Geauga County's Forest-Based Economy: A Look at Its Key Components and Significance
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Geauga County, Ohio, is renowned for its rich forest resources and rural character. The forest and agriculture industries play a significant role in the local economy, contributing through timber harvesting, wood products manufacturing, and job opportunities.
In 2010, the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector in Geauga County generated an output of $55,870,502. The employment in this sector stood at 808, with 46 individuals working in the forestry and logging sector alone. The value-added in this sector was $20,776,609, and the labor income generated was $18,000,269.
The non-timber forest products production sector, which includes maple syrup production, employed 22 individuals in 2010, with an output of $3,596,374 and labor income of $1,349,834. The value-added in this sector was $1,136,563.
Geauga County's forests contain 861 million board feet of sawtimber, with the top five species making up 50.9% of the total volume. A substantial portion of the county's forestland is privately owned, making up 89.4% of its total forestland.
The economic impact of Geauga County's timber and non-timber forest industries extends beyond direct employment and output. However, specific values for the direct tax impact and the economic impact on ancillary businesses were not provided in the available data.
For more detailed information about Geauga County's forest resources and industries, consult the Ohio State University's School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio Division of Forestry, Geauga County Soil and Water Conservation District, Ohio Society of American Foresters, Ohio Forestry Association Master Logging Company Program, Call Before You Cut, and various websites provided by these organisations.
The School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University can also provide more information regarding the IMPLAN model and economic impact analyses for Geauga County. The IMPLAN model was used to analyse Geauga County's economy, with 440 sectors aggregated into 12 industries by each sector's 2-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code number.
- To maintain the fertility of the soil for sustainable agriculture in Geauga County, it is crucial to implement conservation practices alongside forest management.
- The forestry and logging sector, in addition to agriculture, attracts financial investments in Geauga County's rural economy, contributing to the county's overall output and employment.
- A comprehensive understanding of the economic impact of Geauga County's forest industries requires an analysis of both direct employment, output, and ancillary businesses, including industries related to finance.
