Page 26 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 3 - Summer 2023

CLIMATE CHANGE
Staying Resilient
How Forestry Can Weather a Changing Climate
By John Casey
As the South’s tree- planting season shifts, historical weather records shatter and “unprecedented” storm
events seem to come more and more often, the forestry industry faces a growing list of challenges. Climate change impacts are not unique to
the South, of course, and plans to mitigate climate change are underway throughout the forestry sector.
For example, the newest Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) standards include a Climate Smart Forestry objective, which requires SFI-certified organizations to ensure forest management activities address climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
In October 2018, Hurricane Michael impacted an estimated 2 million acres of forestland in Georgia and 3 million acres in Florida. It was the single largest timber-related catastrophe in our nation’s history.
24 | GEORGIA FORESTRY