Page 30 - Georgia Forestry - Issue3 - Summer 2021
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base supports nearly 141,000 jobs and contributes over $977 million in state and local taxes. Forestry plays a vital role in underpinning not only the state economy, but the national economy as a whole. We can further leverage the eco- nomic and employment potential of this sector by supporting private land conser- vation and helping establish new markets for wood products. And the wonderful thing is, that if we do this right, efforts to strengthen the economic sector can at the same time deliver the environmental benefits we all care about and want.
As Congress begins work on an ambitious infrastructure package, what opportunities —ifany—doyouseefor forestry in such a package?
Earlier, I discussed the devastation wrought by the 2020 wildfire season. Many of those forests won’t return if we don’t aid in their recovery. When forests are
“I am excited for the potential we have here to scale our investments in forest infrastructure to meet the magnitude of the challenges before us.”
damaged and not given adequate resources to rebuild, we lose vital recreation spaces as well as critical watershed protection, wild- life habitat, and other natural resources. Perhaps most importantly, losing forests to wildfire means losing one of the most important tools in the fight against climate change. However, the American Jobs Plan recognizes that these losses are too import- ant to ignore, by including nature-based infrastructure in its framework. The plan
calls for forest restoration, investments in wildfire protection, and a new Civilian Climate Corps. I am excited for the poten- tial we have here to scale our investments in forest infrastructure to meet the mag- nitude of the challenges before us. The American Jobs Plan also calls for additional investment in climate-smart agriculture practices, so we’re looking to include funding for both our farm bill conservation and forestry title through this effort.
Kurt Zweizig
Consulting Forester
Registered Forester - GA, NC, SC
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