Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Forest Sustainability
• Economic Sustainability
• Environmental Sustainability
• Social Sustainability
• Wildlife Conservation
• Water Quality
• Climate Change

Environmental Achievements

• Forest growth exceeds removals by 50% annually.
• Georgia’s forests offset approximately 23 percent of the state’s carbon dioxide emissions.
• 60.5 percent of watersheds used for drinking water are forested.
• An average of 1.2 million acres of prescribed fire per year for the past five years.

Social Achievements

• Forestry economic impact of $42.0 billion and almost 141,000 jobs in 2022.
• Wildlife-associated recreation generates $5.5 billion annually and supports 40,000 jobs.
• GFC has assisted landowners in recovering $1,135,155 in damages from timber theft.

Governance Achievements

• Implementation of Amendment 3 for more uniform timberland valuation.
• Strengthened timber security law (House Bill 790) resulting in investigation of 799 timber complaints since 2014.
• GFC's Water Quality Program recognized as a model for other land-use organizations.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Urbanization and its threat to forest sustainability.
• Changing land-use patterns making forest management more difficult.
• Shrinking forestland parcel sizes.
• Inconsistent forestland valuations for tax purposes.
• Depressed timber prices due to market conditions.
• Reduced tree planting compared to historical levels.
• Challenges in reaching and providing technical assistance to numerous small forest landowners.
• Forest pests and invasive species.
• Wildfires and prescribed fire restrictions.
• Natural disasters.
• Shrinking logging workforce.

Mitigation Strategies

• Conservation use tax programs (CUVA and FLPA).
• Amendment 3 to create more uniformity in timberland valuation.
• Expansion of the Georgia Land Conservation Program.
• State Wildlife Action Plan and Forest Action Plan.
• Increased funding for tree planting or tax incentive programs.
• Outreach programs to educate private forest landowners.
• Monitoring and action to control forest pests and invasive species.
• Promoting responsible use of prescribed fire.
• Conservation easements.
• State acquisition of keystone properties.
• Development of new markets for forest products (bioenergy, mass timber).
• H.B. 189 increasing allowable gross weight for trucks hauling forest products.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) certification requirements for loggers delivering to facilities.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Wildfires
• Severe weather events (tornadoes, hurricanes)

Transition Risks

• Changes in market demand for forest products
• Increased pressure to convert forestland to other uses

Opportunities

• Carbon sequestration
• Development of forest-based bioenergy

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), American Tree Farm System (ATFS)

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Forest biomass energy
• Wood pellets