A new fundraising effort could speed up restoring land in southeast Georgia devastated by last year’s wildfires.
The Wildfire Relief Fund will raise money from private sources and distribute it to family farms and forest areas ravaged by the blazes of last spring and summer. The Fund has the backing of many state and local government leaders.
More than a half-million acres burned across 21 counties, most in southeast Georgia. Within that, over 31-thousand acres of private forestland were charred, with only a small percentage of federal money helping those affected.
Several partners are already onboard for the effort, including the Georgia Forestry Commission and Department of Natural Resources. Monte Simpson, spokesman for the Fund, says the goal is to raise 7-million dollars to nurse the land back to health:
"The sooner we get the money, the sooner we can put it to work...identifying these landowners and working with them to help re-establish their lands".
Relief fund officials hope to begin processing applications, and start paying-out assistance, in time for the fall planting season.
The Wildfire Relief Fund will raise money from private sources and distribute it to family farms and forest areas ravaged by the blazes of last spring and summer. The Fund has the backing of many state and local government leaders.
More than a half-million acres burned across 21 counties, most in southeast Georgia. Within that, over 31-thousand acres of private forestland were charred, with only a small percentage of federal money helping those affected.
Several partners are already onboard for the effort, including the Georgia Forestry Commission and Department of Natural Resources. Monte Simpson, spokesman for the Fund, says the goal is to raise 7-million dollars to nurse the land back to health:
"The sooner we get the money, the sooner we can put it to work...identifying these landowners and working with them to help re-establish their lands".
Relief fund officials hope to begin processing applications, and start paying-out assistance, in time for the fall planting season.
