Improving the safety and quality of Georgia’s tree industry

Our mission is to improve the safety and quality of Georgia’s tree industry through professional licensing. We will work to pass legislation at the state level to enact professional licensing, This will ensure better outcomes for both workers and customers – while fostering new businesses and ensuring robust and fair competition.

Georgians for a Safer Tree Industry (GFASTI) exists for the purpose of enacting legislation that will benefit industry and consumer stakeholders, and therefore will engage in lobbying efforts. GFASTI serves industry, labor, and consumer interests.

The impetus behind GFASTI is the inherent danger of tree care work (e.g. falling timber, chainsaws, heavy equipment, aerial work in tight urban areas rich with people and buildings). A study funded by the Georgia Forestry Commission and executed by the Georgia Arborist Association found strong support for licensing (69% within the industry members surveyed). The study also found strong support for safety training and other indicators of professionalism. This paper prompted some members of the GAA to take action.

GFASTI’s Board incorporated the group in 2021 as a 501(c)6, thereby taking the first step in our effort to lead Georgia’s tree care industry. We will advocate for greater safety and higher quality, which will benefit all Georgians who work within the industry, purchase tree care services, or live within proximity to trees. To achieve this, we will reach out to our industry partners, their customers, and our workforce for support. We will build a coalition of concerned and dedicated tree people and set a standard for the industry. We believe this will save lives and help consumers enjoy a more predictable marketplace.