Page 28 - Georgia Forestry - Issue2 - Spring 2018

however, that the forestry-water connec- tion is news to a lot of people.
“I’m surprised that more landowners don’t know about it,” she said. “Conserva- tion groups need better information, too.” Lord takes every opportunity to speak to different audiences, including Tree Farm groups and landowner associations.
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Scott Thackston and his Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) colleagues service landowners in all reaches of the state, some of whom may be skeptical about exploring this program.
“A lot of landowners are just looking to find a way to work and pay their taxes. They might see federal programs as being a hassle, or some may have had a bad experience in the past,” he said.
While each conservation easement is unique, Thackston said conservation purposes can supply positive tax savings.
“Plus,” he said, “as private easements become more well known, the value of adjacent properties could rise.”
Lord and Thackston agree that word of mouth is their best form of advertise- ment. Landowners who talk up the tool of
conservation easements and share their stories with others are powerful allies.
Billy Exley has been in the timber busi- ness all his life. His family set roots in Rincon, GA in 1732, where he grew up chop- ping through thickets along Mill Creek and learning how nature and commerce could work together for solid rewards. Seven years ago, he placed 5,000 acres of forest- land he owns along the Savannah River under a conservation easement.
“It took time to craft a good agree- ment,” he said, “and it’s one of the best things I ever did.”
Exley believes conservation easements are “an opportunity for the next genera- tion to have enough wood” and that the forest industry needs a guaranteed supply for security. He points out that public utilities gain long term security as well when large tracts of conserved forestland
are assured for the future.
Exley gives praise to the state of Georgia
for promoting landowner education about ways to protect water quality on timber- land through BMPs. The GFC partners with several organizations to provide training to all forest stakeholders online, in the classroom, and in the field. In 2017, GFC’s BMP survey, covering 33,578 acres, showed statewide BMP implementation overall was 93.17 percent, a 2 percent improvement over the 2015 score.
“There’s a limit to what can be treated out of water,” said Lord, clearly passion- ate about the Savannah River watershed initiative. “This project is a free service to landowners. We’re not asking them to pay anything.”
“The key is balance,” said Exley. “Eco- system services are for everybody, and this is going to work.”
More
For questions and information about the LSRW grant, contact:
Lisa Lord — lisa@longleafalliance.org
Scott Thackston — sthackston@gfc.state.ga.us
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