school's media specialist, principal or teachers can help you plug in. GFC's Public Relations Department can provide some Smokey Bear bookmarks for you to share, and will loan you a copy of Chuck's book if you or the school don't have one. Email Wendy Burnett for more information, and make your plans to read to the kids in your area before March 31!

Forest Management Acorns
The Georgia Forestry Commission is starting the 2017 statewide forestry Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation and compliance survey. Throughout the year, GFC's water quality group will be visiting forestry sites on all types of land ownership, including private, public and corporate. The team inspects for BMP compliance in numerous activities and situations, such as forestry roads, stream crossings, special management areas, harvesting, streamside management zones, firebreaks, tree plantings and more. Data collected will be tallied and turned into a "report card" on how Georgia's forestry community is performing with BMP implementation and compliance activities. This important information helps guide BMP education efforts and inform policy makers and the public about BMPs and forestry. The surveys have been conducted every two years in Georgia since 1991.

Forest Protection Updates
While the start of our spring fire season is still a few weeks away, wildfire prediction specialists are forecasting above normal wildfire activity for Georgia, especially in the southeastern part of the state.
Georgia's spring fire season traditionally brings an increase in fire activity, due to seasonal cold fronts followed by increased wind speeds and lower relative humidity. However, weather patterns and indicators lead us to believe that reduced amounts of rainfall will be present during March and April of 2017, which will bring greater potential for significant wildfire activity. In addition, parts of central and north Georgia continue to experience drought conditions, and without frequent precipitation we can expect those conditions to remain for at least the immediate future.
The Georgia Forestry Commission has and will continue to monitor the forecast, and has already begun to implement preparation strategies in light of these predictions. We will be working closely with all our partners and cooperators, and we ask everyone to be extremely cautious when conducting any outdoor burning. Please pay close attention to the weather and the continued dry conditions.

Forest Markets and Utilization
Two recent reports reflect the strength of Georgia's forest industry at home and abroad. According to a report from the Georgia Institute of Technology's Enterprise Innovation Institute, the industry's output, employment, and compensation all had robust growth between 2014 and 2015. Georgia also attained the #1 ranking in US exports of wood pellets to the world in 2015, according to Global Trade Information Services (GTIS).
Highlights of the "Economic Benefits of the Forest Industry in Georgia: 2015" report show the industry's total economic impact in Georgia was nearly $32.2 billion, a 12.1% increase from 2014. The figures include dollars brought into the state, which recirculate through all major industries. A 14% rise to $19.2 billion over the previous year was shown in output generated directly by the industry. Compensation, including wages and salaries, rose $17.3% to $3.55 billion, and across all manufacturing industries in the state, the forest products industry ranked first in total compensation. For the fifth consecutive year, positive job growth was recorded in Georgia's forest industry, with 1,645 jobs gained. To see the full report, click here. The GTIS report valued Georgia's wood pellet exports at $242 million, more than any other exporter in the world. The sum is 36% of the US total and is an increase of 79% over 2014 figures. Ten wood pellet mills are now operating in Georgia.

Reforestation Matters
With adequate rainfall returning to Georgia and the rest of the Southeast, it's a perfect time to be planting trees! Whether you're choosing to reforest a previously harvested stand or beautifying your landscape, the GFC's Flint River Nursery has the seedlings to meet your reforestation needs. We currently have slash pine seedlings that produce an astounding 31-58% more volume per acre and are extremely disease resistant. These slash pines are suitable for the coastal plain only. We also have a limited number of loblolly pine available. Both are from coastal and piedmont seed sources. Also, if you act quickly, we have a few of our famous Georgia Giants left. If you're looking for hardwoods to either add beauty or attract wildlife to your property, we have a few oak species and ornamentals left. Please visit us at www.gatrees.org or www.gaseedlings.org, or call the Flint River Nursery directly at 229268-7308.
Copyright 2005 Georgia Forestry Commission, all rights reserved 1- 800- GA- TREES
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