2.  Forestry is Georgia’s second largest industry. ◦ Forest products are the number one export for Georgia. ◦ Forestry employees at least 120,000 Georgians. ◦ Forestry industry economic output in 2010 was 23.6 billion dollars. ◦ Georgia collected 448 million dollars in tax income from land owners and private companies.  44 Georgia counties are ranked as either critically dependent, very dependent or moderately dependent on forest products for employment.  Forests They make Life Better Forests They make Life Better

3.  Of Georgia’s 36.8 million acres of land 66% is forested, the sixth largest percentage in the nation, double the national average. ◦ 24.28 million acres of trees.  Private individuals own 72% of the forest land in Georgia. ◦ Corporations 21% ◦ Government 7%  The Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions are where most of the trees are grown.

4.  Georgia residents and visitors spend more than 3 billion dollars on wildlife recreation each year. ◦ This includes hunting and fishing license fees, and the sale of outdoor equipment.  What is the Pittman-Robertson Act? ◦ It is a federal law passed in 1937 that placed an excise tax on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment and handguns. The income from this tax is apportioned to the states using a formula based on land area and number of hunters. The funds must be used for wildlife conservation. Georgia receives approximately $4 million annually from the tax.