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Georgia’s forests provide $37 billion annually in ecological benefits to the state, according to a recent study conducted by University of Georgia researchers.

Rebecca Moore, an assistant professor in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, conducted the three-year study on the 22 million acres of privately owned forestland in Georgia to discern the economic value in an entirely new way. In previous studies, only the value of timber, forest products and recreation were considered, which are direct economic impacts. She states that the two are entirely different.

In studying the indirect benefits of the forests, Moore said, “People value these things —water filtration, carbon storage, wildlife habitat and aesthetics— but because they aren’t like other goods in that people don’t go out and buy them, it’s difficult to estimate just how much we value them. The purpose of our research was to do just that— estimate the value of the ecosystem services provided by private forests in Georgia.”  Moore and her colleagues presented their findings Wednesday, Georgia Forestry Day, to Gov. Nathan Deal and representatives from the General Assembly in Atlanta.

Georgia Forestry Commission representatives participated in the presentation, including Chairman Wesley Langdale, also president of the Langdale Company in Valdosta. Langdale said the Georgia Forestry Foundation commissioned the study.

“Oregon has more forest land in acres, but no other state in the country has more privately owned forest land than Georgia,” Langdale said, attributing this to the good markets for wood in the South, plus the initiative the state has taken to ensure that forests are protected and appreciated.

“Georgia has great relations with sister agencies, like the U.S. Forest Service, and they help supplement the state’s research. They’ve encouraged land owners to plant trees on land that isn’t suitable for farming for years, and they’ve invested in the knowledge that allows us to grow better trees with less disease.”

According to Langdale, this study is important for many reasons, but primarily it helps the public gain a better understanding of how important forestry is to Georgia, not just economically but environmentally as well.

“We’ve always known that trees clean our air and our water, but we’ve never really had any hard data to say how much this has contributed. We know that the forests have to be in place to recharge the aquifer, but how much per acre that contributes to society is something we don’t understand.”

Langdale said the report helps shed light on the contributions of forest management to the state’s health and what impact losing forests may have on the future.

“Look at what’s happening to our population here in Georgia, with all the new development. If you lose your forest land, what is it worth and what are the costs to everyone? Hopefully this study will help citizens understand how important it is to keep our land in working forests. If you harvest a tree, plant another.”

According to Moore’s report, the magnitude of the economic impact is an indication of how important the forest industry is to the state’s economy in terms of revenue and job creation.

“So while we can’t simply add the impact of forest recreation and the forest industry to our estimate of the indirect use and non-use values of Georgia’s forests, when viewed together, this body of research provides an overall view of the importance of forest land to the people of Georgia.”

To view the full report, go to www.warnell.uga.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Final-Report-1-24-11.pdf.