Georgians Reached Through In-Person Events or Digital Content
2024 Impact Report
Maximizing working forests as a solution to our nation’s greatest challenges while reconnecting youth and adults to the land
+175,100
Connecting All Georgians to Working Forests
Educating Current and Future Generations.
Our working forests are not here by accident, and they do not take care of themselves. We are connecting youth and adults to the land and developing leaders to ensure the long-term sustainability of Georgia’s forests.
Live Exploration with Georgia Public Broadcasting
We reached 50,000+ kids, parents, and teachers through a Live Exploration of Georgia’s working forests! The interactive 30-minute episode was produced by Georgia Public Broadcasting and was aired online and on GPB-TV. The recorded show is accessible online with supplemental classroom resources at gpb.org/trees.
- Featured several GFF partners and GFA Members, representing the entire forestry supply chain
- Students were provided practical knowledge on a variety of topics, including: prescribed fire, timber harvesting, photosynthesis, carbon sequestration, water quality and quantity, wildlife habitat and more!
Key Partner
Working Forests Field Trips for Boys & Girls Clubs Field Trips
This year, we expanded our partnership with Boys & Girls Club trips across the state!
Building strong connections: These day trips to nature centers, tree farms, and teaching forests introduce kids to forest ecosystems, working forests, and careers in forestry.
- +600 Kids
- 12 Chapters
- 9 Counties
Next steps: Next year, our field trips will reach more than 800 kids ages 6-18 at Boys & Girls Clubs in Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Calhoun, Chatsworth, Dalton, Dublin, Macon, Moultrie, and Summerville
Farmcraft for Forestry – An E-Sports Challenge
Reached +5,000 children!
Georgia Farmcraft is a free educational program for students ages 8-18 that uses Minecraft to enhance the understanding of the challenges faced by agricultural producers and distributors in Georgia and around the world.
- How GFF is involved: For the first time, GFF was asked to participate in a FarmCraft forestry-themed “pre-season challenge,” a lesson provided to educators that can be integrated into curriculum throughout the year.
If you would like to learn more or register your school for FarmCraft pre-season challenges, go to gpb.org/Georgia-Farmcraft.
Key Partners
Earth Day 2024
Earth Day at Ponce City Market: Along with 7 partners, we met with +2000 people in the heart of Atlanta!
Atlanta Braves Green Game Celebration: Outside the third base gate, we engaged fans with Smokey Bear selfies, a forest products display, and plenty of GFF giveaways that highlighted Georgia as the #1 Forestry State in the Nation.
Partners
Expanding Environmental Benefits through Market Based Solutions
Working forests serve as Georgia’s greatest asset in providing clean drinking water, offsetting carbon emissions and sustaining habitat for wildlife and biodiversity. We are focused on identifying market-based solutions that empower forest landowners and managers to better manage their forests while increasing the sustainability and resilience of the state’s largest land use.
Forests & Water Forum
GFF hosted the Georgia Forests & Water Forum, bringing together water professionals, researchers, government agencies, and the forestry community to advance understanding of market-based solutions for forestry and water quality. The Forum provided a strong foundation through the Georgia Forests & Water Partnership to continue advancing market-based solutions for forest landowners in watersheds across the state.
- Big picture: Healthy, well-managed forests are directly correlated with safe and reliable drinking water with less water treatment, and less energy and chemicals used in the drinking water treatment process.
Coordination of the Georgia Forests & Water Partnership was supported by the Southeastern Partnership for Forests & Water which is made possible by the USDA Forest Service (USFS) and the US Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
Mass Timber Awareness and Utilization + Addressing Forestry’s Challenges
Georgia has one of the most productive wood baskets in the world, and forestry is an economic pillar for the state, providing essential jobs and vital support for rural and urban communities alike. The Georgia Forestry Foundation is ensuring the productivity and competitiveness of the entire forestry supply chain so that we continue to enjoy the economic and environmental benefits that forests provide to all Georgians.
Accelerating Markets for Mass Timber
We are driving mass timber forward with the Georgia Mass Timber Accelerator. Through the Accelerator, we are awarding three construction projects $25,000 each, along with engineering support from WoodWorks. Learn more about this initiative at seedlingstosolutions.org.
Key Partners
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Researching Forestry’s Challenges
We are invested in forestry research that will benefit the awareness of the working forestry’s benefits and that will strengthen GFA’s legislative case for increased truck weights at the Capitol.
- Cost of Ecosystem Services
- Truck Weights Safety Research & Community Analysis
Key Partner
Thank You to Our 2024 Forest Champions!
