Page 29 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 1 - Winter 2022

the agency’s ability to serve well. I believe it also, ultimately, puts the sustainability of our forests and the viability of the #1 forest economy in the nation at risk.
GFC’s mission and purpose remain rel- evant, and perhaps more important than ever. Ninety-one percent of Georgia’s forests are owned by private landowners. They rely on GFC for forest management leadership on everything from cost-share assistance to forest health issues, pro- tection from wildfire and other threats. Many industry landowners, who in the past have owned wildland firefighting equipment, have disposed of that equip- ment — making them more dependent than ever on a well-equipped and trained GFC workforce. We know Georgia’s landowners are relying on us, and we are committed to protecting Georgia’s forests for all landowners, small and large.
We know wildfire response, preven- tion and mitigation efforts are crucial to reducing wildfires, which pose a sig- nificant threat to landowners and our forests. A significant mitigation tool we have against wildfire is prescribed fire. Georgia landowners and prescribed fire practitioners do an exceptional job getting prescribed fire implemented across our state’s landscape.
Last year, more than one million acres were burned in our state, according to permits on file. In the spring of 2021, GFC set records for pre-suppression firebreak installation and prescribed burning. The agency energetically exceeded our target of assisting with 150,000 acres of pre- scribed burns. Despite tough conditions with the pandemic and weather during the winter and spring of 2021, our people were motivated to use their expertise and skills to make a difference.

91%
OF GEORGIA’S FORESTS ARE OWNED BY PRIVATE LANDOWNERS WHO RELY ON THE GFC FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT
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