A conservation initiative has secured the permanent protection of more than 10,000 acres of forestland and nearly 45 miles of waterways along the Georgia-Alabama border. The Stateline Forest project, which includes 8,384 acres in Georgia, aims to preserve the longleaf pine ecosystem and provide public access for outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing.
Senator Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas) emphasized the importance of the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act (GOSA) in making this project possible. “This project is exactly why Republicans led the effort to pass the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act and put it before voters in 2018,” said Sen. Anavitarte. “Georgians approved a conservative, no-new-tax funding model, which now allows us to protect critical conservation corridors, preserve public access to our lands and deliver lasting results.”
GOSA was established after being passed by the General Assembly and approved by voters as a constitutional amendment. It created the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP), which dedicates part of existing sales tax on outdoor gear for conservation purposes without increasing taxes or adding new fees. The program is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources through a competitive grant process.
In 2022, a $5.65 million GOSP grant was awarded to help acquire land within the Dugdown Mountain Corridor—an area considered one of Georgia’s top conservation priorities. This state funding was necessary to secure federal matching funds and ultimately helped leverage over $17 million from the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program.
“This is smart stewardship in action,” Anavitarte said. “Georgia Outdoor Stewardship funds didn’t just protect land, they unlocked federal dollars, stretched taxpayer resources further and ensured these lands will remain publicly accessible forever. This project proves that conservation and conservative principles can go hand in hand. I want to thank Congressman Brian Jack for his leadership and support in helping secure the federal resources that made this project possible. Thanks to GOSA, Georgia is creating a lasting legacy of protecting our forests, our wildlife and the outdoor traditions that matter to families across our state.”
The protected area connects Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area with Alabama’s Talladega National Forest, forming an uninterrupted corridor that supports wildlife habitats, safeguards water quality, and strengthens wildfire resilience near Atlanta’s expanding metropolitan region.
The newly acquired land in Georgia will be incorporated into Treat Mountain Wildlife Management Area and Tallapoosa River Wildlife Management Area, broadening recreational opportunities in Haralson and Polk counties. Long-term management will be handled by both the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Alabama Forestry Commission.
Further details about this project are available online.
