Georgia forest facts

Georgia Forest Facts

G E O R G I A ' S F O R E S TLAND
The total land area of Georgia is 37 million acres. 24.4 million acres
is considered to be forestland...
that's 2/3 of the state!

66%
of Georgia
is forests

Of this 24.4 million acres, 23.9 million acres
are available for commercial use
...that's more than any other state!
GA's First Annual FIA Panel Results - 2001

COMMERCIAL FORESTLAND

OWNERSHIP

Of the 23.9 million acres of commercially available forestland, individual citizens (private nonindustrial landowners) own the bulk of the land.

72% Private Landowners

7% Govt

20% Industry

Government - 7.4 % (1.77 million acres) Forest Industry - 20.4% (4.88 million acres) Private non-industrial landowners - 72.2% (17.2 million acres)
GA's First Annual FIA Panel Results - 2001

ECONOMY:
TIMBER - THE TOP CROP:
Timber is the highest valued crop in Georgia followed by vegetables, cotton, and peanuts.
Georgia remains one of the top pulp & paper states in the nation.
Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service, 2001

FORESTRY - THE LEADING INDUSTRY: Forestry creates 177,000 jobs statewide.
Georgia's forest resource creates a 19.7 billion dollar economic impact in the state annually.
Dr. Al Montgomery, retired, GA State University

GEORGIA'S TOP FOUR CROPS

Timber 47%

Vegetables 19%

Cotton 18%

Peanuts 16%

FORESTRY IS A
$19.7 BILLION / YEAR
INDUSTRY IN GEORGIA

SUPPORT FORESTRY ... IT DEFINITELY SUPPORTS YOU!

REFORESTATION:
In the last 20 years (1982-2001, Georgians have replanted nearly 7.6 million acres in trees... that's 1,048 acres a day, which is 681,654 trees per day.
Approximately 1.78 trees are planted for every one harvested to ensure that future forests will continue to support our economy and environment.
An estimated 80,000 acres of forestland are naturally regenerated each year.
2000-2001 GFC Reforestation Survey

FOREST TYPE:
Commerical forestland in Georgia consists of: 39% Hardwoods, 17.2% oak-pine, 42.7% pine, and 1% non-stocked. The most prevalent hardwood forest types are oak, maple, yellow poplar, and sweetgum. Loblolly and slash are the primary pine forest types.

HARDWOODS 39 % OAK-PINE 17.2 % PINE 42.7 %

GA's First Annual FIA Panel Results - 2001

FOREST PROTECTION:
Georgia experiences about 8,810 forest fires each year that damage or destroy approximately 37,780 forest acres. Georgia firefighters have the best fire suppression record in the Southeast with the average size fire consuming less than 5 acres.
Careless burning of debris continues to be the leading cause of forest fires.
Based on USFS Annual Forest Fire Statistics

Woods Arson 18% Debris Burning 49%
FIRES BY CAUSE

Machine Use 11%
Misc 6%
Lightning 5% Children 4% Smoking 3% Railroad 3% Campfire 1%
GFC FY2001 Fire Summary

URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY:

Over 70% of Georgia's population lives in urban areas.

U.S. Census, 2000

Healthy urban and community trees make our communities livable. Benefits of healthy trees include:

ECONOMIC BENEFITS:
SOCIAL BENEFITS:

Enhance economic stability by attracting businesses and tourists Reduce cooling and heating costs Can add up to 15% to residential property value
Improve mental and physical health and well-being of people Contribute to a sense of community pride and ownership Provide privacy and a sense of solitude and security

EN V I R O N MEN T A L BENEFITS:

Clean water, conserve water and reduce soil erosion Clean air, reduce air pollution Create wildlife and plant diversity Modify local climate

USDA Forest Service

FOREST PRODUCTS:
Trees can be used to make thousands of consumer items. On the average, each American will use the equivalent of a 100' tree, 18" in diameter each year. Products or by-products from trees include:

Baseball bats Candles Capsules / Tablets Clothing Combs Cough syrup

Crackers Crayons Eyeglass frames Football helmets Fruits & Nuts Gum

Ice cream Lipstick Make-up Maple syrup Milk cartons Nail polish

Newspaper Paint Parmesan cheese Pencils Perfume Photo film

Bandage strips Shampoo Sponges Tires Toilet tissue Toothpaste

J. Frederick Allen Director
2001