Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte Highlights Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act’s Role in Major Conservation Project

ATLANTA (December 22, 2025) - A major, multi-state conservation project protecting more than 10,000 acres of rare forestland and nearly 45 miles of waterways across the Georgia-Alabama border has been finalized, made possible in large part by Georgia's continued investment through the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act (GOSA), according to Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas).

The newly completed Stateline Forest project permanently conserves 10,345 acres, including 8,384 acres in Georgia. It safeguards one of the South's most endangered ecosystems, the longleaf pine forest, while guaranteeing permanent public access for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.

"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."

Passed by the General Assembly and approved by voters as a constitutional amendment, GOSA created the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP), the state's first dedicated funding source for conservation and outdoor recreation. The program dedicates a portion of existing sales tax on outdoor gear, without raising taxes or creating new fees, and is administered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources through a competitive grant process.

In the 2022 Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program grant cycle, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division received a $5.65 million GOSP grant to help acquire land within the Dugdown Mountain Corridor, one of Georgia's highest-priority conservation areas. Those state dollars were required to secure a federal match and proved critical in leveraging more than $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 conserved property connects the Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area with Alabama's Talladega National Forest, creating a continuous forested corridor that supports wildlife habitat, protects water quality and enhances wildfire resilience near the rapidly developing Atlanta region.

The Georgia portion of the acquisition will be added to the Treat Mountain Wildlife Management Area and the Tallapoosa River Wildlife Management Area, expanding public recreation opportunities in Haralson and Polk counties. The land will be permanently owned and managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Alabama Forestry Commission, ensuring long-term stewardship and public benefit.

You can find more information about this project here.

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Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Senate Majority Leader. He represents the 31^st Senate District, which includes Polk County and a portion of Paulding County. He may be reached via email at [email protected].For all media inquiries, please reach out to [email protected].