Page 27 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 2 - Spring 2022

Georgia has approximately 22 million acres continues to grow and gain national and international
attention, the Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) identified the Carbon101 education initiative as an opportunity to provide smaller landowners with a baseline understanding of the carbon market, how the market works and what they should expect in the future.
“We received a lot of calls starting in early 2020, as carbon developers started coming to the state and seeking to build relationships with landowners,” said Andres Villegas, president and CEO of GFA and GFF. “For a smaller landowner, it is critical that they fully understand the mechanics of the marketplace before entering a contract. So, we are proud of this initiative and our longer-term efforts to bridge that gap between the landowner community and this emerging market.”
of privately owned working forests — more than any other state in the nation. So, naturally, the state also represents the greatest opportunity for the growing forest
carbon market. The Georgia Forestry Foundation (GFF) recently launched its Carbon101 Education Initiative to provide landowners who are exploring this market with access to resources and information to make informed decisions for their land.
According to U.S. Forest Service Data, more than 18 million acres of Georgia’s forests are classified as non- industrial, private forestland. That land is owned by more than 450,000 owners, who range from individuals and families to limited partnerships. As the carbon market
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