Page 27 - Georgia Forestry - Spring 2017

#2
Domestic and International Markets for Timber
As a result of the housing market collapse and the recession, prices for pine saw timber have greatly decreased, and timberland owners have experienced difficulties in selling timber at a price that will cover their initial investment. In addition, with the expiration of the Canadian Softwood Lumber Agreement in 2015, Canadian provincial governments, which own the clear majority of Canadian timberland, are providing standing trees to Canadian producers far below the fair market value of the timber. This has created an unfair advantage for Canadian lumber in the U.S. marketplace.
HOW WE ARE WORKING FOR YOU
Along with the U.S. Lumber Coalition, GFA advocates for the passage of a new trade agreement with Canada to ensure that U.S. lumber remains competitive.
GFA is working with the American Forest Foundation and others to encourage the passage of the Timber Innovation Act, which focuses on building the market for wood through funding research and federal grants to incentivize the use of cross- laminated-timber (CLT) in new and existing building projects.
This year, GFA will be working with the Rural Development Council — a 15-member council of House lawmakers to look for ways to boost the economy of rural Georgia — to ensure the voice of the forestry community is part of the solution.
The GFF Center for Forest Policy Studies will be hosting a Tall Wood Building Symposium to educate developers, architects, public officials and others on the safety, sustainability and economic advantages of using wood in tall buildings in order to advance CLT construction in Georgia and expand demand for lumber.
#3
Public Perception
Georgia’s forestry community has long benefited from a healthy business and political climate for forestry. However, the state is changing, and its population is growing rapidly. According to the 2010 Census, of the 9.8 million people in the state, 5.2 million live
in Atlanta and 75 percent live in an urban area. With more and more people moving to urban areas of the state, the perceptions, priorities and concerns of most Georgians for the future of the state are changing. Therefore, the risk associated with the public perception of the forestry industry has become increasingly important.
It is imperative that Georgia’s forestry community continually connect Georgia’s 22 million acres of private forestland to the state’s citizens, who are largely unaware of the social, economic and environmental benefits provided by working forests.
HOW WE ARE WORKING FOR YOU:
To provide a solution to this problem, GFF undertook a strategic review process and determined that the best path forward to meet the needs of a changing population and secure the future of Georgia’s working forests would be by focusing its resources on establishing three centers to focus on leadership, policy studies and education. These centers will support the Foundation’s mission to “sustain Georgia’s forests through education, policy studies and leadership development to promote the economic, ecosystem and social well-being of Georgia.”
As Georgia continues to grow, GFF will be there at
every step to protect the long-term sustainability of forest landowners and forest-product manufacturers. Learn more at www.gaforestryfoundation.org.
about these issues and more
at the Georgia Forestry Association’s 2017 Annual Conference & Forestry Expo. Attendees are provided the ultimate networking experience with the forestry community and educational opportunities with leaders in the areas of forest management, economics and policy.
July 21-23, 2017 / Jekyll Island Convention Center Learn more: conference.gfagrow.org
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