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Our forests are pretty cool, but do you know that they actually work for you? Do you know that forests provide clean air, clean water, recreation opportunities, jobs and more? Check out this short video on working forests and a few forest facts below to get you started on creating your artwork and slogan!
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Ninety-two percent of Georgia’s forests, which cover two-thirds of the land area of the state, are privately owned. The majority of that land is owned by tens of thousands of private, non-industrial landowners.
For more than a century, these working forests have turned Georgia’s most plentiful, renewable, natural resource – trees – into jobs and tax dollars, cleaning Georgia’s air and water in the process. These forests are known as working forests. LEARN MORE! > Georgia Forest Facts, Georgia Forestry Commission > Georgia, 2011: Forest Inventory & Analysis Factsheet, U.S. Department of Agriculture |
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Private landowners, who own the majority of forestland in the Georgia, are committed the sustainability of Georgia's forests.
Georgia’s commercial timberlands grow 19 million tons more wood each year than is harvested, resulting in growth exceeding removals by 38 percent. With a total of 14.5 trillion trees, which does not include urban trees, Georgia has more forests today than it did 75 years ago. LEARN MORE! > Executive Summary of the Georgia Sustainable Forest Management Report, Georgia Forestry Commission > VIDEO: Sustainability: A Georgia Success Story, Sustainable Forestry Initiative > VIDEO: Forest Fast Break: Sustainability, ForestInfo.org |
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Georgia’s working forests provide vast opportunity for recreation to the benefit of Georgians and visitors to the state. Forests are important to hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, hikers, nature photographers, horseback riders, campers and others.
The work by landowners to manage these forests includes, of course, water as a high priority, providing additional recreational opportunity such as canoeing and rafting. Without the state’s abundance of working forests, Georgia would not be one of the leading sportsman’s destinations in the country. Georgia residents and visitors spend more than $3 billion on wildlife recreation in the state. LEARN MORE! > Georgia's Private Woodlands, Georgia Forestry Foundation > VIDEO: Forest Fast Break: Wildlife, ForestInfo.org |
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Over several generations, the forestry industry has turned trees into turpentine then lumber, poles, posts, panels, pulp, paper and specialty chemicals. Today, trees from Georgia’s forests are used in thousands of common consumer items that play a vital part in improving your health and your everyday life.
Also, Georgia’s timber harvests produce millions of green tons of logging residues annually. Much of this can be collected to produce bioenergy. The forest industry has for years turned biomass from the forest floor and waste from forest product manufacturing into energy to more efficiently power its manufacturing facilities. LEARN MORE! > What Do We Get From Trees? Georgia Forestry Commission > VIDEO: Forest Fast Break: Wood Products, ForestInfo.org |
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Today, Georgia’s forest product manufacturers annually inject $28.9 billion into the state’s economy.
Georgia’s 22 million acres of timberland available for commercial use – more than any other state in the nation – employ 49,497 Georgians in 163 wood product manufacturing facilities, 1,200 secondary manufacturers, 1,200 logging contractors and another 200 vendors in the state’s third largest industry. Thousands of Georgians are employed at trucking companies, railroads, the port and wholesalers and retailers whose roles are vital for moving Georgia’s wood and fiber to market. LEARN MORE! > Economic Benefits of the Forest Industry in Georgia, Georgia Forestry Commission > National Economic Impact Comparison, National Alliance of Forest Owners > VIDEO: Forest Fast Break: Forest Management, ForestInfo.org |
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Working forests are fundamental to reducing overall greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air through photosynthesis and store it in the roots, stem, limbs and leaves of the tree as part of natural tree growth. This process, called carbon sequestration, occurs most rapidly in growing trees and slows down as trees age. Sequestered carbon is stored in the forest in trees, soil, and the wood debris on the forest floor and in long-lasting products made from harvested wood. LEARN MORE! > VIDEO: Forest Fast Break, Carbon Capture, ForestInfo.org |
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Many of the state’s 44,056 miles of perennial streams, 23,906 miles of intermittent streams and 603 miles of ditches and canals begin or flow through forestlands providing a vital infiltration system for the 134 water supply reservoirs that provide many Georgians with a clean source of water.
State Best Management Practices (BMP), tailored to the specific conditions and needs within a state or region, address such things as harvesting, planting and roads. In 2011, 187 sites, 21,977 acres of separate forestry operations were evaluated. Approximately 99.8 percent of those acres were in compliance with BMPs. LEARN MORE! > VIDEO: Forest Fast Break, Water, ForestInfo.org |
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Beyond timber, forest products and recreation, working forests provide direct benefits to humans in the form of ecosystem services such as: greenhouse gas and climate regulation, water quantity and quality, soil formation and stability, pollination, habitat refuge, and aesthetic and cultural values.
A University of Georgia study completed in January 2011 conservatively estimates the value of the ecosystem services of Georgia’s 22 million acres of privately owned forestland at more than $37.6 billion per year. LEARN MORE! > Georgia's Private Woodlands, Georgia Forestry Foundation > VIDEO: Forest Fast Break: Ecosystems, ForestInfo.org |
Forestry is a foundation for our future. As you have seen, Georgia's working forests work for you each day - providing things like jobs, clean air and forest products. The following lesson plans and student activities will help you to understand these benefits and what they mean to you!
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5th - 8th Grade
"We All Need Trees"
Students are often surprised to learn how many different products we get from trees. Use this activity to help your students learn just how much we depend on trees in our daily lives. > Lesson Plan (PDF) > Fact Sheet: Nature's Treasure Chest - The Tree (PDF) > Fun Page: Products We Get From Trees (PDF) "Plant a Tree" Never underestimate the power of a tree! Besides giving us an amazing array of paper and wood products, trees provide a host of other benefits – from shading our backyards to assisting in the maintenance of the global climate. Students can express their appreciation of trees by planning and carrying out their own tree-planting project. > Lesson Plan (PDF) > Making Your Home More Energy Efficient by Planting Trees (PDF) > Fun Page: Choosing Trees to Plant (PDF) |
9th - 12th Grade
"400 Acre Wood"
In this activity, students will play the role of managers of a 400-acre (162 hectare) piece of public forest. Through this role, students will begin to understand the complex considerations that influence management decisions about forest lands. > Lesson Plan (PDF) Georgia Agricultural Education Pathway Courses These Forestry and Natural Resources Pathway Courses fit in to the Georgia Agricultural Education curriculum for high school education and contain links to lesson plans, power points and standards/student checkoff sheets. Click here to learn more. Student Activity Pages: The following activity pages can be used together or separately to supplement your forestry lesson. > Evaluating Tree Benefits (PDF) > Forest Health Indicator: Tree and Crown Condition (PDF) > Fact Sheet: Tree Benefits (PDF) |
Georgia Forestry Commission's Arbor Day Webcast
Hear from Governor Nathan Deal and Georgia Forestry Commission Director Robert Farris and learn more about Georgia's forests in Tim Womack's "Trail of Trees" presentation. This webcast was originally produced on February 20, 2014 in celebration of Arbor Day. See the entire webcast.
Hear from Governor Nathan Deal and Georgia Forestry Commission Director Robert Farris and learn more about Georgia's forests in Tim Womack's "Trail of Trees" presentation. This webcast was originally produced on February 20, 2014 in celebration of Arbor Day. See the entire webcast.
*Most lesson plans used in this section were developed and provided by Project Learning Tree, a nationally recognized environmental education program. To find more Project Learning Tree educational resources visit www.georgiaplt.org.
"Forestry: A foundation for our future" was developed by the Georgia Forestry Foundation with the central purpose to educate students, teachers, forestry related personnel and the public with forestry facts that make the connection between sustainable working forests and the environmental, ecological and economic benefits they provide.
The GFF was established in 1990 as a 501 (c) (3) organization which acts as the educational arm of the Georgia Forestry Association. GFF's mission is to, “Fund and support educational and research activities which promote understanding and appreciation of our forest and their benefits to society." GFF supports and administers the Georgia Project Learning Tree, the Georgia Tree Farm Program, and the Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop.
GFF would like to thank the following organizations for their support in the planning and promotion of this initiative and the artwork and slogan contest.
The GFF was established in 1990 as a 501 (c) (3) organization which acts as the educational arm of the Georgia Forestry Association. GFF's mission is to, “Fund and support educational and research activities which promote understanding and appreciation of our forest and their benefits to society." GFF supports and administers the Georgia Project Learning Tree, the Georgia Tree Farm Program, and the Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop.
GFF would like to thank the following organizations for their support in the planning and promotion of this initiative and the artwork and slogan contest.
Promotional Partners
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Sponsors
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Canopy Level
The Harley Langdale Foundation (www.thelangdalecompany.com) Stuckey Timberland, Inc. (www.stuckeytimberland.com) Timber Level Georgia Forestry Association Gilman Building Products, LLC Linda Beam, Guerry Beam Foundation Mr. & Ms. Jimmy Allen, Community Foundation of South Georgia (www.cfsga.net) Plum Creek Timber Company (www.plumcreek.com) Superior Pine Products Company (www.superiorpine.com) Weyerhaeuser (www.weyerhaeuser.com) Sapling Level Energy Launch Partners (www.energylaunchpartners.com) Gay Wood Company, Inc. Jordan Lumber Company (www.jordanlumber.com) Peeples Industries, Inc. (www.peeplesind.com) Pope Trucking, Inc. (www.popetrucking.com) Wesley & Kimberly Langdale Seedling Level Atlanta Gas Light (www.atlantagaslight.com) Allen Hodges, Hodges II Foundation, Inc. American Forest Management (www.americanforestmanagement.com) Claw Forestry Services, LLC Earl & Wanda Barrs, Gulley Branch Tree Farm Faison Middleton | Watson Spence, LLP (www.watsonspence.com) Huber Engineered Woods, LLC (www.huberwood.com) Hugh M. Tarbutton International Forest Company (www.interforestry.com) J & J Land and Timber Rayonier (www.rayonier.com) Stripling, Inc. The Price Company (www.thepricecompanies.com) Timber Mart-South (www.timbermart-south.com) |
Planters Level
Adam & Amy Westcot, GA PLT Committee Member Amanda Buice Balfoar Timber Company, Inc. (www.balfourlumber.com) Beasley Forest Products, Inc. (www.beasleyforestproducts.com) Bob and Claudia Lazenby, Arbor Creek Forestry, LLC Carla Rapp, Georgia Forestry Association Citizens National Bank of Quitman (www.cnbquitman.com) Cumberland Plantation FLP David and Carol Armitage David Whitehouse, GA PLT Committee Member Debbie Davis, GA PLT Committee Member Dolliver Communications & Education Services, Sharon Dolliver Dotty Porter, Sessoms Timber Trust Earl Smith Edmond & Jody Strickland Elise Berman, GA PLT Committee Member F&W Forestry Services, Inc. (www.fwforestry.com) Forestar Real Estate Group (www.forestargroup.com) Forisk Consulting (www.forisk.com) Forest Resource Consultants (www.frc.us.com) Georgia Land & Timber, Inc. Georgia Power (www.georgiapower.com) Gresco Utility Supply (www.gresco.com) HL Strategy, Inc. (www.hlstrategy.com) Hunter Maclean Attorneys (www.huntermaclean.com) James & Barbara Barrett James I. Alfriend Consulting Foresters, LLC (www.alfriendforesters.com) Joe Parsons Judy Greer, Lacksen Family Partnership Kris Irwin, GA PLT Committee Member Larry Fudge Linda Law, GA PLT Committee Member Matt Hestad, Georgia Forestry Association Missy Eason, GA PLT Committee Member Poole and Dunn Management Robert Farris, Georgia Forestry Commission Sparks Lumber Company Thompson Hardwoods, Inc. (www.thompsonhardwoods.com) LuAnn Craighton, Valley View Farms Rick & Barbara Boler Rocky Branch Tree Farm Roscoe Tilden Bembry Family, LP Royal Consulting, Inc. Sustainable Solutions Georgia, LCC (www.ssga.info) The Bank of Soperton (www.bankofsoperton.com) The Woodall-Wilson Timber Company Toledo Manufacturing Company Valerie Noles, Georgia Forestry Foundation Varn Wood Products, LLC |
If you would like to sponsor our initiative or if you would like to download some materials to distribute to the media outlets or schools in your community please visit www.forestry4Rfuture.org/partners or contact Project Coordinator Valerie Noles at valerie@gfagrow.org for more information.
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If you have any questions about this education initiative or the artwork and slogan contest, please contact us using the contact form to the right and we will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
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