The AJC has an article today on the state of the Timber Industry in Georgia.
Georgia’s forestry industry
lost a third of its economic might in three years, falling from $30.5
billion in 2001 to $20.2 billion in 2003.
In many parts of Georgia, trees are now less valuable than the land on which they stand.
Researchers at the
University of Georgia and the U.S. Forest Service conservatively
predict that one-quarter of the state’s timberland will be converted to
subdivisions, shopping malls, office parks and roads in the next five
years.
That’s a total of 5.6 million acres — about 16 percent of the
state’s land and an area the size of New Jersey. Look for more
clear-cutting along the coast and I-85 through North Georgia, the
researchers say.
What does this mean? Where is this going to stop? I’m serious about this, pine trees are a big deal. I find the timber industry terribly interesting. I LOVE TREES (although, white pine trees are my favorite – they smell really good, especially after it rains, and most of the timber trees are long leaf, or Georgia Pines). I hate it when trees are cut down – unless they are replanted. We don’t need anymore walmarts.
the thin line between optimism and delusion... 
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