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Forestry packs economic punch The forest industry in Georgia had a $27.7 billion dollar impact on the state in 2006. According to a report by the Georgia Institute of Technology, the figure represents the total effect of the industry on Georgia, including multiplier effects on the economy. Georgia's forest industry ranks second behind food processing and third behind textiles when considering compensation to employees and proprietors. "We are encouraged by the industry's continued improvement over the last three years," said Nathan McClure, Forest Energy and Development director for the Georgia Forestry Commission. "Excluding the multiplier effect, Georgia's forest industry had an output last year of $17.8 billion, directly employed almost 68,000 people, and paid $3.5 billion in compensation. "National Forest Products Week is an especially good time to recognize the opportunities for Georgia companies to add new products to the marketplace," said McClure. "These new products could make the future bright for forest products companies and forest landowners." McClure said he expects new biofuel production lines to spawn new investments in Georgia, followed by increased overall economic impact on the state in the coming decade. According to McClure, consumers are beginning to understand the environmental value of renewable, carbon-friendly biomass in a variety of uses. The 2006 Forestry Impact Report shows that the pulp and paper segment accounted for the largest portion of forestry's economic output (54 percent), followed by lumber and wood preservation (12 percent). The window and door segment recorded the greatest employment increase from 2005 (six percent), followed by the wooden furniture and cabinet segment (five percent.)
National Forest Products week, Oct. 21-27, is proclaimed each October to increase public awareness of the variety of forest products we enjoy and depend on. While traditional products such as lumber and paper are familiar commodities, emerging markets such as woody biomass, used to make ethanol and biodiesel, are gaining worldwide attention. "As additional markets develop for forest biomass and timber products," said McClure, "it encourages landowners to invest more in reforestation and forest management, and more forests provide more clean air and clean water for Georgia."
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