Southern Group of State Foresters

Wildfire risk is surging in #Oklahoma. The South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact is now active, with southern states sending crews & equipment to help protect communities & forests. Regional teamwork keeps the South safe. 🔥🌲 Learn more: ow.ly/SKob50YhQrK

Federal investments in forestry, led by state agencies, fuel vital programs for our forests, communities & landowners. SGSF works to ensure these funds make the biggest impact. Learn more: SouthernForests.org #Forestry #SouthernForests #Sustainability #ForestPolicy

February is #AmericanHeartMonth. ❤️🌲 Healthy American hearts need healthy American trees. #SouthernForests help clean the air we breathe, reduce heat, protect water quality & provide places to decompress & recharge. Learn more at HealthyTreesHealthyLives.org #HealthyTreesHealthyLives

Trees in our towns & neighborhoods are an economic asset for the South. In 2019, community forestry across the region generated $43.3B in economic output and supported more than 225,000 jobs. Healthy trees support strong local economies. #CommunityTrees #Jobs #EconomicImpact

New forest investments are a win for rural communities! To match timber resources, we need faster mill development. Learn more: ow.ly/9zrE50Y8zXF #AgPolicy #NaturalResources #RuralDevelopment #EconomicDevelopment #SupplyChains

It's National Burn Awareness Week! Wildland firefighters depend on training, PPE, and communication to reduce burnover risks. Protecting them is key! #BurnAwarenessWeek #FirefighterSafety #WildfireResponse

Southern forests are a national asset. Their future relies on smart partnerships. Learn more: southernforests.org/doingmoretoget…. #SustainableForestry #ForestEconomy #ActiveManagement

Today is World Wetlands Day! 🌍 Wetland forests in the U.S. South support clean water, wildlife, and resilience during storms. Learn more: SouthernForests.org. #WorldWetlandsDay #Wetlands #Forests

NEW 2025 Timber Tax Tips: ow.ly/I95H50Y3SKt New legislation reinstates key tax provisions for forest landowners. Check out the updated tips for managing options with landowners! #TimberTaxTips #TaxLegislation #ForestLandowners

@ForestryVA @VaForestryAssoc Congrats to Terry Lasher on becoming the ninth VA State Forester! A heartfelt thank you to Rob Farrell for his years of dedicated service as he enters retirement. We wish Terry much success in his new role! 🌲👏 #VirginiaForestry #SGSF @VDOF

Gov. Spanberger has appointed Terry Lasher as DOF's ninth State Forester. Lasher is no stranger to Virginia's forestry community, having previously served for more than two decades with DOF in various roles before joining the @VaForestryAssoc. Read more: ow.ly/J3vB50Y1RW0

Forested environments lower cortisol levels, reduce anxiety, and boost mood. Healthy forests = healthy people! Learn more at HealthyTreesHealthyLives.org! #HealthyTreesHealthyLives

Critical incidents change people. In the wildfire, line-of-duty deaths can overwhelm teams. Critical Incident Stress Management (#CISM) provides vital peer support to process trauma. Explore tools to support your workforce at: nifc.gov/resources/taki… #WildlandFire #PeerSupport

Did you know the South has more wildfires than any U.S. region? In 2022, it made up 56% of the national total. With 3 of the top 5 states with the most Wildland Urban Interface risks, these fires have the potential to devastate local communities. LEARN: SouthernForests.org.

The South is known for being a leader in the safe and strategic application of prescribed fire. Low-intensity burns reduce flammable vegetation, making wildfires easier to control. Learn more at GoodFires.org. #GoodFires #PrescribedFire #ForestManagement #WildfireRisk

Forested watersheds lower drinking water treatment costs by more than 60%. As forests decline, costs rise, impacting communities. Support forest landowners to keep our forests intact and reduce treatment expenses for communities! 🌲💧 #WaterQuality #ForestsMatter

The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program offers vital data on forest conditions, aiding policy and sustainable decision-making for investors, landowners and industry. Learn more at SouthernForests.org. #ForestPolicy #ForestManagement #NaturalResources

#DYK – The presence of trees in cities and towns can increase property values! Studies have shown that the presence of trees can increase the selling price of homes by as much as 15%.

Protecting drinking water includes supporting the landowners and policies that keep forests healthy and intact. Well-managed forests help deliver clean, reliable water for communities downstream. Learn More: ow.ly/Ma1w50XT8NU #keepingforests #southernforests #waterquality

🔥 #Wildfire potential is rising in the South from Jan to Mar. State forestry agencies are tracking trends and coordinating readiness. These outlooks reinforce a reality well known in the South: wildfire is a year-round consideration. Learn more SouthernForests.org/forestry/wildl….

🔥 January is #FirefighterCancerAwarenessMonth and we’re making a direct ask of wildland firefighters. Read why participation in the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer matters: ow.ly/JeSO50XQK9k @cdcgov @NIOSH #NationalFirefighterRegistry