A need exists to understand the financial viability of solar power generation in Georgia and its potential for deforestation. Additionally, market-based avenues for improving water quality should be considered, such as forest certification programs focusing on forestry best management practices. An economic and environmental comparison of South Georgia loblolly pine and solar power generation of similar acreage was completed. Solar power was identified as more profitable at a larger scale (1 MW), indicating that there exists a potential for small-acreage landowners to convert their forestlands into solar farms. Following, a multi-watershed exploration of the impact of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s Fiber Sourcing Standard (SFI-FSS) on water quality (through suspended sediment concentration, SSC) in Georgia was performed. Based on developed regression-based models, a positive relationship was identified between SFI-FSS wood basket cover and water quality, indicating an increase in SSC and discharge occurs with an increase in SFI-FSS certified wood baskets.
