COWETA COUNTY MAN INDICTED ON TIMBER THEFT-RELATED CHARGES
A Coweta County man has been indicted by Georgia Forestry Commission law enforcement officials on charges of failure to pay for natural products and theft by conversion following an investigation into suspected timber theft. Forty-one-year-old Jeremy Evens of Senoia is charged with one count of failure to pay for natural products and one count of … Continue Reading →
SERIAL ARSON SUSPECT ARRESTED
A Union County man is in custody following his arrest by law enforcement officials with the North Carolina Forest Service, with assistance from the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Law Enforcement unit, on wildland arson charges. Forty-eight-year-old Kevin James Roper of Blairsville is charged with 10 counts of arson of lands in connection with a series of … Continue Reading →
Georgia’s Champion Tree Program: An Arbor Day Salute
Georgia’s Arbor Day is the ideal time to celebrate the champions among us – Champion Trees, that is! The Champion Tree Program is a vital initiative that highlights the tallest and most majestic trees across the state. In a recent conversation on GFC’s podcast, The Forestry Forum, our Urban Forestry Specialist Dave Long shared insights … Continue Reading →
GEORGIA CELEBRATES THE VALUE OF TREES THIS MONTH
Georgians across the state will celebrate the benefits of trees in honor of Georgia Arbor Day. Arbor Day is observed annually on the third Friday of the month, which in 2026 falls on February 20. “Arbor Day is a time to recognize the important role trees play in Georgia’s communities,” said Johnny Sabo, State Forester … Continue Reading →
NEIGHBORS PROTECTING NEIGHBORS: GEORGIA’S RURAL FIRE DEFENSE PROGRAM
Blog by: Justin Brown, Georgia Forestry Commission Rural Fire Defense Coordinator Every rural fire department has a story—of volunteers stepping up, neighbors helping neighbors, and communities built on resilience. For decades, the Rural Fire Defense Program has played a vital role in those stories, helping protect lives, homes, and Georgia’s natural landscapes. Today, we’re working … Continue Reading →
STATE RECOGNIZES VALUE OF ‘GOOD FIRE’
The people who manage healthy growth of Georgia’s 24-milion acres forestland rely on many tools. They include water, sunshine, good soil, and fire. The application of fire by trained practitioners is known as “prescribed fire” or “good fire,” and it has numerous benefits for trees, wildlife, landowners, and the forest ecosystem. The state of Georgia … Continue Reading →
Fighting Fire. Protecting Forests. Serving Georgia. WE ARE GFC!
Fighting Fire. Protecting Forests. Serving Georgia. – WE ARE GFC! The words “first responder” bring to mind images of ambulances, EMT’s, and fire trucks screaming up to a blazing house fire or highway wreck. The brave men and women who perform these services are heroes of uncommon ability. Yet there’s another group of first responders you … Continue Reading →
GEORGIA’S FOREST INDUSTRY POISED FOR INNOVATION AND GROWTH
State legislators are taking a hard look at Georgia’s forest industry challenges. A new report details the impacts of recent mill closures to the state’s economy and to affected Georgians. Georgia Tech estimates those closures will strike a $2.9 billion loss to the state, with nearly seven thousand jobs eliminated. At Governor Brian Kemp’s direction, … Continue Reading →
SUSPECTED ARSONIST ARRESTED IN EMANUEL COUNTY
A Toombs County man has been jailed on felony arson charges. Forty-nine-year-old Phillip Jones of Vidalia was arrested by Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) law enforcement officers and the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Jones is accused of deliberately setting a 1.5-acre wildfire on Sunday, January 11 in a wooded area near … Continue Reading →
WHY PINE SEEDLING GENETICS MATTER MORE THAN EVER IN GEORGIA
From Georgia’s Coastal Plain to the Piedmont and into the foothills, the closure of pulp mills has changed how forests must be grown. While the economic effects are easy to see, another shift is happening at the forest level: pine seedling genetics matter more than ever. For decades, pulp mills provided a dependable market for … Continue Reading →
