We want to be sure you have all the information you need.

These materials teach youth about ways we are conserving Earth’s natural resources and protecting the environment through the “A Tree’s Dream” video and accompanying lessons.

GFC Fall Leaf Watch report for September 28th, 2022 in North Georgia.

GFC Fall Leaf Watch report for October 5th, 2022 in North Georgia

GFC Fall Leaf Watch report for October 12th, 2022 in North Georgia.

Lowering temperatures and adequate rainfall has led to the beginning of foliage color change in NW GA.

The past week has been cool and sunny with a little rain, allowing many of the trees to slowly progress with color change. Areas with high concentrations of blackgum and sourwood are currently showing the most vivid colors providing differing shades of red and orange. Sassafras is also beginning to show a variety of colors including yellow, orange and red. 

GFC Fall Leaf Watch report for October 20th, 2022 in North Georgia.

GFC Fall Leaf Watch report for October 26th, 2022 in North Georgia.

Foliage color change is steadily progressing and is most visible in areas above 2000 feet. Sourwood and blackgum continue to provide a majority of the red patches seen from overlooks and ridges. Hickory and poplar have made the most significant changes over the past week as they are beginning to display a mix of vivid yellows, golds, and browns.

Cooler nights, sunny days, and adequate rainfall are signaling the beginning of the fall foliage season. Trees are on track to display vivid changes in color over the next four weeks.

Final GFC Fall Leaf Watch report for November 2nd, 2022 in North Georgia.

Color change has surpassed peak in a majority of NW GA. Overlooks are showing duller shades of yellow, brown and gold, with occasional patches of red. There is very little green left and many species such as yellow poplar, sourwood, and blackgum have lost a majority of their leaves, resulting in patches with little to no color.

Foliage color change is ending in NW GA as a large percentage of trees have lost their leaves. The few leaves remaining are showing dull colors of brown, yellow, and red. Chestnut oak, white oak, and red oak are among the few species retaining leaves contributing to arrays of brown and yellow.  Select few maples are still showing some vivid colors of yellow and orange.

Overall color intensity will likely decrease in the coming week as leaves continue to drop. 

Fall color change in Northwest GA remains approximately one week behind last year. Many areas from 1500 to 3000 feet are currently at peak, displaying a wide variety of vivid yellows and dull reds. A large percentage of red maple have transformed into differing shades of bright and vivid yellows with occasional reds dramatically changing the views seen from overlooks and valleys. Chestnut oak, red oak, and white oak have made significant changes as they are currently exhibiting shades of gold, brown, and yellow.   

Georgia’s forestry BMP manual (revised in 1999 and 2009) recommends a 100 foot wide Streamside Management Zone, measured from the stream bank horizontally outward away from the stream; to be implemented on all Georgia designated primary or secondary trout streams – and tributaries (p. 11 Georgia’s BMPs for Forestry manual).

In some instances, forest fire fighting activities dictate the need for adequate sources of water for use in forest fire suppression. Such water can be taken, through the use of helicopter dip buckets, from ponds, lakes, rivers, or other existing sources.

Forestry herbicide applications are commonly used to help control competing vegetation in pine plantations. Pine plantations may occur in areas that could be considered waters of the state, especially in the Coastal Plain Region of Georgia.

Learn about Geoweb and Geotextiles with this informational sheet.

This resource bulletin describes the principal findings of a harvest and utilization study conducted during the ninth inventory of Georgia’s forest resources. Survey crews sampled and measured trees harvested in a variety of logging operations, and analysts calculated wood volume and percent of wood utilization. Harvest volume data and factors for growing-stock and nongrowing-stock logging residue are described and interpreted.

Collected information for the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program, a cooperative program between the U.S. Forest Service and the states to provide estimates of the condition of the forest and forest trend data.

Overview of the project to protect the water supply for communities and businesses along the Savannah River in Georgia and South Carolina.

Overview of forest resources in Georgia based on an inventory conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, the Southern Research Station (SRS) in cooperation with the Georgia Forestry Commission.

General Procedures for Compliance with the Clean Water Act.

Information for landowners, foresters, timber buyers, loggers, site preparation and reforestation contractors, and others involved with silvicultural operations about common-sense, economical and effective practices to minimize non-point source pollution (soil erosion and stream sedimentation) and thermal pollution. These minimum practices are called BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES and are commonly referred to as BMPs.

Forestry BMPs are an important part of the practice of sustainable forestry. Simply defined, sustainable forestry is ” … the management of forests to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.”

The Chattahoochee River originates in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains above Helen, Georgia, and drains almost 5.6 million acres (8770 mi2) of piedmont and coastal plain landscape in Alabama and Georgia. With a length of 430 miles, it is commonly divided into three segments, with the Upper Chattahoochee flowing through Atlanta before becoming the Middle Chattahoochee through Columbus. From Lake Walter F. George, the Lower Chattahoochee
flows south toward Lake Seminole, where it joins with the Flint River to form Lake Seminole, which drains, in turn, into the Apalachicola River and the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, the Chattahoochee provides drinking water for more than half of all Georgians and recreation opportunities on the reservoirs above the 13 dams that punctuate its course.

Over 1.5 billion metric tons of carbon is sequestered on Georgia timberland according to 2019 Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) data, provided by the U.S. Forest Service. This includes 23.2 million acres on federal, state/local, and private property. It accounts for carbon in aboveground and belowground live and dead biomass, aboveground and belowground understory vegetation, coarse woody debris, soil, and leaf litter. This estimate excludes timberland primarily consisting of exotic species and non-stocked stands (previously forested land that has yet to be replanted or produce substantial natural vegetation).

During a previous survey of the primary wood-using industries in Georgia, the following companies reported to GFC personnel that their listed sawmills used mechanical grading systems. Please note that not all mills responded to this question and there may be other Georgia mills that utilize mechanical lumber grading. Final determination will depend upon individual contact with the mills.

The purpose of this manual is to inform landowners, foresters, timber buyers, loggers, site preparation and reforestation contractors, and others involved with silvicultural operations about common-sense, economical and effective practices to minimize non-point source pollution (soil erosion and stream sedimentation) and thermal pollution. These minimum practices are called BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES and are commonly referred to as BMPs.

Georgia’s original Forest Action Plan was produced with contributions from many program leaders of the Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service. Content contributors included Dr. Jon Ambrose, Constance Buford, Joe Burgess, Scott Thackston, Devon Dartnell, David Dickinson, Frank Sorrells, Ken Parker, Gary White, Scott Griffin, Josh Love, Joan Scales, Jim Ozier, Dru Preston, Dick Rightmyer, Buford Sanders and Risher Willard. Liz Kramer, University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences contractor, conducted the GIS analyses. Final document design and production was accomplished by Wendy Burnett, Kassie Keck and Stasia Kelly. Development and publication of this document was assisted by a grant from the National Association of State Foresters.

Twenty three new detections have been confirmed from January 1, 2020 through March 10, 2020 in Georgia, bringing the statewide cumulative total to 1,374 cogongrass spots.

An updated listing of Georgia Counties with known Cogongrass infestations.

There were 95 new detections in 2019, bringing the number of known cogongrass spots in the state to 1351, scattered across 65
counties.

The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) participates annually in the southern pine beetle (SPB) prediction trapping program. The southern pine beetle is the most destructive forest pest in the southeastern states. Survey results are documented in an annual report so that activity and damage levels can be anticipated and mitigated.

Georgia forests accounted for a total of 1,383,131 thousand cubic feet (MCF) of timber products while the forest products industry produced a total of 1,395,847 MCF within the State.

Important dosage information for treating infestations of hemlock woolly adelgid.

Overview map of cogongrass infestations in Georgia.

Announcement of the LSRW Initiative to support state forestry commissions and water utilities by strengthening the forest and drinking water connection through projects that enhance public surface water supplies.

Detail map of the areas within the LSRW Initiative.

Selling timber can be a source of great satisfaction to a landowner. It may also be surprising, frustrating and stressful, especially for landowners who conduct timber sales infrequently. Relying on the expertise of a registered consulting forester for help with harvest planning and timber sales reduces the likelihood that sellers or buyers will be caught off guard – and that helps landowners get the highest return for their timber.

Soil injectors are provided by the Georgia Forestry Commission to aid those interested in treating their own trees. The injectors are loaned out free of charge but a $250 deposit is required.

Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area (WMA) City of Atlanta Tract – Trail Schedule (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021)

Results of Georgia’s 2021 Silvicultural Best Management Practices Implementation and Compliance Survey

The 1457 cogongrass spots encompass a total of 373 acres. The status and treatment for each spot is at varying levels. The Georgia Forestry Commission recognizes a spot as eradicated after three consecutive years of finding no cogongrass resprouts.

Sources: Esri, Airbus DS, USGS, NGA, NASA, CGIAR, N Robinson, NCEAS, NLS, OS,NMA, Geodatastyrelsen, Rijkswaterstaat, GSA, Geoland, FEMA, Intermap and the GIS user community, Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

The Georgia Forestry Commission has begun the 15th year of its campaign to fight the exotic, invasive weed known as cogongrass. Forty three new detections have been confirmed from January 1, 2021 through March 17, 2021 in Georgia, bringing the statewide cumulative total to 1,501 cogongrass spots. This number is moderately higher than the 31 detections made during this same time period in 2020.

72 counties have had cogongrass detections since 2007, and to date 34 of the 72 counties have no active cogongrass. Georgia’s proactive treatment program assists landowners across the state, and 85% of all known cogongrass spots in Georgia are considered inactive.

The Georgia Forestry Commission documents all known cogongrass infestations.Invasive Species: Any plant or animal that has been introduced and aggressively competes with and displaces local native communities; normally having no native enemies to limit reproduction and spread.

The Dirty Dozen List of Non-native Invasive Species is ranked by the total acres occupied according to Forest Inventory and Analysis data. Honey Suckle and Fescue are not included in this list. Credit for the data used to make this list to the US Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis Program and The Georgia Forestry Commission FIA Foresters.

Georgia’s forest industry has many components, which interact with all other sectors of the economy in complex ways. The purposes of this analysis are to: (1) quantify the level of economic activity conducted by the components of the forest industry, (2) estimate economic activity supported in all Georgia sectors by the industry’s activities, (3) compare the level of activity in the forest industry with other industries, and (4) quantify the economic activity of forest industry sectors within each of the 12 regional commissions in Georgia.

Economic activity is measured by output, employment, and compensation generated directly by Georgia’s forest industry.

Firewood industry list and map.

The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) has completed its 2021 Forestry BMP Implementation Survey covering 260 randomly selected sites statewide.

The GA Stewardship Steering Committee along with the Georgia Forestry Commission have a discussion about partnerships, legacy, and other topics related to #stewardship in #Georgia. #forestry #gatrees #education #prescribedfire #forest #legacy #partnerships

2021 EXPORTERS BY MILL TYPE

The Federal Clean Water Act, Section 404, exempts normal, established, ongoing silvicultural activities from the permitting process for discharges of dredged or fill material in jurisdictional wetlands; provided that 15 federal mandates are complied with.

This crossing:
• Crossing Purpose: To access timber for harvesting
• Alternatives: Other side would have required crossing another stream and building a new road
• Primary objective of State Forest: Timber Production
• Management Plan: Harvest timber and then reforest

The Georgia Forestry Commission is pleased to bring you the 2021 Georgia Primary Wood-Using Industries Directory. The Directory is designed to serve as a reference for producers seeking to market their wood products and for wood users in locating suppliers.

Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area (WMA) City of Atlanta Tract – Trail Schedule July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022

The American Forest Foundation (AFF), in conjunction with Southern Forestry Consultants, Inc.(SFC), developed the original components, outlines, structure, and drafts of the Landscape Management Plan (LMP) and the associated geodatabase. AFF and SFC also worked cooperatively to evaluate and incorporate edits, comments, and modifications that resulted in the final LMP and geodatabase.

Chinese (Ligustrum sinense), European (Ligustrum vulgare) and Japanese (Ligustrum japonicum) privets are all listed as invasive-exotic species that threaten native South Carolina forests. These are semi-evergreen, multi-stemmed shrubs or small trees that can grow up to a height of 20 feet. Ligustrum sp. are native to China, parts of Europe and Japan, and were first introduced into the United States around 1909 for ornamental use as shrub borders, erosion control plantings and wildlife forage. Characteristic flowers of Ligustrum species are showy, panicles of tiny, creamy-white flowers that are very fragrant and abundant in late spring through summer. Fruit produced are small, rounded dark-purple berries that persist throughout the winter, especially favored by birds.

Sources: Esri, Airbus DS, USGS, NGA, NASA, CGIAR, N Robinson, NCEAS, NLS, OS, NMA, Geodatastyrelsen, Rijkswaterstaat, GSA, Geoland, FEMA, Intermap and the GIS user community, Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

In 2021, Irwin, Jones, and Pierce Counties were the only counties reporting cogongrass for the first time. There were 156 detections in 2021, bringing the number of known cogongrass spots in the state to 1621, scattered across 72 counties.

Georgia’s leadership in the production of forest products in the U.S. south, nation and world is possible because of the
state’s highly productive forests. On average, Georgia’s 23.8 million acres of commercial timberlands grow in excess of 24
million tons more wood per year than is harvested, resulting in growth exceeding removals by 48% for all species combined.

Sources: Esri, Airbus DS, USGS, NGA, NASA, CGIAR, N Robinson, NCEAS, NLS, OS, NMA, Geodatastyrelsen, Rijkswaterstaat, GSA, Geoland, FEMA, Intermap and the GIS user community, Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

Description of the Event: On Tuesday, April 5th, and Wednesday, April 6th, a strong storm system produced multiple tornadoes, mainly across central and South Georgia. Georgia Forestry Commission management foresters and GIS foresters helped assess and map out the damage that occurred throughout the state. There
were 33 tornado touchdowns, with seven of the tornadoes causing timber damage that required an assessment.

This document is a guide to reforesting cities and towns.

The state is divided into five regions to ensure the best management of water controls.

Chip Mill Industry in Georgia

Chip-Log Wood Products

Energy Products

Log Home Wood Products

Wood Mulch Products

Panel & Engineered Wood Products

Post-Pole Wood Products

Pulp Wood Products

Sawmill – Hardwood/Softwood Products

Sawmill – Hardwood Products

Sawmill – Softwood Products

Wood Shavings Products

Veneer Wood Products

Template (with Mills by County)

Template-Without-Mills-by-County

Excel format of Wood Using Industries Directory 2022

GFC worked with the University of Georgia on a longleaf pine stem quality study funded by a grant from the US Forest Service. This study was performed with the primary objective of quantifying the sawtimber and pole potential of longleaf pine trees planted in old-fields/pastures/hay fields. More than 200 landowner sites were
inventoried for stocking, condition and form quality.

The Tree City USA program has been greening up cities and towns across America since 1976. It is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees. Learn more.

Add a line to discover objects threaten by fire and things that protect them.

Ambrosia beetles are non-native (in Georgia) major wood-boring pests that usually attack hardwoods and ornamental trees during times of drought, storm damage and construction damage.

ALRI is a collaborative effort of multiple public and private sector partners that actively supports range-wide efforts to restore and conserve longleaf pine ecosystems.

The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, was founded in 1996 as the first private voluntary greenhouse gas registry in the world.

Activity for discovering animal tracks around your home.

Several tools are available to help you meet the four standards and complete your application for Tree City USA recognition.

Resources and ideas for local celebrations.

Daily forecasts with NFDRS Ratings and State-wide Fire Danger Ratings

This is a link to Ask for Wood which is part of the Keeping Forests Initiative. The website contains a lot of facts on wood, it’s properties, environmental benefits, etc.

Online assistance for homeowner’s questions about the trees in your yard.

Steps on assessing storm damage around our home and property.

Best tips and techniques on pruning trees

Best watering practices for your trees

Learn about different types of insects and diseases that can affect our trees.

Tips & techniques for using mulch around your trees

How to assess various types of trees and explains certain risk factors.

The importance of hiring an #ISA #Certified #Arborist to care for our trees.

Steps on how to assess root and soil disturbance and best practices.

Shows us how to identify common trees in our backyard.

Trees require high quality resources in the correct proportions to perform best. Water, and the soil volume which holds water, are critical to great tree growth.

Shorter days and cooler nights start a precise clockwork of physical and chemical interactions within leaf cells bringing forests ablaze with color as they prepare for winter dormancy. In response to certain environmental stimuli, leaf pigments begin to reveal themselves in the leaves of Georgia’s deciduous trees. The amount of pigments in trees depends on the tree species, soil composition, and other environmental components.

A commitment to trees on your campus can significantly reduce the amount of energy a campus, and community, needs to generate.

This Camp provides an indoor and outdoor classroom for energetic, inquisitive students to learn about forestry, wildlife, ecology, tree identification, fire protection, forest products and the people who manage these resources in Georgia’s vast forests. It was founded in 1988 by Billy Lancaster and is sponsored by the Georgia Division of the Society of American Foresters. For ages 12-13.

A Document of the UNEP FI Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Work Stream (BESW).

Hemlock trees in eastern forests are late successional tree species that provide shade for the forest understory. Globally, there are ten hemlock species, with populations located in Asia and eastern and western North America12. Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) grow in the eastern U.S. These trees have great ecological and cultural value in forests. However, the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae or HWA) is decimating hemlock populations throughout much of the trees’ native range, altering landscapes, and threatening these iconic tree species in both rural and urban areas.

Biomass Supplier List

Bot canker is a serious pathogen of landscape and ornamental trees. This fungus is opportunistic and generally requires a weakened or damaged host.

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia

Callery pear is one of the most rapidly-spreading invasive plants in the eastern U.S. This plant stems from cultivars of ornamental pears, most commonly the Bradford pear. Callery pear can have long thorns, and grows singly or in thick patches in old fields, roadsides, or forested areas.

Carpenter ants are common in log houses and other wooden structures. These insects are primarily a nuisance, and are not likely to cause serious damage quickly.

A review of some of the Internal Revenue Service rules, regulations and or Revenue Rulings pertaining to Casualty Losses.

Cavities are created when physical wounding of the trunk occurs whether by human, weather or wildlife action. These wounds are then expanded by wood decaying fungi, bacteria or wildlife and can occur anywhere on the tree, but are most critical when they occur in the trunk or in major stems and branches.

Learn how to conduct Urban Tree Canopy assessments and goal setting.

Learn more about how to measure, score, and nominate a Champion Tree.

Assessing Urban Tree Canopy in the City of Atlanta.

County: Glynn
Location: DNR Clayhole WMA
Deadline: Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.
Bid process contact: Ben Hammond, GFC, 706-612-3729
Sale area contact: Ashley Colston, GA DNR, 404-844-6459

Learn about clean water while connecting the dots.

Did you know that Georgia’s 22 million acres of working forests provide clean air for you to breathe every day? Download fact sheet to learn more.

A helpful source of information for Forest Offset Project Standards and Protocols.

The Coastal Arborist Association (CAA) was founded in 2015 to provide education, training, and fellowship to arborists in the coastal region of Georgia and South Carolina.

Tree advocacy group.

Discover the damaging effects of stormwater runoff and how you can help protect, preserve, and restore Coastal Georgia’s water quality and natural resources.

Tree advocacy group.

Form for landowners to submit for assistance with cogongrass eradication.

GFC began treating cogongrass in 2007 and has developed several methods to combat the problem.

14 minute Youtube video descriving cogongrass and its impact in Georgia

30 second Youtube video advising Georgians to be on the look out for cogongrass

Cogongrass is one of the most invasive plants in Georgia. Follow along with Lynne Womack, our Forest Health Coordinator, and Mark McClure, our Forest Health Specialist, as they discuss the characteristics, common look-a-likes, and location of Cogongrass.

Comprehensive information on cogongrass in Georgia along with links to other southeastern state efforts on cogongrass

Color by Number to make a forest scene

GFC’s Sustainable Community Forestry Program (SCFP) provides technical support to cities, counties, elementary schools, college campuses, home owners and nonprofit organizations.

The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) is rewarding communities and campuses implementing
exemplary urban forestry programs with a Community Forestry Friend social media badge. Earning
the badge means your community manages its trees with the best urban and community forestry
practices, partners and professionalism. Download application to apply for the Community Forestry Friend program.

This Document is intended to aid homeowners and local government staff in planting and directing the establishment and maintenance of community trees.

A research study on how alternate forest certification systems could impact timberland economics in the United States. The three programs evaluated included ATFS, FSC and SFI.

Seedling prices for 2022 – 23

Georgia is one of the most biologically diverse states in the nation, and working forests play a big role ensuring healthy wildlife habitats. Download fact sheet to learn more.

This application allows you to search for consulting foresters that cover the state of Georgia. These professionals are registered foresters within the state and have personally requested to be added to GFC’s database.

This application allows you to search for consulting foresters that cover the state of Georgia. These professionals are registered foresters within the state and have personally requested to be added to GFC’s database.

The Cooperative Forestry unit of the USDA Forest Service works closely with partners to enhance and maintain forests across watersheds and ecosystems, both on private and public land, for the benefits they provide to the American people. Cooperative Forestry delivers its work through states, local governments, other federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and other partners leveraging additional resources and fueling innovation.

Learn about Cost-share and conservation assistance through federal and state programs.

Several federal, state, local and private cost sharing and incentive programs are available to help you meet your forestry management goals. Review programs.

Connecting with your Extension County Office can keep you up to date with events, programs, and services just for you.

Daily updated information on current fire dangers across the state

Daily updates of fire risks across Georgia

Best practices to prevent injury and damage when burning

Mejores prácticas para evitar lesiones y daños al quemar

National results indicate that tree cover in urban/community areas of the United States is on the decline at a rate of about 175,000 acres per year, which corresponds to approximately 36 million trees per year. View report.

Literary resources for elementary-level readers providing an entertaining and unique look into Georgia’s agriculture industry and a deeper connection to the food and fiber products importance in our daily lives.

The Dirty Dozen List of Nonnative Invasive Species is ranked by the total acres occupied according to Forest Inventory and Analysis data

USDA is here to help you prepare, recover, and build long-term resilience to natural disasters.

The USDA Disaster Resource Center offers information about specific disasters and emergencies, how to prepare, recover, and help build long-term resilience, as well as information about USDA assistance during disaster events.

Explore various types of forestry careers through this booklet that is aligned with essential knowledge and skills in science and mathematics for grades 3rd through 5th. This workbook can stand alone or be easily integrated into existing lesson plans on ecology, earth science, or general environmental education.

Human Resources filing document.

Leyland cypress has become one of the most widely used plants in commercial and residential landscapes, and it is relatively pest-free. However, because of its relatively shallow root system, and because they are often planted too close together and in poorly drained soils, Leyland cypress is prone to root rot and several damaging canker diseases, especially during periods of prolonged drought.

Survey and Field Observations – Laurel wilt is a disease of woody plants in the laurel family (Lauraceae). Hundreds of millions of redbay (Persea borbonia) trees have been killed by laurel wilt in the southeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain region of the United States.

County: Ware and Brantley
Location: Dixon Memorial State Forest
Deadline: 12:00 PM, Thursday, February 23, 2023
Bid process and sale area contact: Matthew Mrizek, GFC, 478-283-3881

Georgia Forestry Commission Forest Health experts say moving firewood has been linked to the spread of destructive, non-native insects and diseases to forest ecosystems. While these pests can’t move far on their own, they can travel hundreds of miles when people move firewood, logs, chips, and mulch. Forest pests can kill our native trees and be very expensive, if not impossible, to control.

Important information about why moving firewood can cause big problems.

The Don’t Move Firewood campaign is an outreach partnership managed by The Nature Conservancy. The overarching goal of the campaign is to protect trees and forests all across North America from invasive insects and diseases that can travel in or on contaminated firewood.

An invasive insect responsible for the death or decline of tens of millions of ash trees in 20 states has been detected in Georgia for the first time.

Detailed information about emerald ash borer (EAB) from the Georgia Invasive Species Task Force.

Treatment options for emerald ash borer (EAB).

Guidelines for homeowners dealing with infestation from emerald ash borer (EAB) pests.

Insecticide information for treatment of emerald ash borer (EAB).

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was first detected in Georgia in 2013 in DeKalb and Fulton Counties and has now been found in 37 counties in Georgia. As of September 2020, there are infestations in 36 states and five Canadian provinces.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was first detected in Georgia in 2013 in DeKalb and Fulton Counties and has now been found in 44 counties in Georgia. As of September 2021, there are infestations in 35 states, the District of Columbia and five Canadian provinces. Since 2013, both the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Forestry Commission have followed federal guidelines and restricted the movement of ash materials out of quarantine areas.

Helpful information about identifying and controlling tent caterpillars and webworms.

Launched as a web-based information platform in 2004, Ecosystem Marketplace publishes newsletters, breaking news, original feature articles and major reports about market-based approaches to conserving ecosystem services.

A Guide for Decision Makers: by Janet Ranganathan, Karen Bennett, Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne, Nicolas Lucas, Frances Irwin, Monika Zurek and Neville Ash and Paul West – March 2008

eLearn Urban Forestry is a distance-learning program for beginning urban foresters and allied professionals. These include foresters, natural resource planners, landscape architects, city officials and public works employees. (ISA credit and certificate of completion available)

eLearn Urban Forestry is a distance-learning program for beginning urban foresters and allied professionals. These include foresters, natural resource planners, landscape architects, city officials and public works employees. (ISA credit not available)

EAB Rules and Regulations from the State of Georgia

Website formed through a multinational effort to provide the latest information about the emerald ash borer (EAB)

The purpose of this Emergency Storm Response Plan is to help clarify the roles of municipal personnel and establish uniform operating procedures in response to tree damage during storm events.

An effective storm plan will help to minimize a storm’s impacts on your community forest. This Emergency Response Plan developed in Columbus, GA is a good example.

Environmental Education Advances Quality Education, environmental education (EE) is a learning process that increases knowledge and awareness about the environment and develops skills that enable responsible decisions and actions that impact the environment.

Managing hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) can involve use of insecticides. When it does, the non-target impacts (negative effects to other organisms) need to be thoroughly considered
and weighed against the environmental cost of inaction or alternative management approaches. Insecticides applied for HWA management are used for conservation purposes, which may seem counterintuitive. However, hemlocks are a key forest species, and so their loss can result in severe ecological consequences. To justify insecticide use against HWA, we have to ask: What are the possible negative consequences of using insecticides in the forest? We must consider these trade-offs in hemlock management. It is important to remember that there will be trade-offs in any kind of resource management discussion, even if it may not initially seem apparent. The negative environmental consequences of hemlock mortality must be weighed against the known consequences of insecticide use to preserve hemlocks.

Information for the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), which oversees policies and protections for air quality and radiation exposure

The purpose of this book is to provide guidelines and assistance to nonindustrial private forest owners and the legal, tax, financial, insurance, and forestry professionals who serve them on the application of estate planning techniques to forest properties.

Documentation of the growth and spread of Laurel Wilt in Georgia

Official Georgia Tourism and Travel Site

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia

Virginia Tech

Learn about why leaves change color in the fall through this coloring activity sheet.

Generally, trees with structurally sound root systems do not fall, except during very high wind events. When trying to determine which trees have root systems that are prone to failure, answers hinge upon a number of factors.

Overview of the Clean Air Act and corresponding protections and actions by the EPA

View GA Map of disaster declaration by FEMA.

The Firefighter Property (FFP) Program refers to excess Department of Defense (DoD) property that is suitable for use in providing fire and emergency services.   The FFP Program began in 2005; Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) began participating in 2012.  The US Department of Defense (DoD) allows USFS to manage excess DoD Firefighting property transfers.  USFS works in cooperation with the State agency responsible for wildland and rural firefighting to ensure authorized and qualified firefighting entities are Users/Recipients of the property.

This report highlights the principal findings of the seventh forest survey of Georgia. Field work began in November 1995 and was completed in April 1998. Six previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1953, 1961, 1972, 1982, and 1989 provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the previous 62 years.

View campuses receiving Tree Campus Higher Education® recognition!

Thousands of Tree City USA communities—large and small—have made a commitment to their urban tree canopy and their residents. Check them our.

Directory for Tree Line USA Utilities.

A close estimate of the fine dead fuel moisture (FDFM) on your burn unit any time a FDFM reading is desired

Graphic data from statewide fire danger weather stations

Learn about forest fires and prescribe burning.

Fire Prevention Week works to educate everyone about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe. Learn more about creating a plan.

Current Fire Weather Forecasts and current National Fire Danger Ratings by GFC Areas

Overview of the Firewise program in Wildcat community in the North Georgia mountains

A program that teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together to prevent losses

Reminders about the dangers of moving firewood and spreading insect infestations and growth of invasives.

The five-year plan is a guidance document for the Urban & Community Forestry program of the GFC and the GTC. The plan is developed by a diverse group of industry leaders in Georgia.

Daily updates for 24-hour fire danger forecast

Forecasted weather conditions and fire danger ratings for the Co-Op Area (Oakland Station – North Marion County)

Georgia’s 24 million acres of forest land are a rich and renewable resource that provide a myriad of benefits to citizens across the state. This updated Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources addresses the conditions and issues at hand today, and prioritize concerns for the near and distant future.

Unscramble letters to discover forest animals.

Helpful overview regarding the merits of Forest Certification.

Form to help you gather the appropriate information for Forest Debris Management Program (FDMP) activities.

View acceptable debris management practices include chipping, grinding, root raking, piling, windrowing, pile burning, or other cost-effective methods to manage storm damage debris.

Short videos to highlight important forestry-related topics.

A healthy forest is a working forest. They work to filter our water, clean our air, and provide homes for wildlife and peaceful spaces for us to enjoy. Learn more about healthy forests.

As the Nation’s continuous forest census, the FIA program projects how forests are likely to appear 10 to 50 years from now. This enables us to evaluate whether current forest management practices are sustainable in the long run and to assess whether current policies will allow the next generation to enjoy America’s forests as we do today.

This assessment documents the need for a Forest Legacy Program in Georgia; identifies and delineates the boundaries of forest areas meeting the eligibility
requirements for designation as Forest Legacy Areas; and provides details of recommended areas for inclusion in the Forest Legacy.
Program.

A forest management plan is the roadmap to a healthy forest. Landowners have diverse goals for their forested land. Explore the benefits of creating a forest management plan.

This is an example of a contract agreement for the sale of timber or forest products. It is meant for informational purposes and is a SAMPLE ONLY. This document has no legal standing in the execution of a sale between parties.

Sample contract agreement for private landowners selling trees, timber or wood by lump sum.

Sample contract agreement for private landowners selling trees, timber or wood by unit.

View listings of primary forest products mills or secondary forest products manufacturers.

Scavenger Hunt for forest product items around the house/yard.

The Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program has provided the Nation’s forest census since 1930. A system of forest measurement field plots across the United States serves as the program’s foundation.

Landowners enrolled in Georgia’s Forest Stewardship Program should periodically be evaluated to ensure they are on the path of good land stewardship. Before a landowner can be honored as a Forest Steward, a completed copy of this evaluation form along with a copy of the forest stewardship plan must be provided to the local District Stewardship Forester.

A glossary of Forestry & Wildlife terms. Authored by the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Apply to the Forest Stewardship Program.

Contacts and map.

Forest2Market is a global provider of timber pricing, cost benchmarks and in-depth analytics for participants in the wood raw materials supply chain. Our data-based solutions provide insight into complex business issues and support fact-based decision making and planning.

Global Wood & Fiber Supply Chain Experts.

Friday, March 27, 2020 – Agenda

Board Meeting note for Friday, March 27, 2020.

Coloring sheet showing fun things to do in the woods.

Fungal Conks, or mushrooms growing from the trunk or base of a tree, are an indication that a rotinducing pathogen has taken up residence. Some of these fungi are significantly less harmful than others, but all warrant further investigation.

This cost-share program is focused on reintroducing prescribed fire in the Chattahoochee Fall Line area of Georgia to provide ecological benefits and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. The program will be implemented by the Georgia Forestry Commission with funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, American Forest Foundation, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Bobwhite Quail Initiative, Landscape Scale Restoration Grant, and other partners.
This initiative will provide private landowners a payment of $15.00 per acre for successfully completing prescribed burning on approved forested lands.

Changes are being made to Georgia’s outdoor burn notification system. The law no longer requires a burner to inform the GFC online or by phone about their intention to burn leaf piles and yard debris. New legal safety requirements are now specified for this type of debris burning.

GA código sección 12-6-90 elimina la necesidad de notificar a la comisión forestal de Georgia cuando una persona, empresa, corporación o asociación tiene la intención de quemar vegetación apilada a mano/ escombros de patio. Sin embargo, se añadieron importantes precauciones de prevención de incendios para los quemadores.

GA code section 12-6-90 eliminates the need to notify the Georgia Forestry Commission when a person, firm,corporation or association intends to burn hand-piled vegetation/yard debris. Important fire prevention precautions for burners, however, were added.

Map outlining historical outbreaks of southern pine beetle infestations.

From Planting to Maintenance

Galls are abnormal vegetative growths on trees that result from the feeding and egg laying activities of various insects and mites. Generally, galls are not life threatening to trees, but there are recommended steps to control the growth.

In addition to county offices, the state is parceled into eight different regions for GEMA and Homeland Security response.

Individuals seeking facts about the forestry carbon marketplace can easily be overwhelmed by the amount of information available. Confusing and contradictory details can make it very hard to assess income potential or assign appropriate risk. This guide seeks to provide answers to the most frequently asked questions about forestry carbon and help direct further investigation.

Southern pine beetle (SPB) activity was very low across the state in 2021. Above average rainfall throughout the summer maintained healthy tree vigor resulting in very few pine beetle spots. Flights were flown across the state in August and September for a total of 5,509
miles.

The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) participates annually in the southern pine beetle (SPB) prediction trapping program. The southern pine beetle is the most destructive forest pest in the southeastern states. Survey results are documented in an annual report so that activity and damage levels can be anticipated and mitigated.

The Georgia Carbon Registry provides forest landowners, municipalities, and public and private entities with an official mechanism for the development, documentation, and reporting of carbon emissions offset projects undertaken in Georgia.

Creation of Georgia’s Carbon Sequestration Registry included a public review process of proposed draft protocol documents and presentations. This is related resource document.

Creation of Georgia’s Carbon Sequestration Registry included a public review process of proposed draft protocol documents and presentations. This is related resource document.

The Georgia Carbon Sequestration Registry is a non-profit program established by Georgia Senate Bill 356 in 2004 and is administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA).

The Georgia Centennial Farm Program was developed in 1993 to distinguish family farms that have contributed to preserving Georgia’s agricultural history by maintaining working farms for more than 100 years. The program has recognized over 530 farms around the state.

This is a list of companies that participated in the Timber Product Output (TPO) annual survey of the primary wood-using industries in Georgia and reported that their wood procurement system and/or listed mills and/or products are certified through SFI, FSC, PEFC or SBP1.

GDEcD is the state’s lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, aligning workforce education and training with in-demand jobs, locating new markets for Georgia products, and planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.

The state’s preparedness, response and recovery agency works with public and private sector organizations to prevent and respond to natural and man-made emergencies.

The Georgia Envirothon, offered in cooperation with the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 1995 to provide hands-on, science-based training in natural resources and ecology to middle and high school students in a challenging, fun, and competitive outdoor experience.

Contact information and resources for the state’s Environmental Protection Division (EPD)

Overview of permissible and impermissible open burning practices

An overview of Georgia’s largest product exports for 2019.

GFC is not liable for the distribution of out-of-date material. This document is not legal advice and cannot replace legal advice. Current Georgia Statutes are maintained by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, and can be accessed through their website.

Georgia Forestry Magazine is published by HL Strategy in partnership with the Georgia Forestry Association and Georgia Forestry Commission. Together we are focused on telling the story of Georgia’s working forests, the landowners and producers who steward the land, and the manufacturers who are promoting innovative uses of wood.

The Georgia Invasive Species Task Force is comprised of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Georgia. For more than 15 years, members of this group have worked cooperatively together in invasive species detection, education, and control.

This guidebook helps organize community support and plan development with green infrastructure in mind

Prescribed Burn Laws from the Official Code of Georgia, Section 12-6-90 and Sections 12-6-145 through 12-6-149

Council for prescribed fire advocacy across the state

Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning environmental education program designed for all educators working with students in Pre-K through 12th grade. review curriculums and more.

Project WET is Water Education for K-12 Teachers! Our goal is to promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources through classroom-ready teaching materials and educator workshops. Our Mission is to bring WATER EDUCATION to the world!

Project WILD has been providing award winning, classroom tested, quality conservation education in Georgia, the U.S. and around the world for over 20 years. It is an environmental education program for students of all ages. This program is sponsored in Georgia by the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division and the Georgia Chapter of the Safari Club International.

The mission of GPB is to create, produce and distribute high quality programs and services that educate, inform and entertain our audiences and enrich the quality of their lives.

This fact sheet is adapted from Southern Pulpwood Production, 2009. The full report presents the findings of a 100 percent canvass of pulpmills that drew roundwood or wood residues from the 13 Southern States during 2009.

Georgia ReLeaf efforts to help south Georgia communities replace tree canopy lost to severe storms and other communities planting trees for veterans.

1 To amend Code Section 12-6-90 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
2 permit required for burning woods, lands, marshes, or other flammable vegetation, and
3 exceptions, so as to except certain yard waste from permitting; to provide for related matters;
4 to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Outline of projected expansion of southern pine beetle infestations.

Review fact sheets on Georgia Species: Amphibians, Birds, Crayfish, Dragonflies, Mammals, Fishes, Mussels and Snails, Plants and Reptiles.

As one of six divisions within Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) is charged with conserving, enhancing and promoting Georgia’s wildlife resources, including game and nongame animals, fish and protected plants.

The Georgia General Assembly created the Georgia State Board of Registration for Foresters in 1951 for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare by regulating those who engage in the practice of professional forestry.

Overview information about the Georgia State Board of Registration for Foresters.

Listing of state holidays in Georgia for 2021 (GFC offices are closed on state holidays).

View interactive map of wildfires in Georgia from 2012 to the present.

View interactive map for Tree City USA, Tree Campus Higher Education® & Tree Line USA.

Tree advocacy group who works to sustain Georgia’s green legacy by partnering with individuals, organizations, and communities in raising awareness toward improving and maintaining Georgia’s community forests.

Georgia manages water resources in a sustainable manner to support the state’s economy, to protect public health and natural systems, and to enhance the quality of life for all citizens.

Inventories provide information needed to formulate sound forest policies, provide information for economic development, develop forest programs, and provide a scientific basis to monitor forest ecosystems.

The Forest Legacy Program protects environmentally important working forests threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. GFC assists private landowners with technical advice in forest management and by holding conservation easements that support working forests.

This workshop is based on the manual Getting To Know Your Watershed. Volunteers learn about the process of registering the stream, wetland or lake that they will monitor.

How to plant a 5 gallon containerized tree from the Southwest Georgia ReLeaf Tree Giveaway.

List of Firewise Communities in Georgia.

Georgia is divided into ten areas for tracking fire weather forecast conditions.

Map to the State Agency Headquarters Complex

Complete brochure on seedling types, care, and ordering information.

Overview document of GFC’s services and Area Contact information

Healthy roots are the foundation for a long, beautiful relationship with your trees. A girdling root problem starts very early in a tree’s development and can cut short a plant’s life.

Guide includes a list of tree ordinance terms.

Take your students on an interactive journey through the working forests of Georgia to learn about forest ecosystems, food webs, and life cycles, as well as forestry management processes, career opportunities, and much more. Key concepts are presented through text, images, videos, 360º tours, and interactive elements.

This document discusses basic landscape tools and guidelines for optimizing sound reduction and visual screening.

Recent research indicates that quality outdoor environments affect activity attitudes and behaviors. Urban greening contributes to more walkable places.

This briefing summarizes the research findings on the relationship between urban vegetation and crimes, aggressive behavior, and safety.

Metro nature – including trees, parks, gardens, and natural areas – enhance quality of life in cities and towns. The experience of nature improves human health and well-being in many ways. review these scientific studies that tell us how.

Both visual access and being within green space helps to restore the mind’s ability to focus. This can improve job and school performance, and help alleviate mental stress and illness.

Place attachment and meaning are particularly relevant when considering issues of urban development and community-building. Attachment and meaning emerge from a variety of experiences and situations, and are often related to parks, green spaces, and natural areas. Learn more with this brief summary.

Trees and vegetation can dampen ambient noise, improve air quality, cool over-heated urban centers, and be a food security solution.

his article surveys the research on roadside vegetation benefits, and the scientific evidence concerning city trees, and transportation safety.

Urban green spaces can provide a neutral space within which people come together, social interactions occur (that include people from different backgrounds), and relationships or partnerships take form. Read this briefing for research studies.

Places that incorporate or are located near nature can help remedy mental fatigue and restore one’s ability to focus on tasks. The result can be better performance in the work place and classroom.

Trees and stormwater calculator tool, case studies from Norcross and Alpharetta, GA.

Report from the American Planning Association, shows how green infrastructure cleans the air and water, replenishes aquifers, reduces flooding, and moderates the climate.

Rad this article to learn about economic benefits of trees in cities.

These guidelines are intended to set the standards for judging whether or not landowners have accomplished sufficient stewardship management of their forest resources to warrant their designation as a “Forest Steward” and their property certified as a Stewardship Forest by Georgia’s Forest Stewardship Program.

Key issues surrounding the development and application of forest-based offset projects in the southern region of the United States are examined in this paper.

This paper examines the key issues surrounding the development and application of forest-based offset projects in the southern region of the United States and provides the Southern Group of State Foresters’ (SGSF) recommendations for how these issues should be addressed in federal climate policy, should legislation be enacted.

Gummosis is a common infection found on various fruit and nut trees. In the landscape, gummosis is most often recognized as a glob of translucent, amber colored sap on the side of the stem or lower trunk of trunk of a tree.

Details about managing gypsy moth infestation.

Overview of gypsy moth infestations across Georgia.

Georgia is a diverse state, with many habitats from coastal beaches to mountain hardwood forests. Check out information about the plants and animals of the habitats, the adaptations of species living there, and the environmental issues facing those habitats.

Overview information for the hardwood defoliating caterpillar.

Foresters and others who work outside and those who enjoy being in the outdoors are often confronted with hazards that can cause sickness, injury, or death. This booklet provides a brief description of those hazards to help you avoid an unpleasant encounter.

Bill provides emergency disaster relief assistance for cleanup efforts for timberland owners, as well as emergency funding for state agencies and local governments in heaviest-impacted areas.

Bill creates a tax credit for timber growers in the 28 counties included in the disaster area who incurred significant damages and expenses due to Hurricane Michael.

Take care of the forest, and it will take care of you. As research is being conducted and becoming available, findings reinforce what much of the urban forestry community already knows — that trees have a positive impact on human health. Check out research on why Healthy Trees make Healthy Lives.

HWA is a serious pest of hemlock trees in Georgia. The aphid-like insect feeds on eastern and Carolina hemlock trees, eventually resulting in tree mortality. The very existence of the eastern and Carolina hemlock species is greatly threatened by HWA.

Appearance, Life-Cycle and Quick Facts.

Guidelines for addressing infestation of hemlock woolly adelgid pests.

Annosus root rot can be a serious problem of pines in plantations that have been thinned one or more times. Loblolly, slash and white pines are affected most but shortleaf and longleaf are sometimes infected.

An overview map of area’s where Annosum Root Rot is most prevalent in Georgia

Detailed information about managing Heterobasidion Root Disease / Annosum Root Rot

Important information about the illegal practice of burning household waste

Peligros ocultos de la quema del patio trasero. En Georgia, es ilegal quemar la basura que generamos en nuestros hogares.

Historical data of periodic canvasses of primary wood-using plants are presented for the 13 Southern States.

This document provides a detailed history of GFC and forest management in Georgia.

Download this guide to get tips on maintaining trees, selecting an arborist and a homeowner tree survey checklist.

2014 bill authorizing GFC Forestry Investigators to enforce laws related to the protection, security, conservation, and sale of forest resources.

The density of an initial planting of trees or plants depends upon both the species and objectives of the landowner. This table offers guidelines for the most tree planting densities.

Read this resource to learn what steps to take to evaluate storm damage.

Helpful suggestions for finding a tree service and avoiding many of the pitfalls involved

“How do I plant a tree?” This is a common question, and tree planting and establishment guidelines have changed considerably over the past 20 years. Learning how to plant a tree and following proper practices when planting trees can lead to long term benefits from well established plants.

When requested to send photographic images of your tree to an arborist for review, it is important to remember the following photography “Do’s” and “Don’ts.”

Summer heat often prompts us to wonder how our trees can survive when too little rain falls to keep the grass alive. There are important tips to follow for proper watering and maintenance.

Important details about reporting cases of human trafficking

Hurricane Matthew impacted multiple southern states, and all coastal counties of Georgia experienced extreme winds and heavy rain on October 7th and 8th, 2016.

Map of 95 counties eligible for the Recovery Block Grant program.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture will accept online applications for the $347 million in block grant funds beginning March 18, 2020. Georgia farmers and forest landowners in 95 eligible counties, who suffered losses to beef, dairy, fruit and vegetable, pecan, poultry, timber, and uninsured infrastructure can enroll. The federal block grants seek to help recover losses not covered under existing USDA Farm Service Agency programs. Only online applications will be accepted. All applications must be completed and submitted by April 8, 2020.

Description of the Farm Recovery Block Grant program.

Map of counties in Georgia declared disaster areas for FEMA assistance following Hurricane Michael.

Video 1 of 5 – Video footage of Bainbridge Meeting, 01/23/19 (broken into five sections)

Video 2 of 5 – Video footage of Bainbridge Meeting, 01/23/19 (broken into five sections)

Video 3 of 5 – Video footage of Bainbridge Meeting, 01/23/19 (broken into five sections)

Video 4 of 5 – Video footage of Bainbridge Meeting, 01/23/19 (broken into five sections)

Video 5 of 5 – Video footage of Bainbridge Meeting, 01/23/19 (broken into five sections)

Video 1 of 3 – Video footage of Colquitt Meeting, 01/23/19 (broken into three sections)

Video 2 of 3 – Video footage of Colquitt Meeting, 01/23/19 (broken into three sections)

Video 3 of 3 – Video footage of Colquitt Meeting, 01/23/19 (broken into three sections)

Tax credits can only be claimed in the taxable year in which the taxpayer first completes:
1. Replanting of timber and/or 2. Restoration of timber

Learn more about Hurricane Michael tax credit and who is eligible.

Presentation from Scott Griffin, GFC’s Forest Management Chief.

In November of 2018, the Georgia General Assembly enacted House Bill 4EX. This bill allows eligible taxpayers to apply for a Timber Tax Credit to assist in offsetting the substantial economic losses incurred during Hurricane Michael. This document outlines general eligibility requirements and guidelines.

Map of counties declared to be in a state of emergency following Hurricane Michael.

Press release about resource available to landowners impacted by Hurricane Michael.

View presentation from Yanshu Li, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Forest Taxation and Economics.

A taxpayer seeking pre-approval for the Timber Tax Credit, must apply electronically through Georgia Tax Center. Get instructions.

In November of 2018, the Georgia General Assembly enacted House Bill 4EX. This bill allows eligible taxpayers to apply for a Timber Tax Credit to assist in offsetting the substantial economic losses incurred during Hurricane Michael.

The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) has established procedures for landowners seeking assistance with debris clearing and restoration of pre-existing forest roads and firebreaks.

This survey examined landscape‐level impacts and classified them accordingly.

Found in the outer bark areas of living and healthy trees, Hypoxylon are normally of little consequence. However, the fungi can severely injure or kill trees that have been weakened by factors such as drought, root disease, mechanical injury, logging or construction activities. T

Within the i-Tree software suite, street tree populations are assessed using i-Tree Streets, which is an analysis tool for urban forest managers that uses tree inventory data to quantify the dollar value of annual environmental and aesthetic benefits.

Helpful tips for identifying invasive cogongrass.

Get help with Hemlock Woolly Adelgids. View list of vendors.

On a yearly basis the Forest Utilization Department at the Georgia Forestry Commission conducts a survey to identify primary wood using industries in the state of Georgia.

The IRS is the nation’s tax collection agency and administers the Internal Revenue Code enacted by Congress.

Helpful resource for managers to plan and execute prescribed burns in Southern forests and grasslands

Overview information about invasive climbing ferns.

Overview of invasive plants in forests across Georgia.

Ips engraver beetles continue to heavily infest drought-stressed trees in northern and central Georgia.

Ips engraver beetles continue to heavily infest drought-stressed trees in northern and central Georgia.

All trees will fail at some point in their life, and all trees have some level of risk associated with them. Determining the likelihood of tree failure requires a significant level of experience and knowledge about how trees grow, how they fail, and what characteristics make a tree “risky.”

i-Tree is a state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service that provides urban and rural forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools.

Best practices for planting and maintaining longleaf pines

Would you like to see a live prescribed burn or visit a site that has been burned to see what it looks like afterward? Then Landowner Field Trip (LFT) is perfect for you. When our agency partners and volunteer landowners are conducting a prescribed burn, we will give you a guided tour of a burn.

Informational overview regarding Laurel Wilt Disease

Overview of the history of Laurel Wilt in Georgia since its arrival in 2002

2019 update from the U.S. Forest Service on Laurel Wilt in the U.S.

US Forest Service

Unfortunately, neither Mother Nature nor the character of a tree can reduce the very real risks associated with leaning. It’s not that trees that lean are inherently bad; it’s just that gravity creates problems.

More information on Learn & Burns

Learn about how leaves change colors in the fall with Chelsea York, our Conservation Education Coordinator.

GFC and the Southern Group of State Foresters launched “Learn, Plan, Act” as a way to promote sound forest management practices and provide helpful educational materials, guidance and other resources to Georgia landowners.

For trees, the impact of a lightning strike may be light, leaving no obvious damage, or it may be severe, with catastrophic results.

The Longleaf Pine Initiative restores and enhances longleaf pine ecosystems. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides farmers and landowners with initiatives like this to achieve many farming and conservation goals.

The Longleaf Pine Initiative was established to convert suitable, environmentally sensitive cropland to longleaf pine forests.

The Forest Stewardship Program is designed to integrate forest management objectives of sustaining quality native timber, native wildlife populations, soil & water resources, aesthetics, & recreation, over a 10-year planning period. This template provides landowners with technical guidance that places near-equal emphasis of these objectives. It prescribes conservation practices to establish new longleaf pine forests using either artificial planting methods or natural regeneration methods.

Rhizoctonia blight is typically published as a fungal disease pathogen causing blight or mortality in seedling stock of pine nursery beds.

Help the deer find his way thru the maze for food.

Since 2014, LLLT has treated 7,500 Hemlocks against the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, and the core preserve serves as a State of Georgia research site for chemical and biologic controls.

Download form to apply for Making the Shade Program.

Get shaded playground areas for your elementary school with Making the Shade Program.

Complete form for application submission.

Learn the best ways to save money and energy through tree planting – a time tested method for reducing energy use.

A forest management plan is the roadmap to a healthy forest. There are many reasons why it is helpful to have a forest management plan for your property. Find out how to develop a plan.

Check out this resource for the Do’s and Don’ts on how to manage damaged trees from a storm. Includes: how to hire a professional for clean up, chainsaw safety, pruning and maintenance for damaged trees and more.

View GA Map of counties declared under State of Emergency EO under Hurricane Michael.

Tree advocacy group.

The National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, initiated by NAAEE in 1994, has developed a series of guidelines that set the standards for high-quality environmental education.

The U.S. Fire Administration provides resources to spread important messages in your community to prevent arson. Access resources.

Project Learning Tree is an award-winning environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators, parents, and community leaders working with youth from preschool through grade 12. View trainings, curriculums, family activities and more.

A reference source for timberland landowners; also for accountants, attorneys, consulting foresters and other professionals who work with timberland owners regarding the tax treatment of timber related activities.

When the water in our rivers, lakes, and oceans becomes polluted; it can endanger wildlife, make our drinking water unsafe, and threaten the waters where we swim and fish. EPA research supports efforts under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.

Georgia’s forests are home to approximately 250 species of trees. Native Trees of Georgia describes 92 of them.

Book showing illustrations of trees native to Georgia.

Did you know working forests are the most significant factor affecting water quality and quantity in Georgia? Download fact sheet to learn more.

The Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) trapping program helps detect exotic wood boring beetles entering our state. The trapping in Georgia for 2007 detected a new introduction of the camphor shot beetle, an exotic ambrosia beetle from Asia.

View shapefile requirements and GFC District Stewardship Foresters.

Operational system descriptions and procedures for general use

Information on accurate identification and effective control of the 33 plants or groups that are invading the forests of the 13 Southern States at an alarming rate, showing both growing and dormant season traits.

We bring the brightest minds together to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement through the power of education to create a more sustainable future for all.

On May 1, an outdoor burn ban will begin in 54 Georgia counties, primarily in the northern half of the state. Affected residents are asked to refrain from burning yard and land clearing debris, whose smoke can negatively impact the state’s air quality during the hot summer months by contributing to high ozone levels. These conditions have been linked to lung and heart disease in humans. Please see this .pdf for more details.

These are generally considered the fall colors during peak season. Habitat, weather, genetics, and other components can give variations to the general. Nature determines fall color, not exact science.

Oak Leafminer Factsheet

Observed weather conditions and Fire Danger Ratings for the Co-Op Area (Oakland Station – North Marion County)

Important dosage information when treating for hemlock woolly adelgid.

GFC offers a wide variety of pine and hardwood seedlings. We cater to small, private, non-industrial landowners and we serve thousands of customers in that capacity. Seedlings are available in small or large quantities and we offer varieties suitable for all environments in Georgia.

A resource for employment opportunities in Georgia State government (outside of GFC).

The Georgia Forestry Commission has named its outstanding groups of employees for 2019, and last week they were recognized at the state capitol.

Pecan trees are commonly found surrounding both urban and rural dwellings throughout Georgia. They can enhance the environment and provide additional income from the sale of nuts. Pecans are recommended for home planting in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, but are not recommended for the north Georgia mountains.

Career forestry videos from GFC.

People of Forestry – Discover Careers in the Forest is an outreach project of the Southern Group of State Foresters and the state forestry agencies representing 13 southern states. It is intended to help children across the South become interested in careers in forestry at an early age.

Helpful information about managing pine bark beetle infestations in an urban environment.

Overview information regarding pine bark beetles in the urban environment.

Awareness of the location of pine beetle infestations near them and research based information relative to the management options available is the best defense a homeowner can have.

Utilization and Marking Analysis:  Study of SYP Standing Volumes and Acreage

Containerized trees may come in many different sizes but and are usually available in 1,3,5,7 10 or 15 gallon-sized containers. Ideally, the size diameter of the container should be 8-10 inches for every inch of trunk diameter measured at 6” above the ground.

How to plant a containerized tree.

The GFC provides the service of plowing pre-suppression firebreaks to landowners.

A resource for all GFC personnel when conducting prescribed burn assistance for landowners and when conducting prescribed burning on GFC owned lands

Assistance with prescribed burning, including firebreak installation, burn plan development and assistance carrying out a burn

Overview of best practices for preparing a prescribed burn plan

Assistance with prescribed burning, including firebreak installation, burn plan development and assistance carrying out a burn.

Overview of a prescribed fire near Thomaston, GA conducted by members of an inter-agency burn team

Date: May 24-25, 2023

Time: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EDT

Location: Georgia Northwestern Technical Collete, Gordon County Campus, 1151 Highway 53 Spur, Calhoun, GA 30701

You must register for an account in order to register for this course.

Helpful resource for detailed information on prescribed burning

Discover products made from trees.

Nature is a great teacher! Try these activity ideas from Project Learning Tree to connect the children in your life to the outdoors and nature.

Project WINGS (Wildlife Incentives for Nongame and Game Species) is a rights-of-way management campaign designed to create new wildlife lands along gas and electrical transmission lines.

Mulch is organic material placed on the soil’s surface around trees and plants to enhance their growing conditions. Mulch helps maintain soil temperature and moisture, reduce water loss from soil, reduce weed competition, improve soil structure, and give landscapes a clean appearance. Often overlooked, spreading mulch around your trees is one of the easiest and most beneficial techniques that can have great impact on the health and vitality of your trees.

A consistent, comparable set of scientific results to be used as a foundation for wildfire mitigation and prevention planning in the Southern states

2011 study led by Dr. Rebecca Moore at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources quantifying the value of non-timber ecosystem services from Georgia’s private forests.

The SGSF Water Resources Committee developed this general guidance document to assist Environmental Protection Agency and other federal regulatory agency representatives in making field level distinctions between ongoing silviculture for bottomland hardwood and cypress swamps and other land uses that may have similar operational aspects.

Download guide for recommended conservation standards, tree care and maintenance practices, recommendations for utility corridors, tree Selection and planting standards, design standards for trees plus more.

Overview of efforts to reclaim and replenish areas impacted by Laurel Wilt Disease

A trailer containing tools which supplement and assist landowners in conducting safe prescribed burning is now available for rent through the Georgia Forestry Commission. The West Central Georgia Forest Landowners Association initiated the idea to provide local forestland managers with professional equipment needed to conduct safer and more efficient prescribed burns. The trailer and tools are also used at training events for private landowners.

This video provides helpful tips for safely burning debris.

These trees were genetically selected for their perfect “lollypop” shaped crown, but it is that shape that is responsible for a shortened life span. The limited life of these trees is a function of structural failure, not “natural causes.”

This document provides an example of basic formatting and verbiage to include in a Tree Ordinance.

Tree advocacy group.

Plant trees to lower utility bills, save energy, and add value to your property. A homeowner learns how in this Georgia Forestry Commission video.

This video provides insights into the value of planting trees.

SCFP Area Map by County

The Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) School of Agriculture and Natural Resources leads the South in advancing the agriculture field through hands-on experience and rigorous academic preparation. The school offers six baccalaureate programs.

Overview guidelines for successfully planting and caring for seedlings.

Seedling delivery schedule map

Form to order tree seedlings.

Selling timber is a relatively involved process even in the best of times, requiring patience and diligence so that
a good harvest and the best price can be achieved. Learn what to expect when selling.

Overview of the steps necessary for a successful timber sale.

A timber sale is a serious matter requiring careful preparation. Download guide for best practices on selling timber.

Georgia is an ideal place to live and work – offering a quality of life that is unmatched. We are business friendly, benefit from a temperate climate and boast world class recreational and cultural experiences. Key to this way of life is the state’s robust forest industry, which supports our economy, natural resources and recreational opportunities.

The Southern Group of State Foresters created an overview document about recommendations for actions with regard to Forest Certification.

Forest Certification Programs: Status and recommedations in the South

Application for the Shortleaf Pine & Oak Restoration in the Georgia Cumberlands Cost Share Project

Helpful information about “weeping water” from the trunk of a tree – usually a sign of a bacterial disease called Slime Flux or Bacterial Wetwood.

Georgia’s basic procedures and requirements for managing smoke from prescribed burns

Wildfire safety through educational programs in schools, civic club gatherings and other public events

For students to demonstrate their understanding of wildfire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles through original drawings of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl. 1st through 5th grade students

Visit the official Smokey Bear website for all types of resources on how to prevent wildfires, safe camp fires, and learn about the history of Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign.

A Smokey Bear wildfire prevention program is available for kindergarten to second grade students and public events that do not conflict with the national guidelines. Programs are available by appointment to groups of 100 or more. Get more information.

Mark items you find around your home or while traveling and try to get BINGO.

SAF challenges landowners, decision makers, and society at large to make choices about our forests based on professional knowledge, leading-edge thinking, and a century of practical experience.

Career Opportunities with The Society of American Foresters, which sets the standard in forest management by bringing science, best practice, and the best people together to actively shape the future of the profession.

Overview information regarding pine bark beetles.

Overview information regarding the southern pine beetle.

Comprehensive numbers covering 35 years of southern pine beetle infestations.

Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) is the most economically important forest pest in the southern United States, causing an estimated $1.5 billion in damage in recent years. Preferred hosts are shortleaf, loblolly, Virginia, and pitch pines. These county summary hazard maps help identify areas with potential for experiencing significant SPB activity.

Educational tool for learning about the southern pine beetle.

Overview information about the southern pine beetle.

Overview data and information for the southern pine beetle.

Forecasting map for the spread of southern pine beetle infestations.

A 2010 analysis of pulpwood production across the 13 Southern States.

A 2012 analysis of pulpwood production across the 13 Southern States.

Overview info and resource documents for the hemlock woolly adelgid, originally from Asia, which was first discovered in the eastern U.S. in the 1950’s. It has since spread throughout the range of hemlock in the East, and caused extensive mortality of mature hemlock – especially in the Appalachian Mountains.

Georgia’s Forest Stewardship Program utilizes the unprecedented cooperation of resource professionals from both the public and private sector with backgrounds in forestry, wildlife biology, soil science, and recreation management. Working together, they produce detailed and comprehensive management plans called Forest Stewardship Plans for landowners enrolled in the program.

Full Academic Longleaf Stem Quality Publication – This publication provides full data sets observed during the inventorying process, as well as some additional observations not covered in the landowner version.

Forestry BMP Requirements for Streamside Management Zones can be temporarily suspended for certain
catastrophic situations that have already or will threaten the forest canopy within an SMZ.

Storms cause varying degrees of damage to forests and damage can be highly variable across affected areas of the landscape. Landowner objectives for the forest will help determine what actions are needed to restore the health and productivity of the forest resource. View steps to take after any storm.

Right after a hurricane, communities and homeowners need to decide what to do with storm-damaged trees. Although damaged trees may seem to be dying, some trees can be restored, others will need to be removed, and still others will not require any special treatment and can be left alone.

Community Forest Storm Mitigation Plan for Georgia Communities Template

Community Forest Storm Mitigation Planning for Georgia Communities Workbook

The National Weather Service (NWS) determined an EF-4 tornado crossed Heard, Coweta, and Fayette Counties in the late hours of March 25, 2021 and into the early hours of March 26, 2021. The tornado touched down at approximately 11:37 PM EDT, west of Franklin, Georgia, ending at approximately 12:30 AM EDT just north of Peachtree City, Georgia

Report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on how to engineer urban forests for stormwater management.

Student Activity Instructions on planting a tree properly.

Overview of the causes, impacts and preparations for Sudden Oak Death

Map showing areas of Georgia experiencing Sudden Oak Death

The information below provides both quick answers to general questions about Sudden Oak Death, as well as more in-depth information.

The “Fire Knocker” is a self contained “slip-on” tanker unit.

Report details the condition of the state’s 24-million acres of forestland. It outlines the numerous economic, environmental, and social benefits of Georgia’s forests and details specific challenges to the resource that provided more than 147,000 jobs and generated nearly $36 billion in economic value to the state in 2017.

Georgia’s forests are being sustainably managed to meet the numerous needs of our state today. To ensure our forests will continue to meet the ever increasing demands of future generations, many challenges must be met. This initial report, submitted to the General Assembly on July 1, 2008, highlights the conditions of our forest resources, along with the challenges and opportunities being faced by Georgia’s forest managers and owners.

This is a collection of documents published by the Forest Service. It includes previous versions of the “Annual Tax Tips for Forest Landowners” as well as other publications related to the tax treatment of timber and timberland.

Premier forestry, natural resources, and environmental education workshop for educators in Georgia

Forests for the Bay: Keeping woodlands healthy.

The mission of the Longleaf Alliance is to ensure a sustainable future for the longleaf pine ecosystem through partnerships, landowner assistance and science-based education and outreach.

US National Arboretum

Intact forestlands provide numerous benefits. However, as these areas are fragmented and disappear, so do the irreplaceable benefits they provide. The donated conservation easement, then, is the most logical legal tool to secure long-term conservation in Georgia.

Currently, there are no reliable means for controlling Thousand Cankers Disease.

This list is made up of buyers/harvesters who have submitted information to GFC and is not meant as an endorsement of any individual or company. For a full list of Georgia Master Timber Harvesters (GAMTH), visit the GAMTH database. To be added to the timber buyers directory, contact Angela Kimberly at akimberly@gfc.state.ga.us.

The purpose of this website is to provide a state-wide timber harvest notification platform for the report of timber harvests to Georgia’s counties or municipalities.

On the evening of April 12 and the morning of April 13, 2020, Georgia was part of a severe weather event that extended across the Southeast. The National Weather Service confirmed that 30 tornadoes touched down across the state, ranging in levels from EF-0 to EF-3 and from 0.5 miles to approximately 17 miles long. These storms affected a number of landscapes across the state, including urban, suburban and rural areas.

Overview of enforceable laws for harvesting of timber and forest resources in the state of Georgia

More information about the Timber Tax Credit program from the Department of Revenue.

Timber and timberland market data, with analysis on current and historic trends and events.

In July of 1997, the state of Georgia came under a federal court order to develop Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) rates and implementation plans on water quality impaired stream segments. GFC was tasked with developing the forestry component for TMDL plans.

The Tree Benefit Calculator allows anyone to make a simple estimation of the benefits individual street-side trees provide.

The Tree Campus Higher Education® program helps colleges and universities around the country establish and sustain healthy community forests. Sign up!

The Tree Campus Higher Education® program helps colleges and universities around the country establish and sustain healthy community forests.

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus K-12® inspires collaboration between schools, students, and communities to facilitate experiences with trees as a learning tool.

Tree City USA is a great opportunity to celebrate the importance of an urban tree canopy and improve care of these vital city trees. Complete application.

To qualify as a Tree City USA community, you must meet four standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. View standards.

Celebrating communities all across America that are creating healthier and more abundant community forests.

Chart to help identify leaves found in the forest.

View benefits for Utility Companies joining the Tree Line USA Program.

The Tree Line USA® program exists to recognize best practices in public and private utility arboriculture, demonstrating how trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens.

The Tree Line USA® program exists to recognize best practices in public and private utility arboriculture, demonstrating how trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens. Join now!

This guide provides information ranging from how to form a working group to developing a draft tree ordinance.

Trees provide a host of benefits, but we have a responsibility to assess and minimize risks associated with the forest canopy.

When planting trees near our homes, we have to be aware of the serious and expensive consequences of tree roots growing under driveways and sidewalks.

During a storm, trees are at risk and can cause significant damage to infrastructure and personal property. A storm mitigation plan keeps citizens safe and protects valuable urban forest canopy in the event of a natural disaster.

Drought is a main contributing factor to shade tree decline. Extended drought can influence the health of shade trees by the loss of absorbing roots.

Tree advocacy group.

Tree advocacy group.

An analysis of southern pulpwood production during a span of more than 50 years.

Board Meeting note for Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

Explore employment opportunities through the U.S. Department of Labor.

Overview information for management of HWA invasive insects

Resource information for invasive insects from the U.S. Forest Service

County: Putnam County
Location: University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Rock Eagle property
Deadline: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 11:00 AM
Bid process and sale area contact: Ben Hammond, GFC, 706-612-3729

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Ecological Protection Lab (formerly the Beetle Lab) has led in regional efforts to protect the Eastern Hemlock from the invasive Wooly Adelgid by initiating biological control efforts through the rearing and release of predatory beetles to reduce adelgid numbers and impacts.

This video outlines the work of GFC’s Urban Forest Strike Team, which helps communities deal with the aftermath of severe storms.

The Urban Forest Sustainability & Management Review System is designed to provide a framework for comprehensively evaluating urban forest management programs. This review system (the checklist and the process) can be used for municipal or county urban forest management programs, or to evaluate college or corporate campus management programs

The Cooperative Forestry unit of the USDA Forest Service works closely with partners to enhance and maintain forests across watersheds and ecosystems, both on private and public land, for the benefits they provide to the American people.

Forest Service job opportunities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture

The Office of Environmental Markets (OEM) is a new office created within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to catalyze the development of markets for ecosystem services.

Please click on this link for more information.

VSmoke-Web is a web-based implementation of VSmoke (Lavdas, 1996) and is designed to assist with planning prescribed burns in the Southern United States.

Verra develops and manages standards that help countries, the private sector and civil society achieve their sustainable development and climate action goals.

Case Studies, Research Guides and Tools to help cultivate thriving urban forests that boost public health, safety, sustainability and economic growth.

Vibrant cities cultivate urban forests that support public health, safety, sustainability, and economic growth.

Warnell prepares leaders in the conservation and sustainable management of forests and other natural resources; to discover ways to restore and better use the earth’s natural resources; and to put into practice forestry and natural resources knowledge.

Human Resources filing document.

If you would like to see the current weather conditions within a 24 hour period for the Co-Op Area (Oakland Station – North Marion County), please click this link.

Homeowners often believe that trees in their landscape have economic value for use as lumber or other wood products. The main impediment to selling your landscape trees is the cost of their removal.

Homeowners often wonder about the value of their trees when removals appear necessary or when a tree has suffered damage at the hands of a contractor, neighbor, or storm.

Tree removal costs can vary widely depending upon a number of factors, many of which may be beyond control. There could be any number of scenarios requiring you to contract with a tree removal service, from storm damage to home remodeling. Requiring immediate service may drive up the cost, perhaps unnecessarily, if there are no structures involved or damage is minimal.

Roots on the surface of the soil can cause all kinds of problems, but not necessarily for the tree.

Helpful information about various forms of lichen.

Many people think removing a few of the tree’s encroaching roots will cause little long term harm and that large trees can easily recover from minor root loss, but that
is seldom the case.

Coloring sheet explaining what causes leaves to change color in the Fall.

As of May 31, 2017 the West Mims Fire had consumed 145,315 acres (113,170 acres of federally owned land and 32,145 acres on private and industrial property).

Tool to provide a consistent, comparable set of scientific results to be used as a foundation for wildfire mitigation and prevention planning

ICS Type 6/7 Engine – Tanks are constructed of 3/16” aluminum and are baffled to meet current NFPA specifications

Many homeowners believe that the trees in their landscape have significant economic value for use as lumber or other wood products. These trees, whether pine or hardwood, seem to occupy such a large space in the landscape that it’s difficult to imagine they can’t be used to build houses, furniture or put to some other valuable use. Landowners also hope that this value will help offset the cost of the tree’s removal, which can be very expensive.

The Young Harris College (YHC) Hemlock Proiect is a volunteer effort of community members and students to help raise Sasajiscymnus tsugae, a tiny ladybird beetle that is one of the few natural predators of the HWA. The organization works in conjunction with the Forest Service and GFC to decide where to release the adult beetles.