Economy
Ad Valorem Taxation & Land Conservation
GFF believes in supporting the profitability of privately owned forest land by providing research and analysis to inform policy that recognizes the long-term investment nature of owning timberland.
Keeping Forests as Forests
GFF Funded Research Supports the Conservation of 4.7 Million Acres of Timberland
According to a study from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and commissioned by the Georgia Forestry Foundation, Georgia’s forestland property tax is among the highest in the South at an average of $6.65 per acre. The study also found that there is 4.7 million acres of “rural woodland” in Georgia, not enrolled in a conservation tax program such as CUVA or FLPA, which faced tremendous pressure with ad valorem tax rates up to $15.42 per acre on average.
This research informed the passage of legislation and ultimately a constitutional amendment in 2018 that established the Qualified Timberland Property (QTP) Program and adjusted the qualification requirements for FLPA. This created more opportunity to conserve at-scale the 4.7 million acres of working forests that are at greatest risk of conversion to other uses.
Support Our Efforts
We are continuing to identify solutions to improve the efficiency and productivity of the entire forestry supply chain. To learn more about how you can support our efforts, contact Development Coordinator Olivia Parrott or sign up to receive updates from us below.