Page 10 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 1 - Winter 2023

LEGISLATION
interested in retaining the land, because they cannot realize the profit. When their land is sold, it is often converted to a neighborhood or a parking lot. So, not only does the family lose the value of owning the land, our community loses all the benefits that the forest provided.”
•BYTHENUMBERS: Morethanhalf (55%) of forestland in Georgia is owned by private, non-industrial (or non-corporate) landowners. Studies have shown that the average cost of services provided to residential properties is $1.19 per dollar of revenue raised. However, working and open lands receive only $0.37 on average for each dollar of revenue raised (similar returns are experienced by commercial properties). This imbalance between property types is not sustainable, because while the vast majority of property value is held in residential properties, this use is being subsidized by commercial owners and working lands.
The GFA will be supporting the introduction of harvest (severance) tax legislation in the 2023 Session. If the bill is passed with a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly, voters will be asked to approve it by Constitutional Amendment on the next General Election ballot in November 2024. If passed by the voters of Georgia, the legislation would become effective in 2025.
Increasing Efficiency with Forestry Licensing in Georgia
Foresters in Georgia are required to maintain a professional license with the State of Georgia in order to purchase and sell timber. Currently, the licensing process runs through the Secretary of State’s office. However, following a recommendation from GFA members and the Georgia Board of Registration for Foresters, the GFA is championing legislation to move the administrative process to be housed under the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), to increase efficiency in renewing and maintaining professional forestry licenses.
Dr. Matilda Riles is a small forest landowner from Liberty County, GA.
• BY THE NUMBERS: Georgia leads the nation in acres of commercially available timberland and volume of timber har- vested annually. All of these timber trans- actions have to be conducted by a licensed forester. According to initial research from the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute for Government, there are 71 new foresters needed each year for the next five years to keep up with the current demand for professional foresters.
• WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? To ensure the credibility and a standard of professionalism within the practice of forestry in Georgia, one must attain a license by taking a test administered by the Society of American Foresters and maintain that license every two years by meeting the requirements for continuing education set by the Board. It is critical that the licensing process is administered in an efficient and productive manner to keep foresters’ licenses current while supporting new foresters in attaining their licenses.
• WHY THE GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION? As the primary agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations and with district
71
New Foresters
Needed
Each Year for the Next Five Years to Keep Up with Demand
offices spread across the state, the GFC already serves as the principal interface with foresters, landowners and logging companies for all issues pertaining to timber theft, wildfire protection, forest health, water quality and more. As such, the GFC is best positioned to meet the increase in demand for licensing services and communication with professional foresters across the state.
The GFA is working with Rep. John Corbett (R-Lake Park), to introduce legislation to move the Board to the GFC. Prior to any legislation passing, however, the Georgia Occupational Regulation Review Council must make a recommendation on the need for the change. The GFA looks forward to a positive recommendation by the Council to move the legislation forward during the 2023 Session.
TIM MILLER SERVES AS THE GFA’S MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR AND MATT HESTAD IS THE GFA’S VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGAGEMENT.
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