Georgia statewide assessment of forest resources

GEORGIA Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources
2015

Georgia Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources

August 2015

Produced by

Georgia Forestry Commission
5645 Riggins Mill Road
Dry Branch, Georgia 31020
478.751.3500

Acknowledgements: Georgia's original Forest Action Plan was produced with contributions from many program leaders of the Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service. Frank Green served as project leader. Content con- tributors included Dr. Jon Ambrose, Constance Buford, Joe Burgess, John Colberg, Devon Dartnell, David Dickinson, Alan Dozier, Neal Edmondson, Robert Farris, Frank Green, James Johnson, Josh Love, Nathan McClure, Steve McWilliams, Larry Morris, Jim Ozier, Dru Preston, Susan Reisch, Dick Rightmyer, Buford Sanders, Greg Strenkowski, Reggie Thackston, and Risher Willard. Dr. Elizabeth Kramer, University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences contractor, conducted the GIS analyses. Sharon Dolliver, consultant, and Stasia Kelly compiled and edited the document. Final document design and production was accomplished by Julia Baker, Wendy Burnett and Kassie Keck. Development and publication of this document was assisted by a grant from the National Association of State Foresters.


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Front Cover Photo Credits:
Quail covey - Shane Wellendorf, Tall Timbers Research Station
Timber fire - Jen Kolb

Abbreviations:

ACP APHIS ATV BMP BR CARS CCX CLEAR CUVA CWCS CWPP DNR EGCP EPA EPD
FL FLPA GAP GFC GHG GIS GLCP GLUT GOAL GUFC HUC HWA LFT LOC LRB
NASF NBCI NRCS NWOS RC&D REIT RV SCFP SGSF SPB SWAP SWRA TIMO TMDL UGA USDA USFS USFWS WFSI WRD

Atlantic Coastal Plain Priority Area Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service All TerrainVehicle Best Management Practice Blue Ridge Priority Area Community Accomplishment Reporting System Chicago Climate Exchange Center for Land Use Education and Research Conservation Use Valuation Act Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Community Wildfire Protection Plan Georgia Department of Natural Resources East Gulf Coastal Plain Priority Area United States Environmental Protection Agency Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division FIA Forest Inventory and Analysis Fall Line Priority Area Forest Land Protection Act Gap Analysis Program Georgia Forestry Commission Greenhouse Gas Geographic Information System Georgia Land Conservation Partnership Georgia Land Use Trends Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners Georgia Urban Forest Council Hydrologic Unit Code Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Land Fragmentation Tool Level of Concern Large River Bottomlands Priority Area NARSAL Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory National Association of State Foresters National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative Natural Resources Conservation Service National Woodland Owner Survey Resource Conservation and Development Real Estate Investment Trust Ridge and Valley Priority Area Sustainable Community Forestry Program Southern Group of State Foresters Southern Pine Beetle State Wildlife Action Plan Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Timber Management Investment Organization Total Maximum Daily Load The University of Georgia United States Department of Agriculture United States Forest Service United States Fish and Wildlife Service Wildfire Susceptibility Index Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division WUI Wildland Urban Interface

Georgia Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources
A comprehensive analysis of forest-related conditions, trends, threats and opportunities
2015

Executive Summary......................................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Forest Resource Conditions, Benefits and Threats Forest Resource Conditions Distribution and Abundance of Forests .....................................................................................................................7 Forest Types...................................................................................................................................................................19 Forest Ownership .........................................................................................................................................................23 Public Benefits from Forest Resources Jobs and Economic Activity........................................................................................................................................27 Clean Water................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Wildlife Habitat and Natural Heritage...................................................................................................................... 34 Timber Products .......................................................................................................................................................... 35 Quality of Life.............................................................................................................................................................. 38 Clean Air ....................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Energy Conservation. ................................................................................................................................................. 41 Carbon Sequestration. ................................................................................................................................................. 42 Bioenergy ...................................................................................................................................................................... 43 Threats to Forest Resources Urbanization and Changing Land Uses.................................................................................................................... 45 Fragmentation and Parcelization. .............................................................................................................................. 50 Changing Markets ........................................................................................................................................................ 52 Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants.....................................................................................................54 Wildfire ........................................................................................................................................................................... 65 Weather Events .............................................................................................................................................................66 Climate Change ............................................................................................................................................................ 67
Priority Areas................................................................................................................................................................................69
Strategic Issues Water Quality and Quantity.................................................................................................................................................80 Urbanization. .........................................................................................................................................................................83 Forest Health. ........................................................................................................................................................................85 Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................................................. 89 Air Quality - Carbon Sequestration....................................................................................................................................96 Fire Management. .................................................................................................................................................................98 Fragmentation and Parcelization. ..................................................................................................................................... 101 Economics and Changing Markets................................................................................................................................... 103
Appendix Process Overview. ............................................................................................................................................................... 104 Public Involvement. ............................................................................................................................................................ 104 Primary Data Sources......................................................................................................................................................... 105 Integration of Other Plans and Assessments................................................................................................................. 110 List of Preparers ................................................................................................................................................................. 113 References ............................................................................................................................................................................ 114

Executive Summary

Georgia's 24 million acres of forest land are a rich and renewable resource that provide a myriad of benefits to citizens across the state. Yet challenges to the land and the professionals who manage it abound. In this Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources, the Georgia Forestry Commission, partners and other stakeholders address the conditions and issues at hand today, and prioritize concerns for the near and distant future.

Georgia's current forest conditions link the land to a vivid history of species diversity, resource exploitation and appreciation. Today, forests with stands of varying ages account for 67 percent of the state's total land area. Forests thrive in six physiographic ecoregions and grow almost 56 percent more wood than is being harvested, producing 96 percent more cubic feet of wood than 50 years ago. The majority of Georgia forests are privately owned by individuals and corporations, with public lands accounting for just 10 percent. According to the Sustainable Forest Management in Georgia report, prepared for the Georgia General Assembly in July of 2008, and on which some of the findings of this Assessment are based, these forest lands are being sustainably managed to meet the numerous needs of our state today.

Georgia Benefits from its Forests A variety of benefits are provided to Georgia from its healthy, sustainable forests. Of primary importance is the $28.7 billion economic impact the forest industry has on the state. The industry is the state's second largest employer, with compensation exceeding $6.5 billion and payments to landowners of about $14.5 million. It generates an estimated $539 million per year in revenues for the state budget.

Forest-based recreation contributes to the state's economic growth and tourism industry. Georgia leads the nation in nonresident hunters, and resident sportsmen spend more than $1.8 billion annually. Anglers spend $569 million each year.

Importantly, Georgia's forests impact the state's ability to provide its citizens with vital nature services. Georgia's abundant water resources within 14 major river basins and multiple groundwater aquifer systems are enhanced by the healthy forest systems around and above them. Many of Georgia's 44,056 miles of perennial streams, 23,906 miles of intermittent streams and 603 miles of ditches and canals begin or flow through forest lands. Forests afford value through filtration and stormwater management services, reducing costs to water authorities. Georgia forests also improve air quality, with metro Atlanta trees removing some 19 million pounds of pollutants, a $47 million value, in 1996 alone. Trees help moderate the heat island effect caused by pavement and buildings, create energy savings through shading and sequester atmospheric carbon, which benefits human health and may benefit Georgia landowners through emerging reimbursement systems.



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Georgia is beginning to benefit from the state's emerging bioenergy industry. Residues from timber harvesting exceeded 7.4 million tons (oven dry weight) in 2007, and a recently performed forest biomass assessment based on forest inventory data gathered between 1995 and 2005 showed that on average 18.1 million tons (oven dry weight) of biomass are available annually in Georgia. This growing opportunity for new markets from previously unutilized and low value forest biomass will add to the economic impacts of Georgia's forest industry.

Additional benefits to Georgia from its healthy forests include enhanced wildlife habitats and plentiful aesthetic and education opportunities.

Leading Threats and Pressing Issues Forest issues ranked most critical by the public and identified in the 2008 Sustainable Forest Management in Georgia report include a number of threats which present significant challenges to forest managers, landowners and civic leaders. They are interrelated and often complex. Conservation was a highly ranked public concern that affects and is interwoven with every issue; it is not individually analyzed in this report.

Water quality is the public's primary issue of concern. Urbanization and nonpoint sources of pollution are the greatest threats to Georgia's water quality. Urbanization removes acreage from forest cover, resulting in increased storm runoff and intensified streamflow that causes stream bank erosion, sedimentation and flooding. Currently, more than 6,000 miles of streams do not meet state water quality standards due to nonpoint sources of pollution. Magnifying the threat is the problem that Georgia does not have systems in place that measure stream and aquifer water output or pollution capacities, making water projections impossible to gauge. Specific regional water priority issues are detailed in this report.

The urbanization of Georgia is a serious threat that could undermine forest sustainability in decades to come. Georgia is home to four of the nation's 20 fastest growing counties and the state's population is projected to increase by an additional 46 percent in the next 20 years. From 2001-2005, Georgia's canopy cover declined by a total of 398,330 acres and impervious surfaces increased by 106 acres a day. Much of this growth occurred in metro Atlanta, though the Savannah, Columbus and Macon areas reflected significant changes as well. Population increases and the loss of tree cover to impervious surfaces impact every forest benefit. Proactive management tools and technical support systems are needed to adequately protect Georgia's forest resources.

Forest fragmentation and parcelization are additional challenges caused by urbanization. These phenomena are created when forests are converted to other land uses and when the number of forest landowners increase, but the land parcels shrink in size. Contributing factors include urban sprawl, inheritance issues, tax implications, timber land divestitures, investment concerns or other financial pressures. Taxation issues also play a part as land values rise but income from forest uses does not. The global recession and economic pressures of global competition have compounded these issues. Likewise, these situations can lead to a decreased value for forest management, and an increased occurrence of water quality degradation, wildlife disruption and forest pest incidence.



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Urbanization and resulting forest land losses place extraordinary stresses on wildlife and biodiversity. While some species have adapted to changes brought on by growth, others are in need of more careful management to prevent further declines in habitat loss. Georgia ranks fifth in the nation in number of species extinctions and eighth for species at risk. A system of public and private conservation strategies, including expansion of the Georgia Land Conservation Program and the State Wildlife Action Plan, support this goal.

Air quality and carbon sequestration are additional opportunities. Urbanization affects Georgia's tree canopy, diminishing forestry's ability to provide clean air nature services. Georgia's new Carbon Sequestration Registry is being developed to assist landowners with garnering new income from timberland while air quality is positively impacted by the sequestration of carbon emissions statewide.

Urbanization puts more lives and property at risk from wildfire and reduces options for proper fire management, including prescribed burning. Tactics and strategies for fire management and suppression are compromised in the wildland urban interface, where access challenges, liability and logistics can complicate response. Some 12,000 Georgia communities are rated by the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment at high or very high risk of wildfire. In addition, air quality regulations, resident fears and misunderstandings about prescribed burning and smoke effects can hinder the effective use of this forest management tool.

Economics and changing markets must be considered in order to increase the value of forests and forest products for continued industry growth. Traditional forest product markets have declined, but forest growth exceeds removals and is available to supply local and global markets. Bioenergy markets are believed to hold great potential for Georgia.

Significant forest pests threaten Georgia, including the southern pine beetle, hemlock woolly adelgid, redbay ambrosia beetle, annosum root disease, gypsy moth, Sirex noctilio woodwasp, emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle. The highest priority invasive plant in Georgia is cogongrass, listed as the seventh most noxious weed in the world. Chinese privet, kudzu, Japanese climbing fern and Chinese tallowtree continue to threaten native plants. Trees that are weakened by pests and disease are at added risk of wildfire. Legislative support and regulation are needed to prevent the spread of these destructive threats.

Unusual weather events and the potential for climate change also threaten Georgia's forests. Thousands of trees are lost annually to wind, ice, flooding, drought and lightning, with damages exceeding $10 million every year, not including future liability problems. These occurrences can affect the incidence of wildfire in Georgia's forests and are predicted to intensify challenges for wildland fire managers.



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Georgia's diverse landscape and population centers contribute to the definition of six priority resource areas from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the East Gulf Coastal Plain. The priority areas were determined by evaluating percent coverage of core forest areas greater than 250 contiguous acres. These core areas are large enough to be managed to provide for critical ecosystem services. The 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) were selected as a bounding area because they, for the most part, represent a consistent area of approximately 45km2. Areas that were represented by 30 percent or greater coverage of a HUC by core area forests were selected. Watersheds were then merged and six priority areas were defined. They include: Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, Fall Line, Large River Bottomlands, Atlantic Coastal Plain and East Gulf Coastal Plain. The Assessment details the predominant forest issues contained in each distinct region.

The Georgia Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources is a comprehensive and thorough analysis of one of the nation's most abundant and productive expanses of natural splendor. The prudent use of the assessment tool can ensure that this valuable resource is sustained for every future generation.



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Introduction























The Georgia Statewide Assessment of in landscape areas where they will make

Forest Resources, developed in 2010, the most significant difference for both

under the leadership of the Georgia the state and the nation.

Forestry Commission (GFC) in
accordance with national direction 2008 Farm Bill Requirements

issued jointly by the U.S. Forest In accordance with the 2008 Farm

Service (USFS) and the National Bill, all states must complete a State

Association of State Foresters Assessment and Resource Strategy by

(NASF).

June 2010 in order to continue to



receive funding under the Cooperative

Statewide assessments are a key Forestry Assistance Act (CFAA). The

component of the USFS State and three consensus-based national

Private Forestry (S&PF) Redesign priorities with accompanying strategic




objectives are:

Conserve working forest landscapes.

Identify and conserve high-priority

forest ecosystems and landscapes.

Actively and sustainably manage

forests.

Protect forests from harm.

Restore fire-adapted lands and

reduce risk of wildfire impacts.

Identify, manage and reduce threats

to forest and ecosystem health.

Enhance public benefits from trees and

forests.

Protect and enhance water quality

and quantity.

Improve air quality and conserve

energy.

Assist communities in planning for

and reducing wildfire risks.

Maintain and enhance the economic





benefits and values of trees and

Initiative that was launched in 2008. forests.

These assessments will provide a Protect, conserve and enhance

science-based foundation to assist state wildlife and fish habitat.

forestry agencies and their partners in: 1) identifying the areas of greatest need and opportunity for forests across their states, and 2) developing a long-term strategy to address them.

Connect people to trees and forests.
Manage and restore trees and forests to mitigate and adapt to global climate change.


By working collaboratively with

partners to identify and address

priorities, S&PF funds will be invested



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The 2008 Farm Bill calls for three components in the assessment and planning that identify priority forest landscapes and the work needed to address forest management priorities: Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources, Statewide Forest Resources Strategy and Annual Report on Use of Funds.

Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources To ensure that federal and state resources are being focused on landscape areas with the greatest opportunity to address shared management priorities and achieve measurable outcomes, the Georgia Forestry Commission has collaborated with key partners and stakeholders. The result is a comprehensive analysis of the forestrelated conditions, trends, threats and opportunities found on all forest ownerships within the state.

Georgia's Assessment is the product of work with the Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee, Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division and Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Georgia Urban Forest Council, National Wildlife Refugees, Natural Resource Conservation Service, State Technical Committee, U.S. Forest Service and other natural resource entities.

The cornerstone of the Assessment is the Sustainable Forest Management in Georgia report. In 2007, the Georgia General Assembly enacted into law Senate Bill 176. It requires the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) to submit a report to the General Assembly every five years which summarizes the sustainability of the state's forests. Specifically, the bill requests verification of "the ability
of forest resources in this state to meet the
needs of the present without compromising
the ability to meet the needs of future generations." The report, submitted to the General Assembly on July 1, 2008, highlights the current forest resource conditions, along with the challenges and opportunities being faced by Georgia's forest managers and owners. It concludes that while Georgia's forests are being sustainably managed for the numerous needs of the state today, their future viability will be determined by specific actions of state leaders and the forestry community.

To gather further information relevant to key state issues and national themes, the GFC conducted a public survey. Top Georgia issues ranked in order of importance include: Water Quality, Urban Sprawl, Conservation, Taxes, Biodiversity, Forest Health, Air Quality, Fire Management, Fragmentation/Parcelization and Changing Markets. In addition, GFC contracted with the University of

Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences to develop geospatial data layers for use in identifying priority forest landscapes. This geospatial data, together with issues identified in the 2008 Sustainable Forest Management in Georgia report, laid the foundation for developing an Assessment that accomplishes the following:

Identifies forest-related benefits and services consistent with the 2008 Farm Bill national priorities.
Delineates priority rural and urban forest landscape areas to be addressed by the Statewide Forest Resources Strategy.
Identifies areas of regional priority through work with adjoining states.
Incorporates and complements existing statewide plans and assessments including the Comprehensive Statewide Water
Management Plan, A Comprehensive
Wildlife Conservation Strategy for Georgia, National and Southern Cohesive
Wildfire Management Strategy, Community Wildfire Protection Plans, The Five-
Year Plan for Georgia's Urban and Community Forest 2007- 2011, the Georgia Invasive Species Strategy and the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment, and addresses existing S&PF program planning requirements.

This Assessment serves as the basis for development of the Statewide Forest Resources Strategy.



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Forest Resource Conditions

Distribution and Abundance of Forests



Since the beginning of recorded history, Georgia's forest land acreage has

Georgia has been distinguished by its remained relatively stable since that

forest land bounty. William Bartram, one time and timber volumes are at an all

of the first naturalist-botanists, explored time high.

this region in the mid-1770s. He found

forests of different ages interspersed The number of forest land acres in

with expansive savannas, swamps and Georgia has stabilized at approximately

river bottomlands filled with a rich 24 million acres, or 67 percent of our

diversity of broad-leaved species.

total land area, as demonstrated by the



Forest Inventory and Analysis reports

It was not until the 1880s that large compiled since 1936 (Figure 1).

scale commercial logging practices

began to alter the appearance of However, it is the current trend toward

Georgia's landscape. By the late 1920s, shrinking parcel size per landowner

most of the virgin stands in Georgia (Figure 2 on following page) that can

had been cut over. By 1930, heavy be expected to impact the quality,

removals forced increased taxes on quantity and availability of our forest

the remaining timber, which in turn resources into the future.

caused its rapid liquidation.




Source: U.S. Forest Service, FIA and the Georgia Forestry Commission, 2008

Figure 1



7




Historical Growth, Harvesting and Reforestation Georgia's forests are currently growing almost 56 percent more wood than is being harvested on an annual basis. Timber volumes have been increasing since 1953, which means that today we have 96 percent more cubic feet of wood growing in Georgia than we did 50 years ago (Figure 3).

Tree planting after harvest has been a major contributor to increasing timber volumes, and federal tree planting cost-share programs have positively influenced replanting.








Source: U.S. Forest Service National Woodland Owner Survey, 2006 Figure 2
Total Volume
Source: U.S. Forest Service, FIA and the Georgia Forestry Commission, 2008 Figure 3



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Forest Resource Conditions
Distribution and Abundance of Urban Forests



The urban and community forest nine percent is classified as wildland-

includes all trees, vegetation, urban interface (WUI) area. Of the

watersheds and wildlife in urban areas, WUI area, six percent is being directly

developed areas or communities. State impacted by urban pressures

and local government highway rights- (Developing Interface) and another

of-way, open greenspaces, undeveloped three percent has a growing

forests, interface areas where urban population density of over 150 people

and rural conditions meet, parks and per square mile (Rural Interface).

private and commercial lands are all More than 77 percent of all Georgia's

part of the community forest (GUFC citizens live in either urban or

Five-Year Plan Committee 2004).

wildland-urban interface areas.





Urban land comprises nine percent of Between 1990 and 2000, urban area

the land area of Georgia. Another increased 32.7 percent. Urban area in

Georgia is projected to

increase to 14.3 percent

by 2050, based on the

average urban growth

pattern of the 1990s

(Nowak and Walton

2005). Statewide, urban

or community land in

Georgia has an estimated

293.1 million trees

(Nowak and Greenfield

2009).






Forest canopy distribution



varies widely depending



upon land use type (Figure 4). Much of the most



dense community forest



canopy lies in the



Developing Interface areas,



while urban development



patterns have reduced the



available canopy percent in more dense population



areas. Rural Interface areas



show a lower average canopy density than



Developing Interface areas,

Sources: Department of Commerce. Census Bureau. Geography Division. 2000 Census Tracts.

mostly due to their

http://www.census.gov Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory (NARSAL). 2010. University of Georgia. Athens, GA. Unpublished data.

proximity to agricultural lands, row crops and pastures.

Figure 4



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Forest Resource Conditions
Ecological Regions


The six physiographic ecoregions of Georgia are the Southern Coastal Plain, Southeastern Coastal Plains, Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau (Figure 5).

The Southern Coastal Plain and Southeastern Plains, collectively referred to in this report as the Coastal Plain, are comprised mostly of loblolly, slash and longleaf pine and lowland hardwoods. The Piedmont is comprised mostly of loblolly pine, loblolly pine-hardwood mix, with small percentages of shortleaf pine, upland hardwoods and lowland hardwoods. The Blue Ridge has a majority of upland hardwood types with small percentages of white pine and hemlock types. The Ridge and Valley region varies between upland hardwoods on the ridges to mostly loblolly pine and Virginia pine in the valleys and lower slopes. The Cumberland Plateau, which only includes Dade County in extreme northwest Georgia, is comprised mostly of upland hardwoods, with some loblolly pine and Virginia pine.




Source: Griffith, G.E., J.M. Omernik, J.A. Comstock, S. Lawrence, G. Martin, A. Goddard, V.J. Hulcher, and T. Foster. 2001. Ecoregions of Alabama and Georgia (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs). Reston, Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,700,000).
Figure 5



10

























Stand ages vary across the state

(Figure 6), with most of the oldest

stands located in the northeastern

mountainous terrain (owned primarily

by the USFS) and the floodplains and

lowlands across the state. Pine stands

across the state tend to average lower

in age than hardwood stands, mostly

due to the increased probability of

active forest management, including

harvesting. The older hardwood stands

often occur on steep slopes, land that

is difficult to access due to lack of

roads, and floodplains/swamps where

logging is difficult, except perhaps in

the driest conditions. Also, publicly

owned lands, on which harvesting is

very limited, tend to have older

stands.

Source: Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory (NARSAL). 2010. University of Georgia. Athens, GA. (Unpublished data)

Figure 6



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Forest Resource Conditions
Distribution and Abundance of Forests in Relation to Soil Productivity

Soil productivity across Georgia ranges from 91-120 cubic feet of wood varies significantly between lowlands produced per acre per year. In the and uplands and between the north southern half of the state, averages are and south halves of the state (Figure 120-137 cubic feet, with areas along 7). Average productivity for loblolly waterways ranging from 137 to 172 pine in the northern half of the state cubic feet.



Sources: Soil Survey Staff. 2010. Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/

Figure 7



12







Slash pine is mostly limited to the

Coastal Plain and mimics the

productivity of loblolly pine in the

southern part of the state (Figure 8).

Sources: Soil Survey Staff. 2010. Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/
Figure 8



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Shortleaf pine is found mostly in

the northern part of the state, with

most of the higher productivity

sites located in northwest Georgia

(Figure 9). The average productivity

for shortleaf ranges from 92110

cubic feet of wood produced per

acre per year, with best productivities

ranging from 110143 cubic feet.

Sources: Soil Survey Staff. 2010. Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/
Figure 9



14







The better soil productivities for

longleaf pine occur in the southern

half of the state (Figure 10). The

average productivity for longleaf in

south Georgia ranges from 8294

cubic feet of wood produced per

acre per year, with better longleaf

sites ranging from 94114 cubic

feet. Although longleaf occurs

naturally in northwest Georgia, data

was unavailable for the productivity

map.

Sources: Soil Survey Staff. 2010. Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/
Figure 10



15







The better soil productivities for

white oak occur in the northern half

of the state (Figure 11). The best

sites for white oak are found in the

Ridge and Valley region in northwest

Georgia. The productivity for white

oak in north Georgia ranges from

43114 cubic feet of wood produced

per acre per year.

Sources: Soil Survey Staff. 2010. Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/
Figure 11



16







Northern red much like the

oak productivities white oaks', with

are the



northern half of the state being best

for productivity (Figure 12). The

average

productivity

for

northern

red



oak in north Georgia ranges from

3549 cubic feet of wood produced

per acre

per year, with better northern



red oak sites ranging from 5072 cubic

feet of wood produced.



































































Sources: Soil Survey Staff. 2010. Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/

Figure 12



17







Southern red oak also grows best in

the northern part of the state, but

the preeminent locations are found

on drier mountain sites (Figure 13).

Concentrations of good sites are

located in the Blue Ridge and Ridge

and Valley regions. The average

productivity for southern red oak in

north Georgia ranges from 4072

cubic feet of wood produced per acre

per year.

Sources: Soil Survey Staff. 2010. Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/
Figure 13



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Forest Resource Conditions
Forest Types


Hardwood forest types comprise 41 12 percent. One percent of the percent of Georgia's 24.8 million forested area is non-stocked, i.e. acres of forest land. Softwood recently harvested land that has (mostly pine) occupies 45 percent not yet seeded or been planted with and mixed oak/pine accounts for seedlings (Figure 14).

Source: U.S. Forest Service, FIA and the Georgia Forestry Commission, 2008

Figure 14



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Forest Cover Trends Comparing the 2008 forest cover map to the 1974 map (Figure 15) shows significant increases in areas affected by high intensity urban land

uses. Major areas of change are Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah and areas of the Chattanooga suburbs in north Georgia.

Land Cover Change


Source: Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory (NARSAL). 2010. University of Georgia. Athens, GA. (Unpublished data)

Figure 15



20




Comparing the 2008 forest cover map with the 1941 map (Figures 16 and 17) shows some significant differences. One is the prevalence of the shortleaf pine component in the Piedmont in 1941 compared to 2008. Today it is rarely more than a minor component in any pine forest type with loblolly pine being by far the major pine species in the Piedmont.




Historically, shortleaf pine appears to have been a major component of many upland hardwood types even into the Blue Ridge. Today, Virginia and loblolly pine are the more common components of these upland hardwood stands with more pure stands of upland hardwood becoming common as the pine component died out. Longleaf


pine in the Coastal Plain was more prevalent in 1941 than it is today. Now, slash and loblolly (planted) pine are the predominant pine species in the Coastal Plain. Georgia and several other southern states are collaborating to reintroduce longleaf pine throughout its natural range.

Georgia Land Cover 2008



Georgia Land Cover 1941

Source: U. S. Forest Service, FIA 1941

Figure 17


Source: U. S. Forest Service, FIA 2008 Figure 16



21


Forest Resource Conditions
Urban Forest Classification and Trends





Trees and forests come in a variety of forest remnant. Since trees are

of forms, from forest stands to park responsible for keeping much of

groves, to urban trees. Every tree our ecological system working to

has the natural ability to affect air provide the goods and services that

currents, cool the air and shade the benefit society, enough trees must

ground. However, older, larger trees be planted and maintained, even in

maximize these benefits. A mature, highly urbanized areas, to create a

continuous canopy is more beneficial forest. The sum of the effects of

than separate ornamental trees. a continuous tree canopy provides

More trees and forest area, large the real benefit, and is the desired

canopy trees, soil design and urban outcome (Urban 2000).

forest management are necessary to

maximize the environmental, social, An increasing share of southern

economic, energy and health benefits forests are now held in smaller

of trees.

parcels, measured at 50 acres or less



(Wear and Greis 2002). This forest

In the urban forest, a single tree fragmentation is an issue of concern

may be as important as a patch throughout the state of Georgia.



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Forest Resource Conditions
Forest Ownership



Georgia leads the nation in forest land military reservations, parks, and

acreage that is privately owned. Only other federal, state and local

ten percent are public lands, government lands (Figure 18).

including state and national forests,



























































Figure 18































































23







Forest Resource Conditions



Forest Ownership







This graph below shows the changes in acreage of forestland owned in each

ownership class from 1953 2013. The majority of Georgia's forestland is

owned by private individuals. Forest industry purchased private forests in the

1950-70's, and this trend reversed in the 1990's through today as industry sold

lands to private holders as well as corporate entities (such as Real Estate

Investment Trusts or REIT's, and Timber Investment Management

Organizations or TIMO's).





Figure 19

24




General Management Objectives
of Family Forest Landowners
in Georgia Georgia landowners have many reasons to own forest land, but when surveyed by the U.S. Forest Service through the National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS) regarding their reasons for owning forest land, the landowners' answers correlated closely with their size of forest tract owned.

As shown in Table 1, owners of the smaller acreages (<500 acres) of forest land gave reasons of being part of a home, passing on to heirs, enjoying the beauty of the forest and land investment as their primary reasons for ownership. Those who



owned 500 or more acres listed timber production as their number one reason for ownership and enjoying the beauty of the forest and passing the land on to heirs (and vice versa for 1000+ acres) as their second and third reasons.

The results of the NWOS Survey support the belief that private landowners are more likely to actively manage their forest land if they own larger tracts. In the interest of preserving the wise management of forest land in Georgia, an important factor is discouraging rather than encouraging the subdivision of large tracts. Selling and/or subdividing often occur(s) as a result of large tax costs passed on to heirs when a

forest landowner passes away. The inheritance tax is, therefore, a strong barrier to sustainable forest management. Large forest land tracts are critical to maintaining the forest product supply chain and for sustaining product .

The continued sustainability of Georgia's forests falls largely on individuals and corporations. These landowner groups are facing new challenges that will determine the future of Georgia's forests. State and local tax structures and cyclical forest product markets will have a major impact on these landowner decision makers.

Source: Butler et al. 2010


Table 1



25


Forest Resource Conditions
Urban Forest Ownership

Urban forest ownership entities patches less than 10 acres in size. include public, city and county, This small size results in greatly residential, rights-of-way, industrial, decreased levels of forest benefits recreational, commercial and insti- that are realized from an integrated, tutional land, to name a few. The connected forest landscape. This urban forest is a patchwork of land canopy is further overlaid with uses extending from the urban core, a complex set of ownerships, through suburbs, to the wildland values, goals and attitudes towards urban interface. The forest canopy tree planting, management and within those areas is a widely varying conservation. Urban forest growing mix that ranges from heavily-forested conditions are very different from backyards and riparian buffers to natural forest processes. Management sparsely-canopied parking lots and also becomes more difficult when newly-built subdivisions. Much of the an increasing amount of human forest is fractured into unconnected influences are applied.





26


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Jobs and Economic Activity



Georgia's 24.8 million acres of forest

o Between 2012 and 2013,

land, containing vast supplies of

output decreased slightly,

renewable raw materials, sustains an

and the number of jobs and

important economic engine for the

compensation decreased 1.75

state. A 2015 report provides the

percent and 3.38 percent,

following economic impact data for

respectively. Trends in these

Georgia's forest industry.

economic indicators for 2004-

2013 are reflected in Figure 20

below. Total economic activity supported by the forest industry in Georgia is Georgia's

forest

industry

more than $28.9 billion. This

directly employed 50,110 in

includes the multiplier effect of

all industry sectors combined,

recirculated dollars brought into

paid an annual compensation

the economy by the forest industry

of more than $3.1 billion, and

sectors. More than 133,000 people

had estimated total revenue of

are employed by the industry with

almost $16.9 billion.

compensation that exceeds $7.2 billion.

o The pulp and paper sector
continues to dominate the

forest industry by producing

67 percent of the total

industry output, providing

40 percent of total industry

jobs and 53 percent of total

industry compensation.




Figure 20



27



The forest industry is the second largest industry sector in Georgia based upon wages and salaries (behind food processing), and the third largest based upon employment (behind food processing and textiles).

The forest industry generates an estimated $746 million per year in revenues for the state budget. When the costs of providing state services to Georgia's households and companies associated with that activity are deducted from these revenues, net annual state revenues are more than $365 million, an increase of 51% from 2012 and more than double the revenue since 2011.
In addition to the economic benefits outlined above, Georgia's 24 million acres of forests provide non-timber ecosystem services (clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration) valued at over $37.6 billion annually to society.



Economic Impact by Region Local economies are impacted by the forest industry by supporting employment, bringing in additional dollars, and recirculating the dollars across local businesses. In regions where forestry is a large proportion of the local basic industry, all economic support is generally dependent on it in some manner. Figure 21 shows Georgia's 12 regional commissions.

Employment by Region: The Atlanta Regional Commission, Coastal Regional Commission, and Heart of Georgia Altamaha are the top three commissions in terms of employment, accounting for 45% of the forest related jobs in Georgia. However, Heart of Georgia Altamaha, Southwest Georgia, and Central Savannah River Area have the three highest employment percentages compared to total employment at 4.9%, 2.9%, and 2.5%, respectively.

Compensation by Region: The three regions with the greatest dependency on forest based compensation compared to total compensation are Heart of Georgia Altamaha, Southwest Georgia, and Southern Georgia with 9.5%, 5.1%, and 4.7%, respectively. The Atlanta Regional Commission provided the most compensation at $861.1 million; however, that accounted for only 0.8% of the region's total compensation.



























Figure 21



Source: "Quantifying the Value of Non-Timber Ecosystem Services From Georgia's Private Forests"; Moore, Rebecca, Dr., et al; University of Georgia Warnell School of



Forestry and Natural Resources; January 2011.



28


In addition to federal payments via various cost-share programs, Georgia's 500,000 timber owners received an average of $577 million per year in timber harvest income from 2000 to 2007. Statewide timber sale values totaled $4.6 billion during this period. In 2006, as reported on the 2007 tax digest, timber was harvested on 3,129,223 acres with an assessed value of $564,231,554. Table 2 shows the timber revenue generated from these timber sales (Graham 2009).

Table 2


29


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Jobs and Economic Activity - Recreation



Forest-based recreation provides As an example, Georgia led the

excellent opportunities for economic nation in nonresident hunters in

growth and tourism in Georgia.

2006 with approximately 136,000

participants. Georgia sportsmen spend

more than $1.8 billion annually, which

contributes to 31,000 jobs. Investment

in public outdoor recreation, public-

private partnerships and promotion of

private recreational opportunities will

continue to provide strong economic

benefits to Georgia in the future.


Anglers currently spend approximately

$569 million each year on fishing in

Georgia. The total economic effect of

angling is approximately $1.5 billion.

There are 10,649 jobs related to sport

fishing, which generate $15 million in

state income taxes and $19 million in

state sales taxes.


The new Go Fish Georgia program is a

$30 million initiative that is intended to

boost economic development in many

small towns and establish Georgia as a

national fishing destination.



30


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Jobs and Economic Activity - Urban Forests



Trees generate income by creating jobs, and shop longer, and studies show

boosting property values and attracting people spend up to 10 percent more

educated workers. A single, large 40- money when shopping on tree-lined

year old tree pays back taxpayers and streets. In addition, trees create

homeowners nearly $200 per year just inviting, beautiful places to enjoy,

in its cleansing and cooling effect on and give people lasting memories to

the air, water and land. A large front- take home.

yard tree adds almost one percent to

the sales price of a single family home, Trees benefit employers, too. Workers

and property values of homes adjacent without a view of nature from their

to parks and open spaces are typically desks reported 23 percent more

about eight percent to 20 percent instances of illnesses. They also

higher than comparable properties reported higher levels of frustration

elsewhere (McPherson 2006).

and irritability. Those who have views



of nature reported better overall

Tourism and urban forests share a health, greater enthusiasm for their

vital link. In Savannah, magnificent jobs, less frustration and feelings of

live oaks and many other trees higher life satisfaction (Kaplan and

line the streets and city squares. Kaplan 1989).

Research shows that trees are a

significant amenity in cities, and are Of the 506 Georgia cities and counties

often part of the reason visitors measured in the U.S. Forest Service's

choose to spend time in a specific Community Accomplishment Re-

location. Trees provide many porting System (CARS) in 2014, a

important benefits to visitors. For total of 124 communities in

example, shady streets in business Georgia have made investments in

districts encourage people to linger their urban forest by hiring a

consulting urban forester or certified

arborist to assist in planning for

and managing community trees,

creating a wealth of green jobs in the

state at tree nurseries and in

arboriculture.



With an array of employment options,

a temperate climate and a diverse

landscape, Georgia offers residents

and visitors a myriad of opportunities

for a rich quality of life. It is no

wonder that Georgia had 16 of the

fastest growing counties in the United

States between 2000 and 2006 (U.S.

Census Bureau). Fourteen counties

were within a 50-mile radius of

Atlanta and the remaining two were

near Savannah.



31


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Clean Water



Georgia has abundant water resources an important benefit to the 134 water

within 14 major river basins and supply reservoirs that provide many

multiple groundwater aquifer systems. Georgians with a clean source of water

Many of the state's 44,056 miles of (Figure 23 on following page).

perennial streams, 23,906 miles of
intermittent streams and 603 miles From an economic standpoint,

of ditches and canals begin or flow communities that utilize this important

through forest lands.

function of trees and canopy cover



may spend less money developing

Forests provide remarkable benefits additional stormwater management

for Georgia's water resources. They infrastructure. In Atlanta, for instance,

help supply clean water for aquatic the stormwater retention capacity of

habitat, safe drinking water and the urban forest has been calculated at

recreational activities.

about $85.9 million a year (American



Forests, 2001).

Forested buffers protect biological

Infiltration rates for forested

diversity by stabilizing stream

areas are 10 to 15 times greater

temperatures and providing food

than for equivalent areas of

and habitat to aquatic ecosystems.

turf and grass.



Additionally, they protect water quality by reducing the amount of sediment, nutrients and other pollutants that enter streams and lakes.


During a heavy rain, a healthy forest can absorb as much as 20,000 gallons of water in an hour.

Studies have shown that riparian forests The future of Georgia will depend

and wetlands can trap more than 80 on the clean fresh water that flows

percent of sediment and nutrients, as through the sustainable forest lands in

well as reduce peak flood periods by the state.

50 percent (Cooper et al. 1987). This is



32




Sources: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, 2009. Unpublished data.
Department of Commerce. Census Bureau. Geography Division. 2000 Census Tracts. http://www.census.gov

Figure 23



33


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Wildlife Habitat and Natural Heritage



Georgia boasts a tremendously diverse open, frequently burned pine woods

natural heritage - ranking sixth among with diverse ground cover provide

all states in overall biological diversity. the most value to the greatest

The state's rich forest resource reflects diversity of wildlife species. Some

an important part of our natural species, such as black bears and great-

heritage that directly shaped the lives horned owls are large, charismatic

and cultures of earlier residents, and and easily detectable. Others, such as

provides essential wildlife habitat and salamanders and shrews, are secretive

recreation opportunities of immense and small, but no less important.

value to our state's residents and

visitors.

The "value" of wildlife to society is



difficult to measure, but most citizens

Habitat diversity begets wildlife agree that having wildlife on the

diversity, and many of Georgia's landscape contributes significantly to

distinct habitat types are forests. the quality of life. Additionally,

Additionally, forest cover is essential wildlife is very important to the many

to the health of many aquatic habitats people who enjoy hunting, fishing,

by providing shade and structure. nature photography, birding and other

Forest structure, species composition activities that depend upon healthy

and other criteria determine which populations of wild plants and animals.

wildlife species find a particular site In 2006, 35 percent, or 2.4 million, of

suitable. Mature upland and Georgia residents age 16 and older

bottomland hardwood forests with took part in wildlife-related recreation,

well-developed canopy, mid-story, spending more than $3.5 billion. (U.S.

shrub layer and ground cover, and Department of the Interior 2007).





34









Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Timber Products

Georgia has 143 primary woodusing industries with 95 sawmills, 10 veneer and panel product mills, and 38 mills that produce other valueadded products from logs. In addition, Georgia has 12 pulp mills, 22 chip mills and six log and/or wood chip exporters. Thirty-one primary mills export products to world markets. Of Georgia's 159 counties, 83 counties have at least one primary mill; 76 counties have none. The top three counties in terms of number of primary mills are: Clinch-6; Ben Hill-5; and Wilkes-4. Eleven counties have three mills; 26 counties have two mills and 43 counties have one mill. In addition to the primary mills, approximately 1,066 secondary manufacturers provide further processing to Georgia's wood products (Willard 2015).

Figure 24
35

Following is a summary of the most



recent

mill

production

data

available

for Georgia's primary wood-using

industries:

In 2011, industrial timber product

output from roundwood increased

16%, to 1.22 billion cubic feet, or

43.1 million green tons.



o Softwood

roundwood

products output increased

14% to 1.04 billion cubic feet,



or 36.2 million green tons.

o Hardwood

roundwood



products output increased



26% to 182.01 million cubic



feet, or 6.9 million green tons.

o Pulpwood and saw logs were



the principal roundwood



products. Combined output of these two products totaled



1.04 billion cubic feet and



accounted for 85% of the



State's total industrial



roundwood output (Figure



24).

o Across all products, 86% of



roundwood harvested was



retained for processing at



Georgia mills.



o Roundwood timber product output by Georgia's top ten counties, product, and species



group is shown in Table 3



(Bentley et al. 2014).














































Public Benefits from Fore st Resources



Timber Products











Roundwood Timber Product Output by Top Ten Counties, Product,

and Species Group, Georgia, 2011

thousand cubic feet

All Products

Saw Logs

Veneer Logs

SW

HW

SW

HW

SW

HW

Clinch 46,242 Laurens

5,314 Clinch

9,779 Laurens 2,720 Hancock

1,904 Morgan

473

Ware 32,846 Burke

4,408 Laurens 9,061 Johnson 2,259 Wilkes

1,523 Carroll

187

Laurens 26,613 Clinch

3,976 Appling 6,863 Twiggs 2,058 Morgan

1,333 Troup

174

Long

21,054 Twiggs

3,478 Dodge

6,656 Telfair 1,710 Putnam

1,333 Early

146

Charlton 20,761 Johnson 3,293 Screven 6,257 Wheeler 1,433 Grady

1,294 Mitchell

142

Appling 19,730 Washington 3,042 Harris

6,089 Long

1,429 Greene

1,142 Thomas

133

Emanuel 18,993 Troup

3,003 Emanuel 5,974 Toombs 1,429 Taliaferro 1,142 Heard

132

Brantley 18,244 Bulloch

2,971 Bulloch 5,751 Jasper 1,383 Warren

1,142 Decatur

129

Stewart 17,568 Jasper

2,854 Talbot

5,737 Wilkinson 1,320 Oglethorpe 952 Jeff Davis

127

Screven 16,147 Telfair

2,840 Pierce

5,399 Monroe 1,236 Washington 952 Meriwether

124

Pulpwood

Composite Panels

Other Industrial*

SW

HW

SW

HW

SW

HW

Charlton 17,110 Burke

3,585 Laurens 3,488 Brooks

281 Clinch

18,602 Clinch

300

Ware 16,593 Clinch

3,237 Ben Hill 3,219 Echols

168 Ware

12,635 Franklin

244

Long

15,980 Troup

2,687 Telfair

3,219 Lowndes 74 Atkinson

4,353 Oglethorpe

244

Clinch 15,791 Laurens

2,463 Wilcox

3,219 Cook

37 Stewart

3,868 Chattahoochee 199

Floyd 13,493 Washington 2,338 Worth

2,812 Decatur

37 Coffee

2,170 Berrien

192

Laurens 13,434 Bulloch

2,245 Dodge

2,683 Irwin

37 Telfair

1,970 Colquitt

192

Brantley 12,495 Screven

2,081 Oglethorpe 2,291 Lanier

37 Jeff Davis 1,839 Cook

192

Madison 12,400 Bartow

2,070 Clinch

2,070 Mitchell

37 Berrien

1,776 Lowndes

192

Emanuel 12,367 Effingham 1,998 Screven 1,717 Tift

37 Appling

1,755 Worth

192

Camden 12,059 Haralson 1,906 Wilkes

1,693 Turner

37 Oglethorpe 1,689 Elbert

183

*includespoles,posts,mulch,loghomes,industrialfuelwood,andallotherindustrialproducts.



Table 3

Bentley, James W.; Steppleton, Carolyn D. 2013. Southern Pulpwood production, 2011. Resour. Bull. SRS194. Revised. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 38 p.


36




In 2011, Georgia continued to be a leader in pulpwood production, roundwood production, number of pulp mills and pulping capacity. Of the 13 states in the southern region (Bentley, et al 2013): o Georgia ranked second in the number of pulp mills: 12 out of 81 total mills. o Georgia ranked second in pulping capacity: 20,779 tons/24 hours; 17 percent of the South's total. o Georgia ranked first in pulpwood production for all species combined; first in softwood production and second in hardwood production.
x Georgia had 28,315,221 green
tons of pulpwood production (83% softwood and 17% hardwood); a nine percent increase since 2008.
x Georgia ranked first in
pulpwood production from wood sourced within the state at 24,763,998 green tons.
x Georgia ranked first in
roundwood production for all species combined; first in softwood production; and second in hardwood production.
x Clinch is the most productive
Georgia county with 67,856 green tons of roundwood pulpwood production; the top-leading three counties produced eight percent of the state's total as shown in Table 4 (Bentley et al.2013).
Georgia forest products continue to be an important export commodity to world markets.
Georgia's forest industry is wellpositioned to capture increased




Table 4

market share in emerging countries the state's highly productive

for traditional products such as forests. For this reason and others,

lumber and panel products as well as new bioenergy products such as

several forest industry leaders call Georgia home:

wood pellets. This is largely due to the proximity of the Port of Savannah, the fastest growing port in the U.S. and the fourth largest port in the U.S.

x Pinova largest wood rosin plant in the World, Brunswick
x Georgia Biomass largest wood pellet plant in the World, Waycross
x Arizona Chemical largest crude

GA Wood Product Exports, 2014
x At $505 million, Georgia ranked
sixth in the U.S. for wood products exports, an increase of 25% over 2013
x China is the number one export
destination, valued at $152 million, an increase of 43% over 2013
x 30% of Georgia wood exports are
destined for China
x Georgia ranks #1 in U.S. exports of

tall oil biorefinery in the World, Savannah
x SP Fiber Technologies largest recycled paper mill in North America, Dublin
x Beasley Forest Products largest hardwood sawmill in the U.S., Hazlehurst
x In addition, Fort Benning, Georgia is the first DoD base to undertake a forest carbon sequestration project, 148,539-acres (Source: Fort Benning)

wood fuel to the world, valued at $165 million (chips + pellets)

x Georgia leads the nation in the production of poles (Source: USDA

x Georgia ranks #1 in U.S. exports of
wood pellets to the world, valued at $136 million, 26% of the U.S. total

Forest Service)
x Georgia leads the U.S. South in softwood post & pole production &

x The top five export destinations for
Georgia wood pellets: UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Denmark (Source: GTIS)

total post & pole production (Source: USDA Forest Service)
x Georgia leads the U.S. South and nation in the number of plantation acres at 7,748,182 (Source: 2012

Georgia's leadership in the production of forest products in the U.S. South,

USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory Analysis)

nation and world is possible because of

37


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Quality of Life

Having forests in the places where play is more diverse with imaginative people live, work and play improves and creative play that fosters language quality of life. Studies show contact and collaborative skills. Nature with nature can lower blood pressure, buffers the impact of life's stresses speed recovery from surgery and lower on children and helps them deal with self-reported stress. For children, adversity (Georgia Urban Forest inner-city children in particular, trees Council 2006).
and parks provide a safe, inviting
environment in which to play and Trees soothe our psyche, instill us with explore. That opportunity is vital, peace and restore our spirits. Scientific considering children who have contact studies have shown links between with nature score higher on tests of contact with trees and nature and concentration and self-discipline. psychological and societal well-being. Children who play regularly in natural People with green views from their environments show more advanced windows are more likely to know their motor skills, including coordination, neighbors and report a stronger sense balance and agility. When children of community (Georgia Urban Forest play in natural environments, their Council 2005a).



38


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Clean Air

Trees and forests store carbon in roots, trunks and limbs. This helps to remove atmospheric carbon, a by- product of burning fossil fuels, and thus reduces pollution. Carbon accounts for about half the dry weight of most trees. The carbon- related function of trees is measured in two ways: the total amount stored, which becomes greater as the tree ages, and the rate at which carbon is stored (called sequestration), which is faster in young trees and then slows as the tree matures. This stored carbon has the potential to be saved for a long period of time in both living trees and solid wood products.
In addition, carbon se- questration is an emerg- ing ecological market opportunity for forest owners.
"Han et al. (2007) estimated current forests in the South sequester 13% of regional greenhouse gas emissions9. A study of feasibility revealed the potential of up to 200 million pounds of CO2 equivalent across southern states at a price of $30 per metric ton10, with another study showing a potential of 500 million metric tons for the U.S. for $30 $90 per ton11."

planted and natural stands represent 31% and 69% of total carbon sequestration, respectively. This yields an average of 64.4 metric tons per acre for all of Georgia timberland (Brown, Jonathan. Georgia Forestry Commission. 2013 Carbon Sequestration of Georgia Timberland. June 21, 2015).
Figure 25 shows that 0-60 year-old, planted stands sequester more carbon on a per acre basis than natural stands. It also indicates that the majority of planted stands over the age of 60 have been thinned heavily, reducing sequestration to approximately 45 metric tons per acre for the age class of 61-80 years.
Furthermore, 97% of carbon sequestered in planted stands is under the age of 40 (Table 5). Natural stands show a continued increase through 100 years of age due to the longer rotations required for hardwoods. However, according to a publication by the U.S. Forest Service, despite the increased rotation length of natural stands, shorter rotations result in a greater amount of total carbon converted to wood products over a 100-

year period and should be considered an

important avenue of sequestration

(Johnsen, Kurt, et al. Meeting Global Policy

Commitments: Carbon Sequestration and

Southern

Pine Forests. (2001).

http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/ja_

johnsen007.pdf. 15 June 2015). Under

the age of 40 and 60, total carbon

sequestered is 59% and 78%,

respectively (Figure 26). Therefore,

reforestation of properly managed

timber on younger rotations will be

critical in maximizing Georgia's carbon

sequestration.

Quotation Source: Comments of the Georgia Public Service Commission, Regarding Docket No. EPA-HQOAR-2013-0602, Re :Proposed Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units: 79 Federal Register 34830, (Filed, June 18, 2014), Before The U.S. of America Environmental Protection Agency; pg 7 of 15. Source 9: Han, Fengxiang, M. John Plodinec, Yi Su, David L. Monts, Zhongpei Li. Terrestrial carbon pools in southeast and south-central United States. Climatic Change (2007) 84: 191-202. Source 10: Galik, Christopher, Brian Murray, D. Evan Mercer. Where is the Carbon? Carbon sequestration potential from private forestland in the southern United States. Journal of Forestry. Jan 2013. 111(1): 17-25. Source 11: Stavins, Robert and Kenneth Richard. The cost of U.S. forest-based carbon sequestration. Pew
Center on Global Climate Change. January 2005.

According to the U.S.D.A. Forest

Service, almost 1.6 billion metric tons of

CO2 were sequestered in Georgia

timberland as of 2013, across 24.2

million acres. The total includes federal,

state/local, and private property, and it

accounts for carbon in above and below

ground live and dead biomass, above and

below ground understory vegetation,

coarse woody debris, soil, and leaf litter

(U.S. Forest Service EVALIDator

Version

1.6.0.02

-

http://apps.fs.fed.us/Evalidator/evalida

tor.jsp).

Of the total, more than 1.4 billion metric tons, or approximately 91%, is sequestered on private land. This includes over 22 million privately owned acres. Broken down by stand origin,

Figure 25



39


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Clean Air

As shown above, growing trees is a viable and proven avenue for reducing atmospheric carbon. In addition, the sale of "carbon credits" may provide a potential opportunity for new income to Georgia landowners. For example, "using forests to capture and store CO2 is equivalent to using new technology to capture and store carbon directly from coal plants, while being less costly and proven to work. Encouraging investment in enormous opportunities to limit carbon in our atmosphere through sequestration and offsets should be considered" (Georgia PSC).
Some conservation groups question the sustainability of Georgia's forests to supply an increasing demand for wood pellets. However, the majority of timberland is managed for highervalued products (such as sawtimber, poles, etc.), which continue to sequester carbon as finished products, while trees may be replanted to provide additional sequestration in place of the harvested timber. The volume ratio of growing stock (sawtimber-potential trees 5+ inches in diameter) to total live trees, for all private timberland is 86%. Planted and natural stands are 94% and 83% growing stock, respectively. Therefore, roundwood sold to pellet mills will only include trees of inferior quality or size that would not otherwise have the capability of producing sawtimber. In most cases, utilized biomass is timed at the maximum volume the stand can reach without mortality occurring due to self-thinning, which maximizes growth for highervalued products that will be utilized in future harvesting operations.

Finally, the biomass market should help encourage timberland owners to replant, taking advantage of stronger markets. Reducing the available markets will only pressure land conversion for commercial development or other non-forest use as Georgia's population continues to rise. With a continuous demand for energy, utilizing Georgia's renewable resources through sustainable forest management will maximize carbon sequestration without compromising the economical or ecological benefits of timberland.

Planted Stand Metric Tons CO2 Sequestered on Timberland, Georgia 2013

Stand age 20 yr classes (0 to 100+)

Total

0-20 years

21-40 years

41-60 years

61-80 years

81-100 years

100+ years

456,145,011 241,085,352 201,825,957 12,369,682 139,269

378,572

346,178

Table 5

Figure 26



40


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Energy Conservation

Energy savings provided by trees by the necessary power generation can be significant. Nationwide, it is (Galveston-Houston Association estimated that planting trees and using for Smog Prevention 1999). Three more light colored surfaces (roofs and properly-placed trees can save the pavement) could annually save up to average household between $100 40 billion kilowatts of electricity and and $250 in energy costs or about the attendant pollution produced 30 percent on air conditioning costs
every year.

Avoided Carbon Reducing energy use also decreases the amount of carbon pollution produced by utility companies. A CITYgreen calculation (that multiplied the amount of kilowatt hours of electricity conserved as a result of direct shading of trees by the fuel mix profile of Georgia's electricity production) revealed that Atlanta eliminates about 658,000 tons of carbon emission annually as a result of direct shading (American Forests 2002).



41


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Carbon Sequestration





Trees and forests store 15 million metric tons of carbon

carbon in roots, trunks and dioxide (CO2). Carbon sequestered limbs. This helps to remove through forest growth offsets

atmospheric carbon, a by- more than eight percent of all CO2 product of burning fossil emissions from energy production in

fuels, and thus reduces Georgia annually (U.S. EPA 2009). The

pollution. Carbon accounts utilization of the trees removed from

for about half the dry weight Georgia forests each year results in the

of most trees. The carbon- storage of an additional 22.5 million

related function of trees is metric tons of CO2 or an additional measured in two ways: the 12 percent of annual energy emissions

total amount stored, which (Forest Service 2009a). The sale of

becomes greater as the tree "carbon credits" may provide a

ages, and the rate at which potential opportunity for new income

carbon is stored (called to Georgia landowners.

sequestration), which is

faster in young trees and

then slows as the tree

matures. This stored carbon

has the potential to be saved

for a long period of time in

both living trees and solid

wood products.



In addition, carbon se-

questration is an emerg-

ing ecological market

opportunity for forest

owners. In 2008, Georgia's

forests grew a net plus 546

million cubic feet (Miles

2009) of green wood and

sequestered approximately



42


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Bioenergy





Companies are seeking opportunities in small diameter trees can be expected to

the commercialization of bioenergy, or improve and landowners will have an

the conversion of forest biomass into additional incentive to plant trees.

energy, which will benefit both forest

landowners and forest industries.

Equipment manufacturers have begun




designing and manufacturing specialized

tools for harvesting and gathering

forest biomass and loggers are testing

methods to efficiently harvest biomass.

The forest management practices of

landowners and investment by loggers

will be influenced by local bioenergy

markets, just as they have been by other

forest products manufacturing facilities.



Georgia's sustainable forests produce

an abundance of surplus forest biomass

that can be converted to energy. A large

potential exists to capture a portion of

biomass resources that is currently not

utilized.



In 2004, a harvest and utilization study

was conducted which found that 14

percent of total softwood volume and

26 percent of total hardwood volume

were left in the woods after harvest

(Bentley and Harper 2007). In 2008,



the study was repeated and found that

Georgia's current abundance of forest 12 percent of total softwood volume

resources has been identified as having and 22 percent of total hardwood

tremendous potential in this arena.

volume were left in the woods after



harvest.

The continued development of

a bioenergy industry

will generate additional

products from the forest,

including electricity, motor

fuel and biochemicals such

as solvents and adhesives.

Landowners will realize

financial benefits from

previously unmarketable

forest materials utilized

from their lands. As the

value of biomass for energy

applications becomes more

defined, the market for



43


Public Benefits from Forest Resources
Bioenergy


Residues from timber harvesting policy will certainly have some effect on

exceeded 9.3 million g r e e n tons the availability of biomass for liquid

(oven dry weight) in 2009 (USDA fuel production.

Forest

Service,

http://srsfia2.fs.fed.us/php/tpo_2009/t Recent groundbreakings, announce-

po_rpa_int4.php).

ments and openings of new bioenergy

facilities are evidence of a growing

Various f e d e r a l policies have been opportunity for new markets for

developed to encourage the use of previously unutilized and low value forest

renewable energy products, including biomass.

biomass. In addition, the 2014 Farm

Bill contains the Biomass Crop The development of a forest resource-

Assistance Program ( B C A P ) and based bioenergy industry will add to

other provisions to encourage biomass the economic impacts of Georgia's

production for energy use. Policies are forest industry. New industries will

also being developed to limit biomass create jobs and investment for rural

use because of concerns about long Georgia communities, while providing

term sustainability and unintended critical tax revenue for the state.

consequences of incentive-based Georgia currently imports 100 percent The manufacturing of compressed

regulation. An example of a policy of its oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, natural wood pellets, briquettes and fire logs

limiting biomass use is the Energy gas and coal from foreign countries for "carbon neutral" electricity and

Independence and Security Act of 2007, and other states. The development of heat production is another market that

which requires all biomass harvest a forest bioenergy industry would allow is gaining momentum in Georgia. Ten

locations to be mapped and Georgia's energy dollars to stay in the facilities are producing wood pellets

documented by liquid biofuel local economy.

and/or briquettes and fire logs, and

producers and does not allow any

several more companies have

"merchantable-sized" trees from Georgia has three biomass electricity announced plans to build more. In

naturally regenerated forests to be used to plants that sell power to the grid. 2007, there were zero wood pellet

produce liquid biofuels. Georgia can Combined, they produce in excess of plants in Georgia. These

supply significant biomass amounts 114 megawatts of electricity output, and compressed wood products, made

from trees on the seven million acres of utilize 1.1 million tons of biomass fuel from sawdust, are used domestically

planted forests and from logging per year.

for heat, or are exported to European

residues on all forests. However, this


countries, where mandates exist to decrease carbon emissions from fossil fuels. The largest wood pellet plant in

the world is located in Waycross, GA

Georgia Biomass, producing 750,000

metric tons of wood pellets per year and

utilizing over 1.5 million tons of wood

biomass per year.



Furthermore, biomass is a renewable

source of energy that can provide

liquid transportation fuels and

potentially could replace 30 percent of

U.S. petroleum use (Perlack et al.

2005).





44


Threats to Forest Resources
Urbanization and Changing Land Uses

There are many challenges at hand it. Major threats to Georgia's forests for Georgia's currently thriving forest include urbanization, ownership system and the people who manage changes, forest pests, invasive plants,
wildfire and limitations on the use of prescribed fire.






45


Threats to Forest Resources
Urbanization and Changing Land Uses


Unprecedented population growth One half of the state's increase in

and the urbanization of our state lead impervious surface occurred in metro

the list of forces that could undermine Atlanta. The data shows for every one acre

forest sustainability in decades to come. of tree canopy lost, there was an increase

Georgia experienced rapid population of one acre of impervious surface in the

growth in the late `90s, becoming the 16-county Atlanta metro region between

fastest growing state in the South. 1991 and 2005. The Savannah area also

Georgia has four of the top 20 experienced tremendous growth pressures.

fastest growing counties in the Tree canopy decreased by 28 percent in

United States. Over the next two Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties

decades, between 2010 and 2030, the between 1991 and 2005, while impervious

state's population is projected to grow by surfaces increased by 272 percent. The

an additional 4.6 million people. trends are similar in Columbus, which lost

According to the current projection, eight percent of tree cover and increased in

Georgia's population will increase 46 impervious surfaces by 71 percent. The

percent, from 10.1 to 14.7 million people Macon area lost 10 percent of tree cover

by the year 2030 (Governor's Office of and increased in impervious surfaces by

Planning and Budget 2010). Effects of 41 percent. Whitfield County gained four

this rapid growth include declining air percent in tree cover and also increased in

and water quality and increased need for impervious surfaces by 78 percent. Glynn

stormwater management resources. County lost eight percent of tree cover

Studies from Dr. Rebecca Moore of and increased in impervious surfaces by

UGA's Warnell School of Forest 66 percent and Camden County lost five

Resources showed that Georgia's percent of tree cover and increased 71

forests provide over $20.3 billion of percent in impervious surfaces. Satellite

stormwater quantity and quality studies of canopy change for the past ten

benefits. Partly, as a result of the loss of years are currently underway.

tree cover, some communities are

currently not able to meet clean air The impact of urbanization extends

and water standards. Increasing beyond Georgia's major metropolitan areas.

development threatens to accelerate this The Upper Oconee and Etowah

trend.

watersheds are two of the top 15

watersheds in the country projected to

Canopy Loss - Impervious

experience housing density increases on

Surface Gain

more than 200,000 acres of their surface

GFC-funded studies determined that area (Stein et al. 2005).

approximately 54 acres of canopy

cover were lost in the Atlanta region Urbanization and Water

each day from 1991-2001 while Conversion of forest land to urban use is

adding 28 acres of impervious the greatest threat to the sustainability of

surfaces (e.g. roads, buildings, etc.) Georgia's water quantity and quality.

daily. By 2005 a slight decrease in Urbanization effectively and permanently

canopy loss was evident, but removes acreage from forest cover,

impervious surface additions resulting in increased storm runoff and

increased to approximately 55 acres daily. Georgia's canopy cover declined by a total of 398,330 acres, or 273 acres per day. Accordingly

increased streamflow that causes streambank erosion, sedimentation and flooding.

impervious surfaces increased by a

total of 154,134 acres, or 106 acres

per day.



46


Threats to Forest Resources
Urbanization and Changing Land Uses

Furthereffectsof forestcoverlossinclude higher levels of pollutants and increased water temperatures that degrade fish and wildlife habitat. Development in the wildland-urban interface often occurs in the headwaters of streams and rivers that are home to many of Georgia's endemic species which are vulnerable to environmental changes and pollutants.
There are inconsistent standards for managing riparian management zones among land users. For example, state law requires developers to maintain only a 25-foot undisturbed management zone along most streams, regardless of the pitch of slopes that are perpendicular to the stream. Forestry operators, however, recognize a 40-foot minimum management zone, which can increase to 100 feet, depending on the slope or whether the stream is identified by DNR as a mountain trout stream.

Critical Water Projection
Data Needed Regarding quantities of water available for the state's growing needs, Georgia does not have precise measurements of how much water is available from its streams and aquifers. Calculations are also unavailable for how many waterborne pollutants Georgia streams and rivers can safely assimilate. No reliable forecasts have been made concerning how much water the state will need, or how much wastewater will be discharged, as the state continues to grow. Accurate information is needed on water quantity as well as water quality for effective planning and management. Georgia must determine how much water can be removed from rivers, lakes and aquifers without causing unacceptable negative impacts and determine how much wastewater and stormwater streams can handle before water quality begins to degrade.

In addition to urban pressures, the Georgia Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan (Georgia DNR 2008)states that there are over 6,000 miles of streams that do not meet state water quality standards because of nonpoint sources of pollution. Nonpoint sources include forestry activities. It has been estimated that seven to ten thousand forestry operations are conducted on some 790,000 acres per

year statewide. Other nonpoint sources include agriculture, past practices of constructing canals and ditches and poor county road maintenance. These have contributed to impaired streams and wetland losses (Figure 27).
Declining budgets have affected state and local regulatory agencies' abilities to effectively address water quality and quantity issues.



Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division 2008.
Figure 27



47


Threats to Forest Resources
Urbanization and Changing Land Uses


Urbanization and Biodiversity Most of Georgia's native plants and animals depend upon healthy forest habitats for survival. High quality forest habitat is being lost to development and conversion to other uses to meet the desires of our growing population and changing society. Contributing factors include urban sprawl, tax laws and economic factors that encourage parcelization and development, global competition for forest products, intensifying forest management practices and widespread corporate divestiture of timberlands.

Forest habitats in decline include mature bottomland hardwoods and cypress-gum wetlands (U.S. Forest Service 2008). Imbedded within forests are small patches of special habitats such as bogs, rock outcrops, caves and prairie remnants that are essential for numerous localized and rare species.

Wildlife Species' Ups and Downs Examples of high priority large-patch or "matrix" habitats that support substantial numbers of wildlife species

include upland hardwood and pinehardwood forests, pine woodlands and savannas, bottomland hardwood forests, river swamps, and depressional wetlands (Georgia Department of Natural Resources 2005; Comer et al. 2005;Van De Genachte and Cammack 2002). Often embedded within largepatch habitats are small-patch natural communities such as bogs, rock outcrops, caves and prairie remnants that represent essential habitat for many localized or rare species. Both "matrix" and small-patch habitats are impacted by habitat fragmentation and disruption of natural ecological processes such as fire and flooding.

Over time, some species have successfully adapted to extensive landscape changes resulting from residential and commercial development, agriculture, intensive forestry, stream impoundment, pollution and additional factors that have accompanied human population growth and a high rate of natural resource consumption.

However, other species are less adaptable and are in need of careful management
to prevent further declines in the face of extensive habitat loss. For example, populations of the northern bobwhite, Bachman's sparrow, redcockaded woodpecker, prairie warbler and many others that once occupied the extensive and highly diverse longleaf pine savannas of the coastal plain, characterized


Photo courtesy of Melissa McGraw
by open forest canopy with herbaceous ground cover maintained through frequent fire, have all decreased as their habitats have dwindled.

Many aquatic organisms have declined as a result of impoundments, siltation, pollution and competition from exotic species. Georgia ranks eighth among all states in the number of species at risk and fifth in the number of extinctions.

Also, the growing wildland-urban interface compounds other problems, including conflicts between wildlife and humans, pets and livestock. Of particular concern is the increasing number of wildlife and car collisions. With the deer population hovering around 1.2 million statewide, and continued urbanization and development, there are an estimated 50,000 deer-car collisions annually in Georgia.



48


Threats to Forest Resources
Urbanization and Changing Land Uses


Urbanization and Wildfire Urbanization places more lives and property at risk from wildfire and reduces options for proper fire management. The most important function/work management challenge for forestry professionals is to ensure public safety by providing fire prevention ser vices through prescribed fire as well as wildfire suppression. The sustainability of Georgia's forest is dependent on attention to both of these critical services.

Urbanization makes wildfire management complex. Tactics and strategy, roles and responsibilities, coordination of responders, media relations, liability, planning, logistics, finances and firefighter safety become more difficult to manage in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Preparation of forest rangers and cooperators for WUI wildfires requires additional, intensive training at considerable expense.

Prescribed Burning Challenges Increasing urbanization challenges Georgia's ability to maintain or increase the million-acre prescribed fire program. This program is GFC's best fire prevention tool for mitigating wildfire threat. As Georgia's population increases, it takes extra time and effort to consider how every prescribed fire


impacts communities. Prescribed fire managers are trained to minimize smoke impacts on the public and to communicate fire projects to neighboring communities. Planning and execution of prescribed fires become increasingly complex, requiring critical decisions and better trained practitioners. However, extra precautions increase costs and reduce the cost/benefit ratio of prescribed burning. Although the threat of wildfire may be reduced for communities through prescribed fire, few communities have been motivated to help alleviate costs for this practice that ensures forest health and reduces wildfire risk.


Apprehension about fire and smoke increases with urbanization. Air quality has become a major concern in Georgia, and prescribed fire has been targeted as one of many sources of harmful emissions. Drift smoke from prescribed fire and wildfires concerns urban dwellers. An important mission is to help Georgians understand the life sustaining properties of healthy forests, and the natural role that fire plays in ecosystems.



49












Threats to Forest Resources



Fragmentation and Parcelization





Another issue caused by urban Though fragmentation and parceliza-

development pressures is forest tion may not result in forest canopy

fragmentation and parcelization. loss, in many cases the resources on

Parcelization results when the the tract become unavailable to for-

number of forest landowners estry markets. They may also cause

increases, large parcels are broken adverse changes in water quality and

up and the resulting forest land is quantity and impede the management

held in smaller parcels of usually 50 of fire and forest pests.

acres or less (Wear and Greis 2002).

The shrinking size of forestland Both fragmentation and parcelization

parcels results in less efficient may disrupt wildlife corridors and mi-

management units, which gration routes of many wildlife spe-

contributes to cost increases and cies. Those species requiring large,

resource management difficulties undisturbed expanses may decline.

and results in decreased

implementation of sound forestry Georgia forest fragmentation trends

practices. At approximately 45 over the past 34 years were evaluated

people per square mile, there is only by a comparison of four classes of

a 50:50 probability that forestry will forest areas defined in terms of the

be practiced. At 150 people per type of fragmentation present:

square mile, forestry practice

applications approach zero (Wear Core interior forest pixels that

1999).

are not degraded from "edge ef-



fects."

Fragmentation is the division of Perforated forest along the in-

contiguous forest areas into smaller, side edge of a small forest perfo-

isolated pieces or less contiguous ration.

tracts due to development, conver- Edge forest along the outside

sion to agriculture, the divestiture edge of a forest patch.

of forest land by the forest industry Patch small fragments of for-

and other human activities.

est that are entirely degraded by

"edge effects."

50







Results showed forest core areas greater than 500 acres have decreased by more than 20 percent (Figure 28).

This core size represents large, contiguous forest area available to provide abundant amounts of key ecosystem services including wood and fiber production, water quality and quantity protection and biodiversity. Some of this loss is accounted for in the increase in developed area across the state, but the biggest reduction in large core areas is in fragmentation due to the changes in land ownership and priorities of these land owners over time. Much of the loss of large patches can be accounted for in the increase in area of smaller core patches and increases in edge, patch and perforated patches (Table 6).

In addition to urban sprawl, a major

contributing factor to fragmentation

and parcelization is taxation. Property

tax burdens often result in the sale of

land to pay taxes. When this occurs,

the land is more prone to be

subdivided. Highest and best land use

valuation tax assessments are causing

massive divestitures of forest

products company lands to timber

investment

management

organizations and real estate

investment trusts. These divestitures

are resulting in more rapid turnover

in forest ownership and increased

potential for fragmentation and

parcelization.











Threats

to

Forest

Resources



Fragmentation

and

Parcelization



























































Source: Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory (NARSAL),

University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Unpublished data)

Figure 28



Source: Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory (NARSAL),
University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Unpublished data)
Table 6

51













Threats to Forest Resources

Changing Markets

A significant challenge for the forest by many retail companies was the

industry in Georgia is increased first notable trend in forest product

market competitiveness on a global substitution. More recent substitutions

scale. While globalization provides an include aluminum construction studs,

opportunity for local companies to plastic pallets, electronic file storage,

expand through increased exports, it online newspapers and electronic mail.

also exposes them to competition Although construction continues to

from both domestic and international be the largest market for wood, the

markets. For example, southern lumber percentage of lumber and wood panels

markets have been negatively impacted used per square foot of floor space in

by subsidized lumber from Canada residential construction has decreased

and other countries. Low-cost finished 27 and 19 percent, respectively, since

wood products are now flooding U.S. 1986 (McKeever 2009).

markets because of lower production

costs in overseas factories. The result Economic Recession

for Georgia has been a loss of some The major impact to the forest industry

paper industries and slow reaction by of the global economic recession of

solid wood manufacturing companies 2007-09 was a significant reduction in

to analyze opportunities in foreign construction activities and the use of

markets.

wood building products. Private



residential housing starts in the U. S.

Another component of globalization dropped from 1,716,000 in 2005 to

is the difference in currency values. 622,000 in 2008-a 64 percent decrease

These values vary between countries, (U.S. Census Bureau 2009). The slowing

and over time, result in unpredictable economy decreased the demand for

and highly variable market demands manufactured goods, and thus the

for wood pulp and other products.

demand for wood and paper-based



shipping products. Although the

Several recent changes in forest product overall U.S. economy has generally

markets have resulted in lower forest recovered from the 2008 downturn,

product values and decreased tree housing starts and the overall use of

planting rates. Many changes, however, wood has not recovered to pre-

present the opportunity for positive recession levels.

impacts, which will be addressed in

the "Strategic Issues" section of this From 2007 to 2013, Georgia lost 25

Assessment. Market changes that have primary forest products manufacturers.

negatively impacted forestry include (James R. Schiller, Nathan McClure,

globalization of business, product and Risher A. Willard. 2009. Georgia's

substitution, the general economic Timber Industry-An Assessment of Timber

recession and increased interest in Product Output and Use, 2007. Resource

certified wood products.

Bulletin SRS-161. Asheville, NC: U.S.



Department of Agriculture Forest

Product Substitution

Service, Southern Research Station.

New methods and materials have 35 p.)

offset the use of many traditional

forest products, including paper

products and building products. The

replacement of paper bags with plastic

52





(Tony G. Johnson; Nathan McClure; Risher A. Willard. 2011. Georgia's timber
industry-an assessment of timber product output and use, 2009. Resource Bulletin SRS-175. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 35 p.)

(James W. Bentley; Jason A. Cooper; Michael Howell. 2014. Georgia's timber
industry, 2011-timber product output and use-forest inventory and analysis factsheet. EScience Update SRS-090. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 4 p.)

(Risher A. Willard. 2015. Internal

records.

Georgia

Forestry

Commission. Macon, GA.) Mill

closures have a domino effect on the

economy, including the loss of

logging jobs and fewer markets for

timber growers. Typically, higher

stumpage values reflect a stronger

economy, i.e. when there is more

demand for manufactured wood

products, the value of trees on the

stump increases. Although the U.S.

housing industry is slowly improving,

the adage that "more and better

markets for timber products are good

for timber owners" is evidenced by a

recent comparison of current vs

historical stumpage prices:

x Pine sawtimber at $25.60 per ton is

down $14.93 from ten years ago

x Pine chip-n-saw at $17.32 per ton

is down $6.15 from ten years ago

(Timber Mart-South Market News Quarterly. The Journal of Southern Timber Market News, A Quarterly Report of the Market Conditions for Timber Products of the US South. 2nd Quarter 2015. Vol. 20 No. 2. Pp 5-6.)

Threats to Forest Resources
Changing Markets
Certified Wood Products The use of products that have been "certified" as friendly to the environment has also increased, due to green building standards, government regulation and pressure on product retailers from environmental groups. The certification trend began as a concern about poor logging practices and negative social impacts in developing countries' tropical forests. Demand for certified wood products now dominates the furniture industry and is quickly growing in the building industry, where it is a cornerstone of the "green" building movement.
While the use of wood originating from well managed forests is prudent, participation in certification programs is costly and has only been slowly adopted by small non-industrial forest landowners in Georgia. Georgia currently has 2 , 5 6 0 , 6 7 7 acres e n r o l l e d in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, 2,313,785 acres in the American Tree Farm System and 31,757 acres of forest land under Forest Stewardship Council certification, for a total of 4,906,219 acres, or 19.8% of forestland in the state (Dru Preston. March 18, 2015. Georgia Forestry Commission). Most Georgia forest product mills do not track chain of custody from these forests for their products. In addition, some green building standards do not accept all certification systems. Georgia landowners and forest product manufacturers may not have access to certified product markets, unless increases in the adoption of these systems occur.

53











Threats to Forest Resources



Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants





Forest pests can drastically alter the inclusions increase the likelihood of

forest ecosystem, eliminate important the presence of insects, and boards

resources and inflict great economic with bark attached can be hidden in

losses. Georgia's forests are under middle layers of products such as

threat from numerous native and wooden spools, pallets, or wooden

nonnative insects, diseases and other pieces attached directly to the cargo.

decimating agents such as invasive There are phytosanitary rules regarding

plants. Some of these agents are SWPM to ensure the wood is either heat

capable of causing widespread or chemically treated, but it is virtually

mortality while others affect forests impossible to check all material entering

by degrading tree value and form, the country. Furthermore, once the

decreasing growth rates or lowering SWPM is certified and stamped, it

ecosystem diversity. In the past 25 can be reused repeatedly and stored

years, there has been a large outdoors where pests can invade the

increase of introduced pests due to wood before it is used again.

the global economy and shipping of

goods. Some non-native pests are Pest Rankings

already in Georgia, while others are Pests are ranked into two categories

in North America and will eventually based upon the level of monetary or

reach Georgia either through natural ecological damage they are capable of

spread or human-assisted movement. inflicting on Georgia's forests. This



listing was developed by the Assessment

International commerce has created committee's Forest Health team. Pests

the most common pathway for the regulated by USDA APHIS and/or

introduction of non-native pests on Georgia Department of Agriculture

North America. These insects are are included.

frequently found in cargo that has

been crated or packaged with solid Category one pests (Table 7 ) are

wood packing material (SWPM). currently found in Georgia and have

This material is usually constructed the capability to cause severe monetary

of poor quality wood, often from losses, ecological damage or both.

trees damaged or killed by pests. Bark



Common Name

Latin Name

Southern pine beetle

Dendroctonus frontalis

Ips bark beetles (4,5,and 5 spined)

Ips avulsus, Ips grandicollis, Ips calligraphus

Black turpentine bark beetle

Dendroctonus terebrans

Emerald ash borer

Agrilis planipennis

Hemlock woolly adelgid

Adelges tsugae

Laurel wilt disease

Raffaelea lauricola

Redbay ambrosia beetle

Xyleborus glabratus

Heterobasidion root disease

Heterobasidion irregulare

Pitch canker disease

Fusarium circinatum



Table 7



54




Threats to Forest Resources
Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants





Table 8 shows pests not considered naturalized in Georgia, but of

Common Name

adequate risk level to warrant Gypsy Moth (European and Asian)

Latin Name Lymantria dispar & Lymantria dispar dispar

early detection and appropriate Sirex woodwasp

Sirex noctilio

suppression actions.


Asian longhorned beetle

Anoplophora glabripennis Table 8





Category two pests (Table 9 ) may

pose significant damage to Georgia's forests but not to the monetary

Common Name

Latin Name

or ecological extent of those in Siberian silk moth

Dendrolimus superans sibiricus

category one. None of these species are currently considered naturalized within Georgia.

Rosy (or pink) gypsy moth Nun moth Pine shoot beetle

Lymantria mathura Lymantria monacha Tomicus piniperda

Banded elm bark beetle

Scolytus schevyrewi

Suddden oak death

Phytophora ramorum

Thousand canker disease

Geosmithia morbida

Walnut twig borer

Pityophthorus juglandis



Table 9



55




Threats to Forest Resources
Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants


Significant Forest Pests

Southern Pine Beetle The southern pine beetle is the most destructive forest pest in Georgia. It attacks and kills all pine species in Georgia. Historical financial losses from this species surpass all other forest pests combined.

The southern pine beetle is a native insect with a history that stretches back to the 1700s, when early settlers to America noted widespread mortality of southern yellow pines. Although a tremendous amount of research has been conducted over the past 50 years, no effective control measures have been developed for trees that have been attacked. Beetle populations tend to be cyclical. Epidemic levels can last for two to three years and can occur every five to fifteen years, depending on the region of Georgia, environmental factors and overall health of the area's pine forests. Historical outbreaks are shown in Figure 29.

Stands of overstocked pines that have poor vigor and health suffer much greater levels of damage following pine beetle attack. Lack of forest management practices that control stand density and promote vigor further endangers Georgia's pine forests. Southern pine beetle threat for Georgia is based upon stand density, site factors, pine species and other information.



For more information on SPB: http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/forestmanagement/forest-health/pinebark-beetles/index.cfm


http://www.spbinfodirect.ento.vt.edu/SPB biology/soupibee.html

http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr /gtr_srs140/gtr_srs140.pdf
http://www.barkbeetles.org/spb/
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/F SE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev2_04284 0.pdf

http://web2.ento.vt.edu/servlet/sf/spbicc /biblioSearch.html http://web2.ento.vt.edu/servlet/sf/spbicc/i ndex.html
http://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/

Source: Georgia Forestry Commission

Figure 29

56




Threats to Forest Resources
Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants





Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA)

is a serious pest of eastern and Caro-

lina hemlock trees in Georgia. It is

an aphid-like insect that feeds on the

sap of hemlock trees. The adelgid is

dispersed by wind, birds and human

activity and is spreading at an alarm-

ing rate.



HWA was accidentally introduced

into Virginia in the 1950s. The in-

sect is native to Japan, China and

the United States' Pacific Northwest.

HWA was first discovered in Georgia

in 2003 near the Ellicott Rock area

of Rabun County and can now be

found in almost all Georgia's moun-

tain counties where native hemlock

occurs (Figure 30). All ages and

sizes of hemlocks can be attacked.

HWA causes damage to the tree by

feeding at the base of needles,

causing them to desiccate and drop.

This inhibits the trees' ability to

produce new growth. Trees that have

been infested for a couple of years

will show signs of decline.

Unhealthy hemlocks will appear a

dull green to gray color and exhibit

branch dieback. Tree death can

occur after as few as four years of

infestation.



For more information on HWA:

http://www.gatrees.org/ForestMan-

agement/HemlockWoollyAdelgid.cfm



http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/hwa/

Source: Georgia Forestry Commission and U. S. Forest Service
Figure 30

57




Threats to Forest Resources
Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants


Laurel Wilt Disease (and redbay
ambrosia beetle) Laurel wilt disease (LWD), caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola and vectored by the redbay ambrosia beetle (RAB), Xyleborus glabratus, was introduced from Asia through the Port of Savannah in solid wood packing material. The first RAB was caught in an early detection rapid response (EDRR) monitoring trap in Garden City, GA in 2002 and dead redbay trees were evident near the coast in GA and SC by 2004. Since then, the disease has spread rapidly throughout the coastal plain forests in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, killing all large, previously abundant redbay and swamp bay trees in its path. More recently, LWD has spread into redbay in the coastal plain of North Carolina and has been documented in distant, isolated locations in the panhandle of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and northern Louisiana, with the newest introductions being found exclusively in sassafras species.

Laurel wilt is a disease of plant species in the family Lauraceae, and the disease has been identified in plants of the federally endangered pondberry (Lindera melissifolia), the threatened pondspice (Litsea aestivalis), and avocado (Persea americana).

Georgia now has over eight million acres that are confirmed with laurel wilt (Figure 31), and the disease advances in surges and disconnected jumps, with most new county detections being found in sassafras trees in the absence of known redbay populations.
For more information on laurel wilt: http://www.gatrees.org/Forest Man- agement/LaurelWilt.cfm

h ttp : / / ww w. f s. f ed . u s / r 8 / f o resthealth/laurelwilt/index.shtml

Southern Mexico and Central America have many species within the Lauraceae family, and host-testing on some of them has revealed a susceptibility to the pathogen, prompting concern about potential impacts to the forests there as well. The primary agricultural crop threatened is avocado, and a great deal of research into the situation is ongoing in south Florida.

Source: U. S. Forest Service and Georgia Forestry Commission Figure 31

58




Threats to Forest Resources
Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants


Heterobasidion Root Disease (Formally Annosum root disease) Heterobasidion root disease, caused by Heterobasidion annosum, can be a se- rious problem in pine plantations that have been thinned one or more times. All southern pines are susceptible, but loblolly, slash and white pine are the most vulnerable. H. irregulare causes decay in the root system, making the trees subject to butt rot, windthrow, decreased growth and death. Bark beetles can become established in diseased trees and spread to healthy ones, leading to greater losses.

The fungus usually enters a healthy stand by infecting freshly cut stump surfaces. Airborne basidiospores of the fungus land on a stump's surface, germinate and colonize the stump and its root system. The fungus then spreads to adjacent trees by root grafts or contacts, causing root disease and a decline in tree health. When two or more main lateral roots are killed, tree death usually occurs. Damage within a stand can range from single trees to pockets of dead trees scattered throughout the entire stand. If the damage is widespread, Ips and black turpentine bark beetles often cause further mortality by at- tacking the weakened trees.

Damage has not occurred on a significant scale throughout the state, but is concentrated in areas along the Fall Line and southward, particularly where sandy soils are found (Figure 32). Tree decline and death can occur from soon after the harvest up to seven years hence, with peak mortality occurring from two to five years following harvest. Georgia be-


gan to experience significant losses

from Heterobasidion root disease in

2004,due in part to thinnings that

began on CRP plantings throughout

the state in the late 1980s.

Thinnings of loblolly and slash

pine CRP plantings, combined

with drought, have created

conditions

favorable

for

Heterobasidion root disease.

For more information on Heterobasidion root disease:
http://gatrees.org/forestmanagement/foresthealth/annosum-rootdisease/HRDBrochure.pdf
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_D OCUMENTS/stelprdb5299327.pdf





Source: U. S. Forest Service

Figure 32

59



Threats to Forest Resources
Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants

Pests Not Naturalized in Georgia

Gypsy Moth The gypsy moth (Figure 33), a federally regulated pest, is a serious forest pest capable of causing severe damage to hardwood trees, especially oaks. This damage is inflicted as the gypsy moth larvae defoliate entire stands of trees. Defoliation during the spring causes severe stress on trees and can cause mortality in unhealthy individuals, but multiple years of defoliation will cause mortality in healthy stands.

Figure 33

Gypsy moths were brought into Massachusetts in the late 1800s, with the intent to farm the moths for silk produced by the larvae. It wasn't long before the moths escaped captivity and moved into the surrounding woodlands. Many northeastern states (Virginia northward and west to Illinois) now have established populations. The natural spread of gypsy moths occurs as newly hatched larvae spin long silk threads and ride on the breeze. Active populations in Tennessee and North Carolina threaten Georgia's borders.

Georgia has had several widespread outbreaks in the past that required suppression treatments. It is likely that


egg masses attached to incoming cargo brought them from infested areas to Georgia. To date, only European strain moths have been caught in Georgia and they pose a lower threat because the females can't fly. The Asian strain of the same species, however, does have flightcapable females that allows for much greater spread potential and are of higher priority. All moths caught within a 20 mile radius of a port of entry (Atlanta airport or shipping ports at Savannah and Brunswick) are genetically tested to ensure they are not the Asian strain.

While there are currently no known gypsy moth infestations in Georgia, the threat is always present. This is due to the number of visitors and new residents who move to our state from areas of the northeast where the insect is naturalized. Egg masses and live moths can be transported on vehicles, outdoor furniture, firewood or goods such as stone or rock. Through the vigilant use of detection trapping and suppression, gypsy moths are part of a pest success story because they haven't spread as predicted, and can be reasonably controlled where they occur.

For more information on gypsy moths: http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/forestmanagement/forest-health/gypsymoth/GypsyMothFactsheet.pdf

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/f idls/gypsymoth/gypsy.htm

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/por tal/aphis/ourfocus/importexport?uril e=wcm:path:/aphis_content_library/ sa_our_focus/sa_plant_health/sa_do mestic_pests_and_diseases/sa_pests_ and_diseases/sa_insects/sa_gypsy_m oth/ct_gypsy_moth

Sirex Noctilio Woodwasp A non-native woodwasp, Sirex noctilio (Figure 34), was detected in New York in 2005 and likely entered a port via solid wood packing material in cargo. This federally regulated pest is native to Europe and Asia, and has now been introduced into every continent. It has the potential to kill many species of pines. In Georgia, all pine species could be impacted, including several that have tremendous commercial importance. Loblolly and slash are Georgia's most abundant pine species and are rated as extremely susceptible to this pest. Even minor damage could result in enormous economic losses. This is a large insect (11 inches in length) that is a strong flyer, capable of traveling almost 50 miles in one season. It now infests a sizable portion of New York and has migrated southward into Pennsylvania and northward into Canada.
Figure 34 Part of the insect's life cycle involves creating egg niches and laying eggs in trees. They also inject a symbiotic fungus and toxic mucus into the tree. The larvae feed upon the fungus, but the mucus spreads within the water conductive tissue of the tree and clogs this pathway. When a critical level of this vascular tissue can no longer function, moisture stress occurs in the tree and death soon follows. Furthermore, larvae tunnel through the wood as they feed upon the fungus (not the wood), and these large holes can mechanically disrupt the water conductive tissue.

60




Threats to Forest Resources
Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants


Sirex has accounted for huge losses of loblolly and slash plantations elsewhere in the world, but it is uncertain what damage will occur if it invades the southern U.S. Several species of native woodwasps are found in the southeastern U.S., including two species within the Sirex genus that do not kill the host trees. In other parts of the world, it has been observed that weakened, stressed stands (such as overstocked plantations) have been more vulnerable to Sirex noctilio than thinned, vigorous stands. Trapping surveys are underway in several southeastern states, including Georgia, but no Sirex noctilio has been detected to date.

A biological control agent (nematode that sterilizes the adults) developed in Australia was shown to successfully suppress outbreaks. This nematode is being tested in New York, and may be introduced in quantity at some point in the future in the United States.

For more information on Sirex: http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/forestmanagement/forest-health/sirexwoodwasp/
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/port al/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth?1dmy &urile=wcm:path:/aphis_content_libr ary/sa_our_focus/sa_plant_health/sa _domestic_pests_and_diseases/sa_env ironmental_assessments/ct_sirex

Emerald Ash Borer This insect was first detected in Detroit, Michigan and was thought to have arrived within solid wood-packing material from Asia. It attacks and kills all members of the Fraxinus genera of North America and has now spread through most of the upper midwestern states and as far south as Kentucky and Virginia.



Figure 35
The emerald ash borer (Figure 35) is a buprestid and may have an extended life cycle (two years) in which to develop from egg to adult. This non-native insect appears to have no significant natural enemies in the U.S and is a federally regulated pest. Huge suppression efforts which involved removing infested trees along with some healthy ash trees around the infested ones, have proven unsuccessful. Part of the reason for this is that detecting infested trees is virtually impossible until advanced stages of attack are reached. At this point, some of the insects have developed and emerged. Furthermore, the trapping methods used to determine the presence of this species have not proven effective. Systemic insecticides have been proven effective when applied to individual, high-value trees, but these are relatively short-lived (two years or less), expensive, and repeat applications are necessary.

Although ash is not a tremendously significant species within the rural landscapes of Georgia (FIA indicates about 60,000 acres where ash occurs), the impacts on urban forests may be more significant because green ash is widely used as a street tree.

For more information on the emerald ash borer: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/ http://www.ashalert.osu.edu/ http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/port
61

al/aphis/ourfocus/importexport?urile =wcm%3apath%3a%2Faphis_content _library%2Fsa_our_focus%2Fsa_plant _health%2Fsa_domestic_pests_and_di seases%2Fsa_pests_and_diseases%2Fs a_insects%2Fsa_emerald_ash%2Fct_e merald_ash_borer
Asian Longhorned Beetle This Asian species (Figure 36) was first detected in New York City in the 1990s and is believed to have come into the country via solid wood packing material at the port of entry. It attacks 13 different species of deciduous trees: Ash, Birch, Elm, Goldenrain tree, Horsechestnut, Katsura, London Planetree, Maple, Mimosa, Mountain ash, Poplar, and Willow. This federally regulated pest is being fought in three states: Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio, and over 80,000 trees have been killed in these urban forests.

Figure 36

No trapping method has been proven successful in detecting this pest, but vigilant inspections of trees in these areas and prompt tree removals have been successful in minimizing spread and mortality. Several susceptible species are very common throughout Georgia, and improved varieties planted in urban areas would be at high risk for damage if this species were to be introduced. USDA APHIS funds the GFC to conduct annual surveys of warehouses which receive cargo



Threats to Forest Resources
Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants

from Asian countries where the

insect occurs.



For more information on Asian longhorned

beetles:

http://asianlonghornedbeetle.com/

http://www.beetlebusters.info/

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/palerts



/alb/alb_pa.pdf



http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publicatio



ns/plant_health/content/printable_ve





rsion/faq_alb_07.pdf



62



Threats to Forest Resources
Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants

Invasive Plants Non-native invasive plants have plagued the U.S. since early settlement times and continue at an accelerated pace today. Most of these plants do not readily colonize and invade natural areas, but a small number do

spread. Some of these have proven to be very aggressive at invading natural habitats and out-competing Georgia's native flora. Ecosystem disruption has been known to occur, which affects forest health and diversity.

Forest inventory and analysis measures many non-native species. The listing below (Table 10) shows the 12 highest priority species/genera for the forests of Georgia, and the estimated acres each has infested. Over the previous two year FIA cycle it

Percent increase

has been shown that all invasive plants are growing at an alarming

Ranking Species or Genera

Acres

2009-2011

rate of 14% per year. These are

1 Non-native privet

726,148

14%

known as Georgia's "Dirty Dozen"

2 Nepalese browntop

111,836

60%

3 Chinaberry

67,534

13%

4 Kudzu

42,158

17%

5 Non-native lespedeza

41,069

1%

6 Japanese climbing fern

20,563

26%

invasive species.

As listed, non-native privet is the most widespread priority species, found throughout Georgia. Most of the other species occur at varying levels regionally

7 Mimosa

18,344

19%

and tend to more aggressively disrupt

8 Non-native roses

15,686

21%

native flora populations in certain

9 Chinese tallowtree

15,348

10 Non-native olives

13,874

11 Chinese/Japanese wisteria

10,082

12

Cogongrass (December 31, 2014)

208*



Table 10

36%

ecosystems than others.


26%

For more information on invasive plants:

36%

http://www.gainvasives.org/


http://www.gatrees.org/

ForestManagement/documents/

InvasivePlantsofGeorgiasForests0309.pdf

http://www.gaeppc.org/

http://www.fs.fed.us/invasivespecies/

http://www.invasivespecies.org/
fedweeds.html

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/ unitedstates/ga.shtml

63




Threats to Forest Resources
Insects, Diseases and Nonnative Invasive Plants


Cogongrass Cogongrass, Imperata cylindrica, is considered the seventh worst weed in the world. It is listed as a federal noxious weed and is the number one priority invasive plant species in Georgia. Cogongrass (Figure 37) was first introduced into the United States near Grand Bay, Alabama in 1911 via seed packing material in shipping containers from Japan. This grass suppresses and eliminates natural vegetation, thereby significantly reducing tree and plant regeneration, wildlife habitat, forage and ecological diversity.


for one year while the remaining 194 spots are active. Overall, approximately 77% of all known spots are now negative for cogongrass.

While cogongrass infestations are being found primarily in South Georgia, the weed is capable of growing throughout the state (Figure 38).
For more information on cogongrass: http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/forest -management/foresthealth/cogongrass/index.cfm
http://www.gainvasives.org/

Source: Georgia Forestry Commission Figure 38

http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/resou rces/publications/InvasivePlantso fGeorgiaForests.pdf

http://www.cogongrass.org/



Figure 37

Cogongrass has spread through more than one million acres in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida and is moving into other southeastern states. In Georgia, there were 53 known cogongrass spots in 2006. As of December 31, 2014, a total of 867 spots had been identified in 56 counties. Of the 867 spots; 444 spots are eradicated, 110 spots have been negative for two years, 119 spots have been negative.
64




Threats to Forest Resources
Wildfire





Every year, Georgia experiences "very high" for wildfire risk. Georgia

nearly 5,600 wildfires that burn ranks second in the region in acres

approximately 46,000 acres. These of WUI with nine million acres, or

wildfires can either totally destroy about 25 percent of Georgia's land

a forest or weaken the trees, which area classified as WUI.

can perpetuate insects and diseases

affecting the value of the forest Fire is a natural part of Georgia's

and the timber it produces. Forest landscape and must be managed

landowners suffer environmental and for a positive influence on forest

aesthetic losses as well as economic sustainability. A combination of

losses.

wildfire suppression, prevention



and mitigation has been Georgia's

Georgia has experienced unprece- management strategy for nearly eight

dented growth and development decades and is essential for public

across the state over the last decade. safety and protection of property.

It is in the area where development Wildfires can destroy millions of acres

meets native vegetation, the Wildland of forest land and threaten lives and

Urban Interface (WUI), that the property if left unchecked. The need

greatest risk to public safety and for an effective fire management

property from wildfire exists. It program was emphasized by wildfire's

is the combination of homes and destruction in 2007 and again in

wildland fuels that creates volatile 2011. In 2007, over 9,500 fires

burning conditions which may have burned more 504,000 acres, resulting

catastrophic results. The Southern in timber losses totaling more than

Wildfire Risk Assessment identifies $58 million. Again in 2011, 9,366

nearly 12,000 Georgia communities, wildfires burned 151,329 acres of

with more than 5,000 rated "high" or Georgia's forestland. Assessing specific

risks of fire throughout Georgia is

addressed in this report's "Strategic

Issues" section.



65




Threats to Forest Resources
Weather Events



Thousands of shade and street on The Mega-Fire Phenomenon,

trees are lost every year to wind, approved by the National Fire

ice, flooding, drought and lightning. and Aviation Executive Board,

Estimates of property value loss suggests that changing land

in Georgia from this type of tree conditions combined with increasing

damage exceeds $10 million annually urbanization contribute to unusually

(GUFC Committee 2000). This large wildfires. Evidence indicates

value does not include future liability that we may be expecting, through

problems. Georgia records 50 to 70 climate change, more intense

thunderstorm days per year. Each weather phenomena that will out-

storm can cause extensive damage challenge wildland fire managers.

to trees along its path. Historic, rare Georgia is not exempt from

and specimen trees, especially where catastrophic fire, as evidenced by

landscapes are designed around the 2007 Georgia Bay Complex that

them, are especially valuable. These consumed 560,000 acres in Georgia

trees can become major aesthetic, and Florida and directly threatened

financial and social losses as a result several communities. Threats to the

of storms (Coder 1995).

forest from wildfire are increasing,



not decreasing. Specific strategies

Weather phenomena can affect must be implemented that affect the

wildfire threats to thousands of condition of the landscape, increase

acres of Georgia's forests each year. resistance of communities to wildfire

The Brookings Institution Center and prepare fire managers to address

for Public Policy Education report changing weather phenomena.



66




Threats to Forest Resources
Climate Change



Impacts from climate change are a

insects. Higher temperatures may

threat to southern forests. Paleonto-

also result in lower moisture avail-

logical data demonstrates that south-

ability due to increased evapotrans-

ern forest ecosystems have adapted

piration, leading to overall drying

to gradual changes in climate for mil-

conditions. Both of these factors

lions of years (Iverson and Prasad

will result in higher mortality of

2001; Karl et al. 2009). Historically,

trees and increased wildfire risk.



these climate shifts occurred slowly, over hundreds or thousands of years, giving forest communities time to successfully adapt to changes in temperature, growing season length, moisture availability and other variables. However, mounting evidence suggests that the current warming trend is occurring more rapidly than previous climate shifts (Karl et al. 2009).

Productive, dry sites may become more vulnerable. Pine plantations established on dry sites could become highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Although current models differ on how precipitation will respond to climate change, much of the southeast is likely to experience longer and more frequent droughts. Coupled with higher temperatures,

As dynamic biological systems, for-

increased photosynthesis and lower

ests will be impacted by global climate

moisture availability, these dry sites

change, although quantitative predic-

could become more susceptible to

tions are problematic due to scientific

mortality from pests, pathogens

limitations and the complexity of the

and fire. Drought is currently one

processes involved. Furthermore, cli-

of the primary stress factors which

mate change impacts to forests are

contributes to insect and disease

not likely to be uniform across the

outbreaks in the South, and recent

U.S; some regions/forest types may

historical (long-term) droughts are

be more negatively impacted than

directly correlated to certain out-

others.

breaks.





Despite these obstacles, the current Changes in forest productivity. Higher

state of knowledge is sufficient to de-

concentrations of atmospheric car-

velop a qualitative assessment of the

bon dioxide may have a "carbon

most likely ecological and economic

fertilization" effect on some forest

impacts of climate change on south-

communities, but the end result of

eastern forests:

this effect on net primary productiv-



Ecological Impacts Increased vulnerability to pests, pathogens,
and natural disturbance. Some current models indicate that average temperatures will increase in all sea-

ity is uncertain (Krner 1993). Forests' capacity to sequester additional carbon may be significantly reduced by other limiting factors and ecosystem interactions.

sons. This means a longer growing Changes in forest species composition.

season, which may increase repro-

More drought-hardy species may be

ductive success for insect pests and

able to better compete in the pine

allow for more frequent and intense

forests of Georgia. Quercus species

outbreaks. Fewer days with temper-

may become a larger component

atures below freezing will increase

of today's pine forests (Iverson and

the survival rate of overwintering

Prasad 2001).

67




Threats to Forest Resources
Climate Change


Expansion/contraction of species range. In general, ranges could move northward and up slope for all species, including Georgia's primary timber producing species.

Invasive species. More frequent disturbance, higher mortality and expanding ranges could intensify invasive species spread.




Economic Impacts

Southern forest owners could become vulnerable to climate change effects. The southeastern U.S. holds the largest share of timber investment capital, and our most productive species are highly susceptible to the potential drying effects of climate change. Expansion of the range

for southern pine species means that states north of Georgia may be able to gain market share and productivity (Shugart, Sedjo and Sohngen 2003).

68








Priority Areas









To identify areas of Georgia where GFC and partners should look first to protect, conserve and enhance Georgia's forest resources, changes in land cover was used as the basis. Land use change due to urbanization and changes in land ownership patterns have impacted not just the types of forest land in Georgia but also the spatial orientation of forest lands. As part of the resource assessment and the priority area identification, changes to the spatial distribution of forest patches throughout the state of Georgia were evaluated. Globally, forest fragmentation has been identified as a key measure of environmental

quality and the ability of the forest to provide critical ecosystem services. These services include protection of water quality and quantity, air quality protection, biodiversity protection and carbon sequestration.

By comparing changes in forest patches over time on land cover maps from Landsat satellite images, areas that still have large contiguous forest available to provide abundant amounts of key ecosystem services were identified. Land cover maps from 1974 to 2008 were used to generate forest fragmentation patterns (Figure 39).



























Figure 39


Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, 2009 (Unpublished data)

69



Priority Areas


Forest patches greater than 250 acres make up the core forest areas
(Figure 40). These core areas are at
a size large enough to be managed for critical ecosystem services. The
smaller patches can still be managed for forest activities but have a higher




probability of being impacted by the land use activities that are surrounding them. Thus, as compared to land cover (forest cover), the ability of forests to perform ecosystem services was measured. While forest cover can be maintained in Georgia, fragmentation


and changes to patch sizes as well as exposure to edges and nonforest activities such as development influence how well these patches can provide critical services.

Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, 2009 (Unpublished data)
Figure 40
70



Priority Areas

Georgia's priority resource areas were selected by evaluating percent coverage of core forest areas by using a bounding area that was relatively similar in size across the state. County boundaries and census tracts are highly variable in size and were therefore excluded from the selection. The 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) were selected as this unit because they, for the most part, represent a consistent area of approximately 45km2. Percent forest cover was calculated for core patches ranging from 25 to 50 percent forest area coverage of the watersheds (Table 11). Further description of methods and results for determining priority areas is included in Appendix A.

Table 11

71



Priority Areas





Priority areas that were represented

by 30 percent or greater coverage

of a HUC by core area forests

were selected. Watersheds were

then merged and six priority area

boundaries were defined as Blue

Ridge, Ridge and Valley, Fall Line,

Large River Bottomlands, Atlantic

Coastal Plain and East Gulf Coastal

Plain (Figure 41).

Source: Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory (NARSAL). 2010. University of Georgia. Athens, GA. (Unpublished data)

Figure 41
72



Priority Areas


Analysis of changes in forest core area over time in each of the six priority areas reveals that the total amount of core area in each group has stayed consistent and stable over the past 34 years, which is very different from the surrounding areas of the state (Figure 42).



Source: Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory (NARSAL). 2010. University of
Georgia. Athens, GA. (Unpublished data)
Figure 42

73







Priority Areas



Blue Ridge The Blue Ridge makes up the mountain area of northeast Georgia. The Chattahoochee National Forest plays an important role in maintaining the large core areas. Additionally, there are numerous public lands maintained by Georgia DNR and GFC as well as multiple lands held in private conservation easements by a number of land trusts. There is considerable pressure from population growth in this region for retirement and second homes. The proximity to metro-Atlanta has made this area a key recreational area in the southeast U.S. In addition to recreational amenities, the area is a critical source of drinking water for the metroAtlanta region. The Blue Ridge is the headwaters of the watersheds of both Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier. Additional fragmentation of forests in this area has major implications for the condition of the area's water supply.

Ridge and Valley The Ridge and Valley makes up the mountain area of northwest Georgia and is bound by the I-75 corridor between Atlanta and Chattanooga. Forests are found along the slopes and tops of the ridges and there is still extensive agriculture in the valleys. The area is under considerable development pressure because of the corridor that connects Chattanooga with Atlanta, sometimes referred to as "Chattlanta." This corridor is a key industrial area in the state and produces much of the carpet sold in the United States. Major cities such as Dalton and Cartersville are found along this corridor.

Fall Line The Fall Line area is represented by a gradient of three distinct ecoregions: the lower Piedmont, the Fall Line and the upper Coastal Plain. This area has been a key source of natural resources in Georgia. The unique geology of the area, which includes many discontinuities from an ancient shore line to large sand dune areas, provides the recharge zone for the Floridian aquifer.

Large River Bottomlands The geomorphology of the Coastal Plain has allowed for the development of large floodplains and wetlands associated with the river systems. Many of these rivers are blackwater and have unique flora and fauna associated with them. The upland areas between floodplains are a mix of piney flatwoods and wetlands. These areas have been important sources of forest products since colonial times, from naval stores and timber to fiber for paper production. The area also sustains one of the last large populations of black bear in the state of Georgia.

74



Priority Areas


Atlantic Coastal Plain Many of the forests in this area are intensively managed for fiber production. Much of the land was formerly owned by industrial timber companies that have a number of fiber facilities along the coast. With the divestiture of forest lands by large industrial land owners, the ownership patterns have changed in this area. In addition, development pressures coming from coastal counties have led to conversion of these lands from forest products to real estate holdings for potential development. The Atlantic coastal forests have many key wetland areas, both associated with the large river bottomlands as well as many types of isolated wetlands. These play a critical role in maintaining high biodiversity in this region.

East Gulf Coastal Plain The East Gulf Coastal Plain is the most fragmented of the priority areas. The area is the major producer

for commodity crops in Georgia and has a large and shallow aquifer that is used for irrigation of row crops. Forest lands in this region are found along wetland and floodplain corridors. There are large tracts of land that are currently being

managed for quail and other hunting opportunities. The fragmentation provides an opportunity for expanding and connecting large tracts of forest land by restoring areas that were natural longleaf pine savannas.

75



Priority Areas


Urban Forestry Priority Areas
To address urban forestry issues,
a different data set was selected to
identify priority areas. An analysis
of population and canopy cover
resulted in the identification of
three areas: Urban Priority Area,
Developing Interface Priority Area
and Rural Interface Priority Area
(Figure 43).


Source: Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division. 2000 Census Tracts. http://www.census.gov
Figure 43

76



Priority Areas





The Urban Priority Area is

characterized by population greater

than 1000 residents per square mile.

Average tree canopy cover is 30

percent in urban areas in Georgia. In

general, minimum canopy coverage

percentage recommendations set by

the U.S. Forest Service and other

agencies and nonprofit organizations

across the nation range from 25 to 50

percent, depending on land use type.



The Developing Interface Priority

Area is characterized by population Source: Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Geography Division. 2000 Census

of 300 to 1000 residents per square Tracts. http://www.census.gov

mile. These areas are typically located next to Urban Priority Areas and

Table 12

are impacted by rapid development

pressures. Average tree canopy (Stein et al. 2005). This interface Information about each of the three

cover is 74 percent in these areas in area is typically located between the priority areas for the Sustainable

Georgia.

Developing Interface Priority Area Community Forestry Program is



and the rural hinterlands. The Upper shown in Table 12.

The Rural Interface Priority Area is Oconee and the Etowah watershed

characterized by population of 150 are two of the top 15 watersheds in The three urban forestry priority

to 300 residents per square mile. A the country projected to experience areas will be redefined when the 2010

total of 21.7 million acres across the housing density increases on more Census information is available.

county are projected to shift from than 200,000 acres of their surface

rural or exurban to urban by 2030 area (Stein et al. 2005).

77



Priority Areas


Regional Priority Areas Opportunities to collaborate with neighboring states on common issues include the following:

Alabama-Georgia-Florida Longleaf
Pine Corridor The development of a longleaf pine corridor from Ft. Benning, Georgia to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida via Ft. Rucker, Alabama would protect, conserve and restore longleaf pine ecosystems that are critical habitat for many threatened and endangered species.

Okefenokee National
Wildlife Refuge The recent 564,000 acre Georgia Bay Complex wildfire offers unique opportunities to promote wildfire mitigation efforts in the southeast Georgia and north Florida region. Partners in the area include the wellorganized and nationally known GOAL landowner association, which includes the USFWS Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, several forest products companies, private landowners and six rural communities. The Refuge itself is a fire dependent ecosystem. Fuel reduction practices

that benefit this ecosystem include firewise practices, community wildfire preparedness plans and coordinated preparedness measures. Providing education and alternative management options for affected landowners could have a pronounced effect on future management in the area and be used as a national model. Forest management options include the use of prescribed burning and planting of fire-resistant longleaf pine within the buffer area.

Water quality and quantity The Apalachicola-ChattahoocheeFlint River Basin lawsuit may lead to regional plans to protect the flow and quality of rivers from Georgia into Alabama and Florida. Water quality standards and flow continue to be debated in federal and state courts, which may lead to more regulation affecting private landowners. The Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basins may also lead to regional plans to protect flow and quality of rivers from Georgia into Alabama. The Savannah River is a subject of continuing negotiations between South Carolina and Georgia regarding water flow and water quality.

Non-native invasive species Three top multi-state efforts to protect forest health include: cogongrass eradication in the south Georgia, north Florida and eastern Alabama areas; hemlock woolly adelgid monitoring and treatment in north Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee; and laurel wilt monitoring in South Carolina.

78



Strategic Issues

The following issues were identified issues are presented in order of their by stakeholders and key partners importance as determined by the during the development of the 2008 public survey (Appendix), and will Sustainable Forest Management in Georgia be carried forward into the Resource report. At the beginning of this Strategy. These findings are the basis Assessment process, these issues were for Georgia's goals, objectives and placed in a survey on the GFC website strategies. for public comment and ranking. The
79




Strategic Issues
Water Quality and Quantity





Issue Description

the state, have insufficient stream

Protecting, conserving and enhancing buffers (Meyer et al. 2005). A recent

water quality and quantity produced by assessment of riparian buffers along

forests was the highest rated priority the upper reaches of the Toccoa

issues in GFC's public stakeholder River revealed that half of the buffers

survey for the Forest Resource on private land were less than 25

Assessment. This could have been ft. in width (K. Owers, personal

influenced by recent droughts that communication). Streams with narrow

left many cities and its citizens vegetated buffers are at higher risk of

located above the Fall Line with water quality impairment resulting

restrictions on water use. In addition, from land-disturbing activities,

the tri-state water wars with Alabama introduction of toxic chemicals or

and Florida regarding the excess nutrients and thermal impacts

Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, Flint from lack of shading. Intact riparian

River lawsuit as well as the Alabama, habitats are needed for all streams,

Coosa, Tallapoosa River lawsuit has but especially for those that support

brought attention to Georgia's water exceptional diversity or rare aquatic

woes. A significant portion of species (Ambrose, 1999). Breaches of

Georgia's population receives its these stream buffers can be minimized

water from water supply through careful placement of roads,

reservoir/watersheds. Construction bridges, utility corridors and livestock

of additional reservoirs will result in crossings. Access to streams by all-

loss of forest cover and place terrain vehicles and livestock should

restrictions on land uses upstream. be limited to maintain water quality.

State legislation regarding the need

for more water supply watersheds is The Georgia Comprehensive Statewide

currently being debated.

Water Management Plan states that



more than 8,300 miles of streams do

The loss of forest land to urbanization not meet state water quality standards

is the greatest threat to Georgia's because of nonpoint sources of

water quality. Removal of forest cover pollution, to which forestry activities

results in increased storm runoff may contribute (The Water Council

and increased streamflow that causes 2008). It is estimated that between

erosion, sedimentation and flooding. 7,000 and 10,000 timber harvesting



operations are conducted annually.

Many of Georgia's streams, particularly

those in rapidly developing areas of The U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) was sued in federal

court for not requiring the Georgia

Environmental Protection Division

(EPD) to set Total Maximum Daily

Load (TMDL) limits on these and

other impaired streams that would

bring them back to their designated

uses. TMDLs and their implementation

plans have now been developed for

the majority of these streams.

80




Strategic Issues
Water Quality and Quantity


In addition, the effects of agricultural practices, old canals and ditches and poor county road maintenance have resulted in legacy sedimentation, impaired streams and wetland losses.

There are many opportunities for GFC and key organizations to enhance the role forests play in improving Georgia's water quality and quantity.

Potential Agency and
Organization Roles GFC will continue the state
leadership role in BMP development, education, implementation and monitoring.
Through EPA Section 319 and USFS competitive grants, GFC will continue to seek assistance in water quality education. BMP education efforts will be expanded through partnerships with Tree Farm, Trout Unlimited, Riverkeeper and other fisheries and recreation associations. Leveraging more funds with these groups and others is needed to direct more support to excellent but under-funded state programs.
GFC will further expand BMP education by working with the Board of Registration for Foresters to support BMP education and implementation among professional foresters and with non-SFI wood mills to educate their producers about BMPs.

GFC will work with state, federal and local government agencies to provide input and implement regional strategies identified in the Georgia Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan.
As NRCS develops Rapid Watershed Assessments (Coosawattee, Ocmul-gee, Upper Oconee, Satilla, Little River and Spring Creek), GFC will help identify forestry and agriculture needs for improvement to the watersheds and gain funding for cost-share assistance to landowners.
GFC will partner with RC&Ds and county road departments to implement Better Back Road BMPs and to identify and rectify stream crossings that are a continuing source of sediment.
GFC and DNR will provide information on high priority streams to commercial and non-profit mitigation bankers to encourage restoration and enhancement of vegetated buffers and provide financial incentives to private landowners to fence livestock out of streams.
GFC and DNR will work with local governments and developers to ensure protection of stream buffers when development plans are considered.
DNR will work with ATV manufacturers to develop and disseminate messages discouraging ATV use in and adjacent to streams.

Issue-Specific Priority Areas Water quality priority areas shown on the map below were defined by analyzing the following GIS data layers:
The 2012 305(b) 303(d) list of impaired stream segments from EPD. (There are 489 sediment or dissolved oxygen impaired stream segments that have been identified.)
Public drinking water supply watersheds
Trout streams
Endangered aquatic species
Wetlands
Lands adjacent to federal or state protected areas
Intact riparian areas
Percent forest cover
Soils (hydric and erodibility)
Slope
Potential mitigation bank sites
Connectivity

81



Strategic Issues
Water Quality and Quantity
There are 489 stream segments in Georgia that have been determined to be impaired by either sediment (biota) or by a dissolved oxygen deficiency. These stream segments are located in 226 10 digit HUC watersheds across Georgia. In addition, there are 202 12 digit HUC watersheds, mostly in North Georgia, containing one or more public water supply intakes from reservoirs. Figure 44 shows the relationship of the sediment and DO impaired/TMDL watersheds to the water supply reservoir watersheds. Clearly, many of the sediment and DO impaired/TMDL watersheds also contain public water supply intakes, and therefore should be considered critically important watersheds.
Figure 44
82












Strategic Issues









Urbanization
Issue Description Urban sprawl was ranked the second most important forest resource issue by public stakeholders. GFCfunded studies by the University of Georgia's Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory (NARSAL) determined that approximately 54 acres of canopy cover were lost in the Atlanta region each day from 1991-2001, while approximately 28 acres of impervious surfaces (e.g. roads, buildings, etc.) were added daily. Updating this information to 2005 showed a slight decrease in canopy loss but impervious surface additions increased to approximately 55 acres daily.
In a similar statewide analysis, NARSAL determined that from 2001- 2005, Georgia's canopy cover declined by a total of 398,330 acres, or 273 acres per day. Although canopy loss in rural areas often reflects ongoing forestry activities, in urban areas it often indicates development. Accordingly, impervious surfaces increased by about 154,134 acres, or 106 acres per day.
These changes effectively and permanently remove this acreage from forest cover. The effects of forest cover loss on water quality and quantity are huge. Trees act as natural water filters and help significantly slow the movement of storm water, which lowers total runoff volume, soil erosion and flooding. Infiltration rates for forested areas are 10 to 15 times greater than for equivalent areas of turf and grass. During a heavy rain, a healthy forest can absorb as much as 20,000 gallons of water in an hour. Many municipalities are now charging businesses and homeowners a "storm water utility"

fee based on the amount of impervious surface at their location.

Air quality and local climate are also negatively affected by loss of forest cover. In exchange for providing oxygen, trees absorb carbon dioxide produced from the combustion of various fuels. Trees remove or trap lung-damaging dust, ash, pollen and smoke from the air, in addition to providing shade for people and conserving energy. In the Atlanta metro area, trees removed 19 million pounds of pollutants, valued at $47 million in 1996. Tree cover as it existed in 1974 would have removed 30 million pounds of pollutants, valued at $75.5 million (American Forests 2001).

Loss of forest cover affects the health of communities. Trees enhance community economic stability by attracting businesses and tourists. Studies have found a correlation between community forests and the average amount of physical activity exerted by neighborhood residents. People are more inclined to get outdoors and exercise when their surroundings are greener. Logically, greater physical activity leads to fewer cases of obesity, which in turn may help reduce other health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

Urbanization increases apprehension about fire. Air quality has become a major concern in Georgia, and prescribed fire has been targeted as one of many sources of harmful emissions. Drift smoke from prescribed fire and wildfires concerns urban dwellers. An important challenge is to help Georgians understand the life sustaining properties of healthy forests, and the natural role that fire plays in ecosystems.

83








Urban sprawl places lives and property at risk from wildfire and reduces options for proper fire management. More than half of Georgia homes are located in the Wildland Urban Interface. The greatest fire management challenge for forestry professionals is to ensure public safety by providing fire prevention services in the form of prescribed fire as well as wildfire suppression. The sustainability of Georgia's forest is dependent on attention to both prescribed fire and wildfire suppression.

Forest conservation is a special priority north of the Fall Line, along the coast and in counties with the highest growth projections. Key lands for acquisition should be identified and prioritized in these rapidly-growing areas. According to a telephone survey conducted by The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), 88 percent of Georgians support public funding for investment in outdoor recreation.

As Georgia becomes more urbanized, it will become more challenging to sustain a connection between urban populations and our natural resources. Our forest land, parks and nature-based recreation will provide critically important connections to the environment and promote a conservation ethic.

Additionally, our schools should have access to natural areas for education. Schools must provide balanced interpretation, education and outdoor recreation programs to promote healthy lifestyles and knowledge of our natural resources.

Strategic Issues
Urbanization
Potential Agency and
Organization Roles GFC will initiate updated tree
canopy loss and impervious surface studies and help build local capacity to manage tree canopy. GFC will identify areas of opportunity within community watersheds to connect forest patches to improve the water and air quality function of forest canopy, identify appropriate mechanisms, and facilitate discussions to link patches with landowners, local governments and conservation-minded nonprofit organizations. The Georgia Urban Forest Council and GFC will utilize grant and corporate funds to plant trees in communities to assist in job creation, help stimulate the economy and restore ecosystems impacted by growth and urbanization. GFC, DNR, USFS and the USFWS will provide information and education opportunities concerning wildfire management challenges and the benefits of prescribed fire. GFC and DNR will promote forest canopy benefits in riparian buffers and demonstrate impacts of canopy loss in interface watersheds. GFC will continue to promote the Changing Roles training within GFC and with other state partners.

The Georgia Forestry Association,
GFC and University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources will expand the Project Learning Tree program to educate youth on forest conservation.
Issue-Specific Priority Areas Areas of focus to address the urbanization issue include metropolitan Atlanta, north Georgia and the coast. These areas have the greatest population density as well as population growth. Federal and corporate grant funds will be used to focus on high-profile projects in these areas. Potential projects include establishment of model stormwater management demonstration sites and ecosystem restoration. Watershed planning work in north Georgia's Blue Ridge and Ridge and Valley priority areas will target opportunities to enhance the water and air quality function of forest canopy.

84
















Strategic Issues



Forest Health








Issue Description

The southern pine beetle (SPB) and

Healthy forests are essential for air and other pine bark beetles continue to

water quality, habitat, environmental represent the biggest threat to pine

cooling, recreation and the multitude timber in Georgia (Figure 45).

of forest products from which Geor-

gians benefit. History shows that a Heterobasidion root disease is

decimating agent such as the chestnut another serious problem that

blight in the early 1900s can drastically results in decreased growth and

alter the forest ecosystem and elimi- death of trees in pine plantations.

nate important resources.


Source: USFS and Georgia Forestry Commission

Figure 45
85




Strategic Issues
Forest Health





In today's global market, the potential

is very real organisms to

for find

insects their way

and into

disease Georgia



and cause widespread damage. For

example, the hemlock woolly adelgid,

imported

from

Japan,

was

detected

in



Georgia in 2002, and has now spread

throughout the native hemlock range.

It

has

the

potential

to

nearly



eliminate hemlocks in north Georgia

and drastically alter the ecosystems in



the area (Figure 46). The redbay ambrosia

beetle

was

first



detected near Savannah in 2002 and

is associated with a laurel wilt disease

that is killing redbay trees across almost

and eight

sassafras million



acres of forest in the Coastal Plain

region (Figure 47).




Invasive plants such as cogongrass

are finding their way into the state.

Cogongrass, which destroys wildlife

habitat

is

spreading

aggressively

in



Georgia (Figure 4 8 ). It overcomes

native grasses and herbaceous browse.

In addition, it burns extremely increasing the threat of wildfires.

hot,









Other established invasive plants such

as kudzu, Chinese privet, Japanese

climbing

fern

and

Chinese

tallowtree



continue to displace native plants.



Legislative support and regulation to

prevent the introduction and spread

of non-native exotic plants, animals

and pathogens is needed. In addi-

tion, interagency cooperation on

invasive species management can be

improved through the implementa-

tion of a statewide Invasive Species

Management Plan and establishment

of a state Invasive Species Council.

Source: USFS and Georgia Forestry Commission Figure 46
Source: USFS and Georgia Forestry Commission Figure 47

86




Strategic Issues
Forest Health




Potential Agency and

Organization Roles

GFC will continue to monitor

native forest aggressively

health issues monitor for

and new



insects, diseases and invasive

plants scapes

in the and at

forest, points

urban landof entry so



that solutions can be undertaken

while problems are small and the

chances

of

eradication

or

control



are greatest.





The

Georgia

Invasive

Species



Task Force will work collabora-

tively within the scope of the

Georgia

Department

of

Agri-



culture, Georgia Department of

Natural Resources, Georgia For-

estry Commission and University of Georgia to monitor for inva-



sive species and take suppression

actions when possible. USDA

APHIS has regulatory authorities

within Georgia and internationally

and will be included in any pest-

specific action that is planned or

implemented. Full descriptions

of authorities of these agencies

are included in Appendix A.

GFC is working collectively with six southern region state forestry agencies to detect and minimize the spread of cogongrass.

87




Strategic Issues
Forest Health





Issue-Specific Priority Areas

Southern pine beetle work will be

focused in the Fall Line priority area

(Figure 45). HWA efforts will be

conducted in the Blue Ridge priority

area (Figure 46). Areas south of

the fall line priority area will be the

area of focus for laurel wilt (Figure

47). The East Gulf Coastal Plain

and Atlantic Coastal Plain will be

the priority areas for cogongrass

prevention and eradication efforts

(Figure 48).

Source: USFS and Georgia Forestry Commission

Figure 48
88















Strategic Issues



Biodiversity








Issue Description

The drastic loss of pine savanna,

Georgia's rich biodiversity is threat- resulting primarily from conversion

ened by several factors, including loss to other land use types and reduction

of isolated wetlands and mature bot- in fire, has contributed to the severe

tomland hardwood forests, impacts to decline of numerous wildlife species

headwater streams and riparian buf- that rely fully or in part on these

fers resulting from development and habitats to meet their life requisites.

other land disturbing activities and Northern bobwhite (Georgia's state

habitat degradation caused by invasive gamebird) serves as one example of

exotic species. Many of Georgia's rare a species in conservation need that

or declining species depend upon fire- is largely dependent on pine savanna

maintained habitats or sensitive karst restoration. Georgia's bobwhite popu-

environments. The lack of prescribed lation has declined by over 70 percent

fire in fire-dependent ecosystems and since 1966.

lack of protection for many karst en-

vironments further endangers these Protection of isolated wetlands

species (Georgia Department of Nat- Isolated wetlands comprise an

ural Resources 2005).

important group of habitats for




wildlife, including more than 45



Georgia species of conservation



concern (Comer et al. 2005). Studies



of the extent and condition of isolated



wetlands indicate a consistent trend



toward degradation and loss. A recent



assessment of Carolina bays in Georgia (Figure 49) indicated that the majority



of the smaller bays showed evidence of



hydrologic alterations or other forms of degradation (Van De Genachte and



Cammack 2002). Other examples of



important isolated wetlands include



solution pits on granite outcrops,



shallow depressions in pine flatwoods,



sagponds, limesinks and sandhill



ponds. Depression wetlands that have direct connections to groundwater may



be significantly affected by excessive



groundwater withdrawal to a point at which the hydroperiod is diminished or



even eliminated. Other isolated wetlands



have been impacted by introduction



of predatory fish, excessive inputs of



sediments or nutrients, conversion

Source: VanDeGenachte and Cammack 2002

to agricultural uses or ditching and

Figure 49

draining.

89




Strategic Issues
Biodiversity





Maintenance of mature bottom-

land forest habitats

Bottomland forests and associated

cypress-gum swamps are important

habitats for a variety of wildlife groups,

including neotropical migratory birds,

bats, waterfowl, wild turkey, game

mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

This general habitat type includes

linear or small-patch communities

such as canebrakes, floodplain pools,

riparian forests and hardwood and

pine-dominated hammocks. Though

present in every region of the state,

bottomland hardwood forests and

cypress-gum swamps are most

prevalent in the Coastal Plain (Figure

50). Maintenance of mature, intact

and contiguous bottomland forests

is important for conservation of

Georgia's wildlife diversity. In

particular, old-growth canopy trees,

snags, large woody debris and diverse

midstory and understory vegetation

are important elements to maintain

in these forests.

Figure 50

90




Strategic Issues
Biodiversity





Protection of headwater streams

Headwater streams are found in the

uppermost reaches of watersheds

and may have flowing water for only

a portion of the year. They account

for the majority of stream miles in a

given watershed, and are important

for a wide variety of species, including

several species of conservation con-

cern (Meyer et al. 2003; Georgia De-

partment of Natural Resources 2005).

Headwater streams are also important

for maintenance of water quality and

aquatic wildlife habitat in the higher-

order perennial streams which they

feed (Ohio Environmental Protection

Agency 2002).



Intermittent/ephemeral streams and

associated seepage zones are often

overlooked when streams and wet-

lands are mapped. In addition, they

have received less research emphasis

than perennial streams (Meyer et al.

2003). In areas where development

pressures are high or agricultural uses

are prevalent, many of these habitats

may be adversely affected by land-dis-

turbing activities or piping of streams

(DeMeo et al. 2005). While important

in every watershed in the state, pro-

tection of headwater streams is most

critical in those watersheds that have

been identified as high priority for

conservation of aquatic biodiversity

(Figure 51).

Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources 2005 Figure 51

91




Strategic Issues
Biodiversity



Protection of karst environments due to concerns about liability, lack much as 17,000 square miles of Geor-

Caves, limesinks, sagponds and of understanding of the role of fire gia's Coastal Plain (Wharton 1978). Ad-

springs represent some of the most in some natural environments and a ditionally, pine and oak-pine savanna

sensitive natural habitats in Georgia. lack of technical expertise with regard occurred on xeric ridges of the Ridge

These karst environments harbor to the application of prescribed fire in and Valley and Piedmont physiograph-

many of this state's rarest and most some habitats.

ic provinces.

imperiled species and are susceptible



to impacts from a wide variety of land Restoration and management of Functional pine savanna now compris-

uses, including agricultural and for- pine savanna habitats

es less than five percent of the south-

estry practices and commercial and Open canopy forests with diverse eastern Coastal Plain (Platt 1999). This

residential development. Groundwa- grass-forb-shrub groundcover charac- drastic loss, resulting primarily from

ter withdrawals, impoundments and terize pine savanna. Prior to European conversion to other land use types and

conversion of surrounding vegetation settlement, this habitat type dominated reduction in fire, has contributed to

can significantly impact karst environ- as much as three-fourths of the South- the severe decline of numerous wild-

ments (Georgia Department of Natu- eastern Coastal Plain landscape (Platt life species that rely fully or in part on

ral Resources 2005). Protection of 1999). These forests were predomi- savanna habitats to meet their life req-

caves and other karst environments is nately two-layered with an overstory of uisites. Georgia's SWAP identifies 20

essential for maintenance of Georgia's widely-spaced pines and an herbaceous high priority animals (Table 13) and 56

biological diversity and water quality. ground cover that was maintained by plants (Table 14 on following page) as-

There are more than 600 documented frequent fire (Frost, 1998). It has been sociated with pine savanna that are in

caves in Georgia, and the vast majority estimated that pine savanna covered as need of conservation attention.

of these are located on private land.

Only a small percentage of Georgia's

caves have received biological surveys.



Restoration and management of



fire-maintained communities



Many of Georgia's rare or declining

species depend on habitats that are maintained by fire. These habitats are



declining in extent and condition due

to fire suppression and/or lack of prescribed fires. Among the impediments



to wider application of prescribed

fire programs are smoke management

problems, restrictions on burning due



to non-attainment of air quality stan- Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources 2005

dards in metropolitan areas, reluctance of landowners to use prescribed fire

Table 13

92



Strategic Issues
Biodiversity

Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources 2005 Table 14
93




Strategic Issues
Biodiversity



The northern bobwhite (Georgia's

GEORGIA'S NORTHERN BOBWHITE CONSERVATION

state gamebird) serves as one example

of a species in conservation need that

is largely dependent on pine savanna restoration. Georgia's bobwhite pop-



ulation has declined by 4.44 percent

annually since 1966 (Sauer et Research has shown that

al. 2008). closed-



canopy pine stands provide poor

quality habitat for bobwhites and

may

also

serve

as

ecological

sinks,



thereby negatively impacting bobwhite

populations on adjacent grassland

habitats.




Restoration of this habitat type,

especially longleaf is a high priority

pine in a

savanna, variety of



conservation plans developed by

federal, state and non-governmental

conservation

organizations.

Examples



include: America's Longleaf Initiative;

Georgia DNR's State Wildlife

Action Plan (SWAP) and Bobwhite

Quail Initiative; Northern Bobwhite

INITIATIVE RESTORATION LANDSCAPES
Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division 2009. Figure 52

Conservation Initiative (NBCI);

Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan and Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation - Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Southeastern United States.

Portions of 61 Georgia counties have been identified as high priority for bobwhite restoration (Figure 52). Within these counties, there are 378,965 acres of longleaf and 4,387,159 acres of loblolly slash pine that might potentially be restored to functional pine savanna (Forest Service 2009). If achieved, this could contribute as much as 50 percent toward Georgia's NBCI recovery goals. Additionally, there are over three million acres of harvested cropland, a portion of which might be restored to longleaf pine.

Potential Agency and
Organization Roles Conservation organizations and GFC
will identify and protect significant wetland habitats through feesimple acquisition or conservation easements. DNR and GFC will work to provide technical guidance and direct financial and other incentives to private landowners to encourage the protection, restoration and management of these important wetlands. DNR will conduct surveys and mapping of priority sites, develop management plans for state lands and implement landowner incentive programs and conservation easements.

GFC will provide delivery of landowner incentive programs, forest stewardship plans and monitoring of BMPs.
NRCS will administer federal incentive programs.
DNR will place greater emphasis on accurate mapping and delineation of headwater streams so that these can be protected with vegetated buffers.
DNR will conduct surveys to document the diversity of cave organisms and establish conservation priorities for springs, limesinks and other karst features.

94




Strategic Issues
Biodiversity


The Interagency Burn Team will facilitate application of prescribed fire on ecologically sensitive sites that harbor rare species.
The Georgia Prescribed Fire Council will promote the use of prescribed fire.
GFC will advise landowners with intact natural savanna habitats, particularly longleaf pine systems, on the natural values of these systems and encourage management that retains these values.
Georgia DNR will continue the NBCI implementation effort with the collaboration of GFC, Georgia


Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Georgia State Council Quail Unlimited, U.S. Army, Georgia State Farm Service Agency, University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors, Georgia Natural Resources Conservation Service, Tall Timbers Research Station Albany Quail Project, Quail Forever, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Issue-Specific Priority Areas Isolated wetlands are found throughout the state, but especially in the Cumberland Plateau, Ridge and


Valley, Atlantic Coastal Plain and East Gulf Coastal Plain. Bottomland hardwoods and headwater streams are found throughout the state. Areas of focus for the protection of karst environments include the Ridge and Valley and East Gulf Coastal Plain priority areas. The priority areas for restoration and management of pine savanna habitats are the East Gulf Coastal Plain and Atlantic Coastal Plain.

95














Strategic Issues





Air Quality Carbon Sequestration





Issue Description

Unfortunately, the opportunities for

Private forest lands have enormous NIPF landowners to participate in this

potential to provide climate benefits new market continue to be limited due

through carbon sequestration. In to significant opportunity costs, high

addition to their ability to sequester uncertainty and the persistent fact that

carbon, forests provide numerous carbon credits are a relatively low-value

benefits to society, including water commodity. The future opportunities

quality and quantity services, flood for privately-owned forests in any

control, aesthetics, recreation and forthcoming regulatory framework

wildlife habitat. Historically, these are difficult to predict.

societal benefits have been taken for

granted, with no dollar value placed Lack of uniform standards for forestry

on their environmental contributions. projects, along with an absence of

Monetizing forest carbon through federal policy on GHG emissions,

privateforestlandownerparticipationin means that landowners must today

these markets provides an opportunity contend with significant uncertainty

for a measure of compensation for the when evaluating the economic

provision of a societal benefit. Since viability of forest carbon. Those

most of the land in the South is in who develop offset projects on their

private ownership, landowners able forest properties face significant long

to generate additional revenue from term contractual obligations and legal

carbon markets may be more likely to liability, with no guarantees regarding

maintain their forest lands, resisting the long-term market viability of a

the pressure to develop their lands.

project developed in accordance to an



established pre-compliance standard.

The emerging market for carbon offsets Large-scale investment in forest offsets

continues to generate significant interest in the future will require a national

from private forest landowners looking regulatory policy that effectively places

to maximize the financial potential a market price on GHG emissions and

of their forest assets. Generally, a a clear, practical and economically-

forest offset project is defined as a feasible national standard for the

series of prescribed management development and implementation

actions implemented on particular of forest-based offsets within this

area of land that result in an increase regulatory framework.

in removals of carbon dioxide from

the atmosphere (sequestration) or a The GFC and The University of

reduction or avoidance of greenhouse Georgia Warnell School of Forestry

gas emissions. Some examples of forest and Natural Resources have developed

offset activities include planting trees, carbon accumulation tables for Georgia

protecting forests from conversion, and an online carbon sequestration

modifying forest species composition registry. This registry will list and

and increasing tree stocking levels. Forest document forestry projects that are

offset projects that are successful in managed to sequester carbon.

reducing or avoiding carbon emissions

generate carbon credits, which can be The registry gives Georgia landowners

sold to entities who wish to mitigate or the opportunity to certify that their

"offset" their greenhouse gas (GHG) forests meet specific standards required

emissions.

by emitters seeking carbon credits

96





for sale. The services associated with the registry will be adjusted with the dynamics of the carbon market and the changing compliance standards.

Those landowners who wish to develop projects may use the registry as a marketing tool, and registry staff members actively pursue market opportunities for registered projects. There are currently a number of landowners participating in carbon offset projects, mainly through the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX).

In addition to the carbon sequestration benefit, trees remove or trap lungdamaging dust, ash, pollen and other air pollutants. By reducing air pollution, they save money in pollution mitigation efforts and health care costs (Georgia Urban Forest Council 2005b). To sustain air quality, communities must set goals to minimize the loss of trees while maximizing their benefits.

Strategic Issues
Air Quality Carbon Sequestration

Potential Agency and
Organization Roles GFC staff worked with the
Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF) to develop a guiding principles paper that focuses on carbon offsets from a southeast regional perspective and will work to promote the principles.

The GFC and Oglethorpe Power Corporation are partnering on a reforestation project in a state forest. This project will result in carbon offsets produced from the tree planting on sites devastated by the 2007 wildfires in south Georgia.

GFC staff members continue to monitor developments on a national scale concerning climate change legislation so that Georgia's landowners will be well positioned to participate in carbon markets.

GFC will identify air quality benefits of community forests related to public health.

The Georgia Urban Forest Council and GFC will utilize grant and corporate funds to plant trees in communities.

Issue-Specific Priority Areas Focus areas for reducing greenhouse gases by increasing carbon sequestration are in the Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley and East Gulf Coastal Plain. Urban priority areas will be targeted for com- munity tree planting projects.

97
















Strategic Issues










Fire Management
Issue Description One of the founding missions of the Georgia Forestry Commission was the protection of forest resources from wildfire. Today, about two-thirds of Georgia's land area, or 24.8 million acres of forest land, is protected by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Timber is the highest valued crop in Georgia, with a total economic impact of $28.7 billion. Georgia averages approximately 5,600 wildfires per year that burn 46,000 acres. In addition to that annual loss of or damage to forest land, a major threat is posed by the potential loss of life and property. Georgia currently loses approximately 110 homes valued at $4.2 million and 185 outbuildings valued at $1.3 million to wildfire each year. The GFC Fire Management program saves approximately 3200 structures (homes and outbuildings) valued at $503 million annually through direct wildfire suppression efforts. Urbanization, increasing levels of forest fuels and restrictions that reduce prescribed burning are escalating forest wildfire threats.
Mitigating the effects of wildfires is an integral part of GFC's Fire Management program. Suppression alone cannot limit the effects of wildfire, because fire is a volatile force of nature. Fuel reduction programs are essential to providing protection from wildfires. Pressure from urbanization, air quality controls and public acceptance has placed challenges on the GFC to provide acceptable mitigation programs. Limitations on GFC's ability to administer low cost applications, such as prescribed burning, hinder the ability to provide affordable protection for Georgia's citizens.
The recent Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment determined that 25 percent

of Georgia, or about nine million acres, is designated as Wildland Urban Interface. The SWRA also determined that 5,000 of Georgia's communities are ranked as "high" or "very high" for wildland fire risk. Mitigation program limitations have compelled the Fire Management program to provide more public education about the risk from wildfires and the need for more fire prevention. Most fire causes can be traced to human involvement. Preventing man-made fires from starting is a continuing challenge and GFC is dedicated to finding programs that help reduce this cause of fire. All fires are not preventable, so we must also ensure that we have good wildfire protection programs in place when fires do occur. Wildfire protection can be addressed at the county level, at the community level and for the individual homeowner.

As the U.S. economy has faltered over the past several years, GFC's workforce has diminished. It has been necessary to develop several partnerships with state and federal agencies, as well as land management organizations. GFC continues to be the lead agency in wildland fire, but depends on its many partners to help accomplish the overall mission. Partnerships are also used to ensure the smooth transmission of programs such as wildland fire suppression, prescribed burning and air quality. In order to maintain superior performance and protection, it is necessary for these partnerships to grow and expand.

A strategy must be implemented to affect the condition of the landscape, increase safeguarding of communities from wildfire and prepare fire managers to address conditions caused by changing weather phenomena.

98




Strategic Issues
Fire Management


Potential Agency and
Organization Roles

The most important mission of the Fire Management program is fire suppression. GFC is mandated by the state of Georgia to suppress wildfires. However, the downturn in the economy and reductions in state budgets have strained personnel and resources. To continue the protection of lives, property and forests, GFC will:

Increase GFC Forest Ranger training as experienced work force retirements increase.
Provide basic training on wildland
firefighting to structural firefighters through the Georgia Fire Academy. Increase firefighting equipment refurbishing options. Incorporate technological advances in communications and weather predictive systems. Participate in the Firefighter Program to acquire better quality equipment. Administer Volunteer Fire Assistance grants for small fire departments to help with purchase of training and equipment and the Helping Hands program to provide for low cost personal protective gear to fire departments and other fire suppression cooperators. Issue authorizations for outdoor burning through the GFC Permit System. Provide pre-suppression firebreak plowing and burning assistance to landowners.

Conduct forest fuels reduction burning assistance to landowners.
Provide National Incident Manage-
ment System training for Georgia. Promote prescribed burning and
certify burn practitioners through the Certified Prescribed Fire Manager program. Provide local county governments with a comprehensive Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Using the Firewise USA program, introduce Firewise concepts to atrisk homeowners. Continue to develop and implement innovative Fire Prevention programs. Continue the Redesign Grant.

Issue-Specific Priority Areas To identify Fire Management programspecific priority areas, the GFC utilized the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment (SWRA). Maps of forest fuels, historical wildfire occurrence, values at risk from wildfires and communities at risk were used to develop the wildfire susceptibility index (WFSI) and levels of concern (LOC), which measure wildfire risk. These SWRA products are the main tools used in assigning priority to GFC Fire Management programs including CWPPs, fire prevention and mitigation efforts.

Of Georgia's 12,000 communities, more than 5,000 are rated "high" or "very high" for wildland fire risk. Because the greatest risks occur in WUI areas and fall on the edges of Georgia's priority areas, the SWRA priority areas are set within each county.

An overlay of the statewide fire occurrence map with Georgia's priority areas (Figure 53 on the following page) identifies the Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley and the Atlantic Coastal Plain as priority areas on which to focus fire suppression efforts.

The Community Protection Grant identifies priority areas for prescribed burning near USFS property. Overlays of this data on Georgia's priority areas identify the Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley and the Fall Line as primary targets for prescribed burning. The Okefenokee (GOAL) grant targets areas in and around the Okefenokee Swamp within the Atlantic Coastal Plain area. Wildlife management programs such as the Bobwhite Quail Initiative have identified the East Gulf Coastal Plain and Large River Bottomlands as priority areas for prescribed burning in longleaf pine ecosystems.

99



Strategic Issues
Fire Management


Source: Georgia Forestry Commission 1997-2002 and Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment 2008.

Figure 53
100












Strategic Issues






Fragmentation and Parcelization





Issue Description Thefutureof Georgia'sforestsisimperiled by increasing forest fragmentation and parcelization. Parcelization results when the number of forest landowners increases, but the forest land is held in smaller parcels, measured at 50 acres or less (Wear and Greis 2002). Though parcelization may not result in forest canopy loss, in many cases resources on the tract become unavailable to markets.
Forest fragmentation is the division of contiguous forest stands into smaller, isolated pieces or less contiguous tracts due to development, conversion to agriculture, the divestiture of forest land by the forest industry and other human activities.
Both fragmentation and parcelization may disrupt wildlife corridors and migration routes of many wildlife species. Those species requiring large, undisturbed expanses may decline. They may also cause adverse changes in water quality and quantity and impede the management of fire and forest pests. Fragmentation and parcelization result in less efficient management units, which contribute to cost increases and resource management difficulties.

to convert their forest lands to other uses. Urbanization pressures, taxation and mass divestitures of forest industry land are leading concerns.

A major urbanization factor is leapfrog development sprawl, a discontinuous pattern of urbanization with patches of developed lands that are widely separated from each other and from the boundaries of recognized urbanized areas. Such sprawl isolates forest patches, drives up the highest and best use value and ensures their conversion to development.

Several taxation issues affect forest land ownership and the forest industry in Georgia. However, none is more critical to the future of Georgia's forests than property taxes. Georgia's ad valorem tax system was created during a time when the wealth and profits of the state came out of the production of the land when cotton was still king in the 1800s. As times have changed and Georgia has become increasingly urban, the tax structure has remained the same. As a result, forest land valuations for tax purposes are inconsistent across Georgia and "highest and best use" land valuation threatens forest sustainability.






Fragmentation has been identified as a Non-industrial private landowners

key measure of environmental quality, throughout Georgia are reporting

and representative of a forest's ability to dramatic increases in local property taxes.

provide critical ecosystem services. These Many have been hit with a doubling,

services include protection of water tripling or more of ad valorem tax

quality and quantity, air quality protection, liability just in the past few years. In this

biodiversity protection and carbon environment, a growing number of

sequestration.

landowners simply cannot grow trees



fast enough or sell them at a price high

Contributing Factors

enough to pay the current property taxes

A primary factor contributing to forest levied on the land. When owners of large

fragmentation and parcelization is chang- tracts die, their heirs may be left with

ing ownership patterns. The majority enormous tax bills, often leading to the

of Georgia's productive forest lands sale of some or all of the land in order

are in private ownership. These private to pay taxes. When this occurs, the land is

landowners are facing increased pressure more prone to be subdivided.

101




Strategic Issues
Fragmentation and Parcelization


Traditional forest products companies have also been impacted by highest and best use tax assessment resulting in divestitures to timber investment management organizations (TIMOs) and real estate investment trusts (REITS). One result of greater TIMO and REIT involvement is a more rapid turnover in forest ownership and an increased potential for subsequent parcelization into smaller-sized properties (Wear et al. 2007).

In addition, landowners must pay severance taxes on timber. For many, owning forests and timber land has become a poor business decision. Studies show that for every $1.00 in ad valorem tax generated by Georgia's timber lands, those same lands receive less than $0.50 return in services.

In 1991, the General Assembly passed the Conservation Use Valuation Assessment Act (CUVA). It provides for a reduction in property tax assessments and is available only to private individuals who own forest land not exceeding 2,000 acres. Lands belonging to forest industry companies are not eligible. As a result, many companies divested their lands. CUVA properties are assessed according to soil type, productivity and a reduced fair market value factor. Landowners are required to place their property in 10-year covenants, severely restricting the use of the property. If a covenant is breached, stiff penalties must be paid. Each county tax assessor's office administers the program independently, so application requirements may vary among counties. Generally, a minimum of 10 acres is required for enrollment, but some counties have recently increased the minimum acreage to 25 acres. No more than 2,000 acres can be enrolled in CUVA by any one nonindustrial, private landowner.

Because of the mass divestitures of forest industry land, in November 2008, Georgians overwhelmingly voted for a Constitutional Amendment that provides relief for property taxation of Georgia's forests over 2,000 acres. Through the Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA), large tracts of privately or corporately owned forest lands may be eligible for reduced property tax.

LandownerscanapplyforFLPAvaluation of their property if they meet eligibility requirements and sign a conservation agreement to keep the land in a qualified use for 15 years. Landowners receive a reduced ad valorem tax rate for property enrolled in FLPA. Eligible tracts must be used for subsistence or commercial production of trees, timber or other wood and wood fiber products; and the value of any residences on the property are excluded. Properties must be a minimum of 200 acres, but unlike CUVA, there is no maximum acreage cap.

Forest land designated for conservation use may include land that has been certified as environmentally sensitive property by the Department of Natural Resources. It may also be property that is kept in accordance with a recognized sustainable forestry certification program. The property may have compatible secondary uses such as the promotion, preservation or management of wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration or mitigation and conservation banking that results in the restoration or conservation of wetlands and other natural resources.

Opportunities are to provide landowners with incentives to retain manageable tracts of forest land that can compete with the financial returns of converting or selling forest land for other purposes. Some of these

incentives could be in tax relief and in the development and support of markets to increase the financial investment value of forest resources. Maintaining incentives and smart public policy to allow lands to remain in forest cover will provide both environmental and economic benefits for Georgians in the future.

Georgia's forests are a valuable natural resource and economic engine for our state. Forest landowners should be given every opportunity to hold their property for the benefits of forest sustainability and the security and enjoyment of future generations.

Potential Agency/Organization Roles There is still much that needs to be done to address the inequity that exists across Georgia in the application of ad valorem taxes:

GFC will continue to educate landowners about CUVA and FLPA opportunities and educate local tax assessors about how to adequately evaluate the properties enrolled in these programs.

GFC will work with the Department of Revenue as it reviews and enhances statewide regulations.

GFA will use its advocacy role to educate state legislators about the need for ad valorem tax reform in the state and about inequitable tax impacts on forest landowners and the forest industry.

Issue-Specific Priority Areas The large forest land base and economic dependence on forestry makes south Georgia counties a priority. Many rural counties throughout south Georgia rely almost entirely on ad valorem taxes for their budgets.

102












Strategic Issues



Economics and Changing Markets







Issue Description

Potential positive impacts can be

Georgia's forests sustain a huge obtained through the opportunities

economic engine for the state. of: developing new forest bioenergy

In 2013, the forest industry facilities, attracting other new

brought more than $28.9 billion to forest product manufacturing firms,

Georgia's economy and employed developing international trade in

133,353 people. It is the second forest products and carbon offsets

largest industry in Georgia based through sequestration in forests.

upon wages and salaries, and the

third largest based upon Potential Agency and

employment. In order to develop Organization Roles

appropriate strategies for The GFC plans to positively

improving the environmental, social

impact forest values by increasing

and economic benefits related to

the quantity and per-unit value

forests in Georgia, it is necessary

of forest products delivered to

to combine the "Economics" and

manufacturing facilities in the state.

"Changing Markets" issues. The

This will be done by attracting

overall objective is to increase the

new bioenergy and traditional mill

value of forests and forest products.

development, facilitating certified

Strategies must address both the

wood product manufacturing and

changing market threats and the

assisting companies with identifying

opportunities created by changing

new international markets.

markets. The threats have been GFC will educate and encourage

identified as globalization, product

landowners about forest carbon

substitution, economic recession

offset projects.

and demands for certified wood GFC will work with GFA and other

products.

partners to promote incentives and



public policy that allow lands to

More markets for existing forest

remain in forest cover and provide

product types leads to competition

both environmental and economic

and increased stumpage values. New

benefits for Georgians in the

forest products, such as bioenergy

future.

and various types of engineered

wood products, create additional Issue-Specific Priority Areas

markets for many forest resources The Economics and Changing

that have not been utilized in Markets strategic issue is important

traditional forest industries. for the entire state. However, this

Increased stumpage values and the issue should be applied with more

creation of additional markets for focus in the Fall Line forests and the

new products provide more Atlantic Coastal Plain.

incentives for forest management

and reforestation.

103














Appendix





















Assessment Process Overview

The committee has also functioned as

The Georgia Statewide Assessment of a key reviewer of the Assessment and

Forest Resources was developed under Strategy. Issues were placed in a survey

the leadership of the Georgia Forestry on the GFC website for public comment

Commission (GFC) in accordance and ranking. The issues, presented in

with national direction issued jointly order of their importance as determined

by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and by the public, include: Water Quality,

the National Association of State Urban Sprawl, Conservation, Taxes,

Foresters (NASF).

Biodiversity, Forest Health, Air Quality,



Fire Management, Fragmentation/

The cornerstone of the Assessment is Parcelization and Changing Markets

the 2008 Sustainable Forest Management (Table A1 on following page).

in Georgia report. In 2007, the Georgia

General Assembly enacted into law These issues encompass a number

Senate Bill 176. It requires the GFC to of threats which present significant

submit a report to the General Assembly challenges to forest managers,

every five years which summarizes landowners and civic leaders. They

the sustainability of the state's forests. are interrelated and often complex.

Specifically, the bill requests verification Conservation was a highly ranked

of "the ability of forest resources in this public concern that affects and is

state to meet the needs of the present interwoven with every issue; it is not

without compromising the ability to individually analyzed in this report.

meet the needs of future generations." Likewise, taxation was included

The report, submitted to the General as a contributing factor to the

Assembly on July 1, 2008, highlights the fragmentation and parcelization issue.

current forest resource conditions, along

with the challenges and opportunities GFC contracted with the University

being faced by Georgia's forest managers of Georgia College of Agriculture and

and owners. It concludes that while Environmental Sciences to develop

Georgia's forests are being sustainably geospatial data layers for use in

managed for the numerous needs of identifying priority forest landscapes.

the state today, their future viability will This geospatial data, together with

be determined by specific actions of issues identified in the 2008 Sustainable

state leaders and the forestry community. Forest Management in Georgia report,

Forest issues identified by stakeholders laid the foundation for developing the

and key partners in the report served Assessment.

as the basis for this Assessment's

development.

The Georgia Forestry Commission



coordinated with the State Forest

Public and Partner Involvement

Stewardship Coordinating Committee,

At the beginning of the Assessment State Technical Committee, Georgia

process, the GFC conducted a public Urban Forest Council, Georgia

survey to gather further information Statewide Water Management Plan

relevant to key state issues and the Interagency Coordinating Committee,

national priorities. The Georgia Forest Invasive Species Task Force, U.S. Forest

Stewardship Steering Committee met Service and The University of Georgia

several times to discuss relevant strategic Warnell School of Forestry and Natural

issues and offer content to the Strategy. Resources to develop the Assessment

104



Appendix



Table A1

and identify opportunities for program coordination and integration. The participation of these and other key partners from natural resource and related entities ensures that Georgia's Assessment and Strategy integrates, builds upon and complements other natural resource plans.

Primary Data Sources Dr. Elizabeth Kramer of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences developed the geospatial data layers for use in priority resource area identification. The following is Dr. Kramer's report on the data sources, methods and results of the priority area identification process.

Introduction Land use change due to urbanization and changes in land ownership patterns have impacted not just the types of forest land in Georgia but

also the spatial orientation of forest lands. As part of the resource assessment and the priority area identification, changes to the spatial distribution of forest patches throughout the state of Georgia were evaluated. Globally, forest fragmentation has been identified as a key measure of environmental quality and representative of providing critical ecosystem services. These services include protection of water quality and quantity, air quality protection, biodiversity protection and carbon sequestration.

Over time, many different metrics have been developed to assess the spatial distribution of forests extent and intactness of forest areas. Numerous reviews and tools are available to assess patch level metrics; these tools include measures of internal and external fragmentation, changes in patch areas and numbers


as well as changes in shape such as perimeter measures (Vogt et al. 2007). There are limits to the use of these tools when working in areas with large numbers of small patches. Newer techniques allow for large area pixel-level mapping to identify patches and landscape morphology (Vogt et al. 2007 and Soille 2003). These techniques use methods in morphological image processing to map edge types and produce metrics of patch dynamics. By comparing changes in forest patches, over time areas that still have large contiguous forest available to provide abundant amounts of key ecosystem services can be prioritized.

Methods

Land Cover Data Data from the Georgia Land Use Trends Program (GLUT) was used for the analysis. GLUT is a series of land cover maps produced from Landsat satellite images. The earlier maps 1974 and 1985 were derived from Landsat MSS data the rest of the maps (1991, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008) were derived from higher resolution Landsat TM images. The GLUT program tracks 13 land cover classes over time: 1) mud/sand/beaches; 2) open water; 3) Low Intensity Urban; 4) High Intensity Urban; 5) Clearcut/ Sparse Vegetation; 6) Mines/Quarries/ Outcrops; 7) Deciduous Forest; 8) Evergreen Forest; 9) Mixed Forest; 10) Agriculture; 11) Forested Wetlands; 12) Brackish Wetlands/Marshes; and 13) Freshwater Emergent Wetlands. All classes are reported at a 60 meter pixel resolution. For this analysis, the forest fragmentation results for the 2008 land cover map product was the focus.

105



Appendix





Figure A1 shows the land cover

maps from 1974 to 2008. These

basemaps were used to generate forest

fragmentation patterns.



The Landscape Fragmentation Tool

(LFT), developed by the Center for

Land Use Education and Research

(CLEAR) at the University of Con-

necticut, was used to analyze forest

fragmentation in Georgia (http://

clear.uconn.edu/projects/land-

scape/forestfrag/index.htm). The

GLUT land cover is reclassified

into three classes: forest, non-forest

and water. For this study, an edge-

width of 100 meters was used. The

edge width distance is defined as the

width over which non-forest land

covers can degrade the function of

forest land cover. This edge-width

helps to define the output of for-

est types core, perforated, edge and

patch (described below).





Four classes of forest are identified in

terms of the type of fragmentation

present (Figure A2):



Core interior forest pixels that are

not degraded from "edge effects."



Perforated forest along the inside edge of a small forest perforation.



Edge forest along the outside edge

of a forest patch.





Patch



small

fragments

of forest



that are entirely degraded by "edge

effects."



















Source: Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory (NARSAL), University of Georgia, Athens, GA (Unpublished data)
Figure A1
Land Cover maps from the Georgia Land Use Trends Program. These maps were used as the basis for identify forest priority areas.
Figure A2

106



Appendix



Figure A3 shows an example of out-



put from the fragmentation analysis.

Figure A4 shows results of the analy-

sis for land cover data from 1974 and 2008. All forest patches are shown in



the output. Smaller brown patches

are isolated from larger, continuous forest areas. Patches that make up



areas greater than 250 acres account

for the core forest areas, which are

represented in green. These core ar-



eas are large enough to be managed

for critical ecosystem services. The

smaller patches can still be managed for forest activities, but have a higher



probability of being impacted by the

land use activities surrounding them. Thus, as compared to land cover



(forest cover), the ability of forests

to perform ecosystem services was

measured. Forest cover in Georgia

can be maintained, but fragmen-

tation, changes to patch sizes and

exposure to edges and non-forest

activities such as development will

influence how well these patches can

provide critical services.





Zoom-in from output generated by the Georgia fragmentation analysis. Figure A3
Example of what the analysis output represents. Patch forests are those that have beyond 100m and isolated from other forest areas
(graphic from Parent and Hurd, 2007, CLEAR website) Figure A4

107



Appendix





Results



Tables A2 and A3 show the changes

in forest patch types from year to



year. Table A2 represents percent

of each patch type that makes

up the total forest cover for each year. Table A3 shows the area for



each patch type and the associated

changes of forest cover in hectares by year. The largest core patch areas



show the greatest loss from 1974 to

2008. Some of this loss is accounted for in the increase in developed area



across the state, but the biggest

reduction in large core areas is in fragmentation due to the changes in



land ownership.











Table A2 Table A3

108



Appendix


Much of the loss of large patches can be accounted for by the increase in area of smaller core patches and increases in edge, patch and perforated


patches. Figures A5, A6 and A7 represent the changes in forest patches over time as calculated from the GLUT land cover maps.

Figure A5


Figure A6

Figure A7
109



Appendix


Integration of Other Plans
and Assessments

Wildlife Probably the greatest tool available for guiding efforts to sustain overall forest wildlife in Georgia is the "State Wildlife Action Plan" (SWAP). This document, entitled A Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy for Georgia, was completed by the Wildlife Resources Division of DNR in 2005 with the help of many private and public stakeholders.

The SWAP focuses on those species and habitats believed to be most in need of conservation attention because of population declines and continuing threats. It lists 296 high priority animal species and 323 plants, along with a number of forest and non-forest habitat types.

It addresses the extent and condition of essential habitat types, as well as habitat problems and conservation opportunities. It also addresses research, surveys, monitoring and habitat restoration needs, and provides an evaluation of existing conservation policies and programs. In addition, the SWAPoutlinespartnershipopportunities and prioritizes the implementation of specific conservation actions.

Of a list of 25 "problem categories" for high priority species and habitats, developed within the strategy and used in an overall assessment, four have direct ties to forest management activities: alteredfireregimes,conversionof natural forests to agricultural and silvicultural uses, forestry practices not meeting the standards of Best Management Practices and invasive/alien species. There are opportunities to address these problems and enhance sustainability.


Strategies from the State Wildlife Action Plan were incorporated into the Georgia Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources.

Water The Georgia Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan of January, 2008, prepared by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (Georgia DNR 2008) in cooperation with recommendations from the Water Council, stated that of all its natural resources, none is more important to the future of Georgia than water. Meeting future water challenges will require a more proactive and comprehensive approach. The plan can be viewed: http://www.georgiawaterplanning. org/pages/more_information/state_ water_plan.php.

During the development of the Georgia Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources, the Water Management Plan was used to identify public water supply watersheds and impaired streams on which to focus monitoring efforts.

The Georgia Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan was developed with input provided by basin advisory committees, a statewide advisory committee and technical advisory committees. Potential water policies and management practices relating to regional concerns were discussed at numerous town hall meetings held across the state. Hundreds of individuals representing agriculture, forestry and business interests, local governments, water authorities, nonprofit agencies, trade associations and others provided input. It was recognized that water resources and water needs vary widely by region, and future growth and development will occur differently in each region. What emerged was a


blueprint that, when executed, will guide future decisions about water management across the state. It provides a flexible framework for regional water planning and allows for these regional differences while also providing statewide policies and management practices to support regional planning. The plan hinges on regional forecasts of future needs and will identify the management practices to be implemented, following state policy and guidance, to ensure that the anticipated demands can be met. When developed and approved, the state must partner with the various users in the region to implement the plans. This plan will guide the stewardship of Georgia's precious water resources to ensure that they continue to support growth and prosperity statewide while maintaining healthy natural systems. The plan addresses the following elements: An integrated water policy Water quantity and water quality
policies A water resource assessment Establishing water quantity and water
quality management practices Water demand and water return
management practices A water supply management policy Enhanced water quality standards
and monitoring practices Enhanced pollution management
practices Regional water planning

Going forward, GFC will provide forestry information to the Regional Councils to guide future water quality and quantity policy issues.

110



Appendix


Forest Stewardship Georgia's Forest Stewardship Plan was an important resource used by the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee during the development of the Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources. The committee coordinates the Forest Stewardship Program and provides advice and recommendations to the State Forester concerning implementation of the Forest Legacy Program. The assistance and recommendations provided by the group during the development of the Assessment ensured a product focused on the interrelatedness of the multiple benefits and needs of Georgia's forests.

Fire Management The Prescribed Fire In Georgia: A Strategic Plan 2008-2020, was developed in 2008 by 40 professionals from Georgia and Florida with over 500 years of combined experience. The three-day "Fire Summit" at the Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy produced a strategic plan with goals and objectives that reflect the highest priorities based on the current and projected status for prescribed burning. Goals and objectives from this plan were incorporated into the Georgia Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources. To view the document, visit http:// www.gatrees.org/ForestFire/documents/PrescribedFireinGAStrategicPlan2008-20.pdf.

The Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment was used to identify the potential for serious wildfires within Georgia and to provide information that will help prioritize areas where mitigation options may be desirable.

The models utilized ensure that the assessment results are consistent, comparable and repeatable using the Southern Fire Risk Assessment System (SFRAS) software application.

The published results utilize data layers including maps of forest fuels, historical wildfire occurrence, values at risk from wildfires and communities at risk to develop the two main product outputs. These are wildfire susceptibility index (WFSI) and levels of concern (LOC) for damage from wildfires. The WFSI integrates the probability of an acre igniting and the expected final fire size based on the rate of spread in four weather percentile categories into a single measure of wildland fire susceptibility. The WFSI is used for determining the probability of an acre burning. This index is used to identify areas that have the highest probability of a fire ignition during periods of high fire danger. WFSI and Fire Effects Index were used to calculate the LOC. With this measure, level of risk at any location across the state can be identified. These SWRA products are the primary tools used in assigning priority to GFC Fire Management programs including CWPPs, fire prevention and mitigation efforts.

Forest Health The Georgia Department of Natural Resources headed an effort in 2008 and 2009 to bring many stakeholders together to formulate The Georgia Invasive Species Strategy. The Committee identified needs and existing efforts for response to or detection of invasive species problems within the state. As part of this process, the committee identified 51 invasive or

potentially invasive plant species, 107 animal species and 30 disease-causing organisms. Based on this information, the committee set goals and objectives and proposed strategies for action. The goal of this effort is to prevent and control the introduction of invasive species into Georgia and minimize the further spread and impacts of existing invasive species populations on native species, environmental quality, human health and the economy. The Strategy endeavors to do this through eight objectives: 1. Coordinate local, state, regional,
federal and international activities and programs pertaining to invasive species in Georgia. 2. Control and manage the introduction and spread of invasive species in Georgia through education and outreach. 3. Prevent the establishment of invasive species populations in Georgia through early detection and rapid response programs. 4. Control or eradicate established invasive species in Georgia through cooperative management activities designed to minimize impacts to non-target species. 5. Monitor the distribution and impacts of invasive species in Georgia to determine management priorities. 6. Identify and implement needed research on impacts and control of invasive species in Georgia. 7. Prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species in Georgia through legislative and regulatory efforts. 8. Secure adequate long-term funding for invasive species programs in Georgia.

111



Appendix


There are 40 actions in the Strategy to address these objectives. Some of the first actions are anticipated to be the development of new educational materials relating to invasive species, funding of a statewide invasive species coordinator and development of a rapid response plan to control or eradicate priority invasive species populations and coordinate responses with full partner participation.

The purpose of the Georgia Invasive Species Strategy is to coordinate support for all state invasive species efforts through collaboration and full communication among agencies and organizations. Not only does

such a planning effort improve the effectiveness of field actions, it can also increase funding opportunities for the proposed actions. Cooperation among the committee members (drawn from 15 state entities, seven federal agencies and nine non-governmental organizations) was central

to the development of the strategy, and will be critical to its execution.
For more information on The Georgia Invasive Species Strategy: http://www.georgiawildlife.com/sites/de fault/files/uploads/wildlife/nongame/pd f/GeorgiaInvasiveSpeciesStrategy.pdf

Breakdown of Agencies/Authorities

for the Georgia Invasive Species Task Force



Agency

Jurisdictional Authority


1. Georgia Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Pests

2. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Pests

3. Georgia Forestry Commission

Forest Pests

4. The University of Georgia

Education, Outreach and Research

112




Appendix
List of Preparers



List of Georgia Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources Preparers:

Dr. Jon Ambrose, Georgia DNR

Robert Farris, GFC

Julia Baker, GFC

Frank Green, GFC

Constance Buford, GFC

James Johnson, GFC

Joe Burgess, GFC

Kassie Keck, GFC

Wendy Burnett, GFC

Stasia Kelly, GFC

John Colberg, GFC Devon Dartnell, GFC David Dickinson, GFC Sharon Dolliver, GFC Alan Dozier, GFC Neal Edmondson, GFC

Dr. Elizabeth Kramer, UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Science
Josh Love, GFC
Nathan McClure, GFC
Steve McWilliams, GFA

Larry Morris, GFC Jim Ozier, Georgia DNR Dru Preston, GFC Susan Reisch, GFC Dick Rightmyer, U.S. Forest Service Buford Sanders, GFC Greg Strenkowski, GFC Reggie Thackston, Georgia DNR
Joanna Warren, GFC
Risher Willard, GFC

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Appendix



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