Forestland Of Georgia's 37 million acres of land area, 24.8 million acres is forestland. Of this 24.8 million acres, 24.2 million acres is timberland available for commercial use and consists of 45% pines, 42% hardwoods, 12% oak/pine, and 1% non-stocked. The most prevalent hardwood forest types are oak, maple, yellow poplar, and sweetgum. Loblolly and slash are the primary pine forest types.
GA's Seven FIA Panel Results - 2006
Ownership The majority of Georgia's timberland is owned by private non-industrial landowners.
Family Forests 14.3 million acres
Forest Industry 4.3 million acres
Fam5i8ly%Forests
18% Forest Industry
16%
Other Corporate 3.8 million acres
Other Public 1.2 million acres
Other
Corporate National Forests
.6 million acres
5% Other Public 3% National Forests
GA's Seven FIA Panel Results - 2006
Contribution to the Economy Timber is the highest valued vegetative crop in Georgia. Georgia's forest resources have a total direct and indirect economic impact of 26 billion dollars (the direct economic impact is 16.1 billion dollars). Forestry directly creates 67,694 jobs statewide and supports a total of 154,147 jobs.
Economic Development Institute Georgia Institute of Technology - 2006 Report
Community Forestry Over 70% of Georgia's population lives in urban areas. Forests in urban communities:
reduce cooling & heating costs & modify local climate add up to 15% to residential property value improve mental & physical health of people provide privacy and a sense of security provide clean water and reduce soil erosion provide clean air and reduce air pollution create wildlife and plant diversity
Forest Fire Protection Georgia has about 8,091 wildfires each year that damage or destroy about 36,000 forest acres. Georgia firefighters have the best fire suppression record in the Southeast with the average size fire consuming less than five acres. Careless burning of debris is the leading cause of wildfires in Georgia.
Based on USFS Annual Forest Fire Statistics
Reforestation Trees are a renewable resource providing clean air,
clean water, and abundant products. Between 1983 and 2006, Georgians have replanted nearly 8.5 million acres in trees...that's 1,022 acres a day or 618,334 trees per day. Approximately 1.78 trees are planted for every one harvested to ensure that future forests will continue to support our economy and environment. An estimated 80,000 acres of forestland are naturally regenerated each year.
Fires by cause Woods Arson 18%
Debris Burning
51%
Lightning 4% Machine Use 11%
Misc. 6% Railroad 2% Smoking 3% Campfire 1% Children 4%
GFC FY2006 Fire Summary
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