Georgia Department of Natural Resources

What Georgia Department of Natural Resources does

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a state government agency operating under the authority of the State of Georgia to manage and conserve the state's natural, historic, and cultural resources. The agency is structured around five operating divisions: Coastal Resources Division (managing marshes, beaches, and marine fisheries), Environmental Protection Division (air, land, and water quality regulation), Law Enforcement Division (wildlife protection and boating enforcement), Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division (managing 63+ state parks and historic sites), and Wildlife Resources Division (regulating hunting, fishing, and wildlife management). DNR oversees a substantial operational footprint including over one million acres of Wildlife Management Areas, 500,000 acres of lakes, 12,000 miles of warm water streams, 4,000 miles of trout streams, 105 miles of coastline, 151 boat ramps, and accommodation inventory of 374 cottages, 414 lodge rooms, and 2,486+ campsites.

DNR is governed by a 19-member Board of Natural Resources appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Georgia Senate, with Walter Rabon serving as the seventh Commissioner since August 2023. The agency employs approximately 1,900–2,500 associates working across offices in Atlanta (headquarters plus EPD), Social Circle, Brunswick, and Stockbridge. End-user reach spans 11+ million annual park visitors, 630,000 hunters (9.9 million field days annually), and 1.29 million resident anglers. Revenue is primarily sourced from state legislative appropriations supplemented by user fees from hunting/fishing licenses, boat registration, environmental permits, park accommodations, and donations to the affiliated Georgia Natural Resources Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2010.

Distribution and service delivery occurs through six division-specific websites (gadnr.org, georgiawildlife.com, coastalgadnr.org, gastateparks.org, gadnrle.org, epd.georgia.gov), the GoOutdoorsGeorgia e-commerce licensing platform, the ReserveAmerica-powered state park reservation system, the interactive Georgia Outdoor Map, physical offices, and toll-free phone lines. Marketing channels include organic social (Facebook), email newsletters via GovDelivery, regular press releases, the DNR Career Academy for high school students, and a portfolio of educational programs including hunter/boater education and Project WILD. Strategic inter-agency partnerships span the Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Department of Transportation, Jekyll Island Authority, Stone Mountain Memorial Association, Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority, and academic partners including UGA Warnell School.

Name

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Legal name

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Website

https://gadnr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is a state government agency that manages and conserves Georgia's natural, historic, and cultural resources through five divisions, serving 11+ million annual park visitors, 630,000 hunters, and 1.29 million resident anglers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Resource Management and Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (114)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF), Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

Keywords

• Natural resource management
• Wildlife conservation services
• State parks recreation
• Environmental protection services
• Hunting fishing licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. License and Permit Fees: Revenue from hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, boat registration and titles, and various environmental permits and permits for coastal activities such as dock permits, shore protection permits, and Coastal Marshlands Protection Act permits.
2. Park Accommodations: Revenue from state park lodging including cottages, lodge rooms, campsites, yurts, and facility rentals for events and group gatherings.
3. State Funding and Appropriations: Primary funding through Georgia state government appropriations and budget allocations for natural resource management and conservation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Georgia Department of Natural Resources is the state agency that conserves and manages Georgia's natural, historic, and cultural resources through five divisions: Wildlife Resources (hunting/fishing licenses and boat registration), Coastal Resources (marshes, beaches, and marine fishery management and permitting), Environmental Protection (air, land, and water regulatory permitting), Law Enforcement (wildlife and boating law enforcement), and Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites (managing 63 state parks and historic sites with lodging, camping, and recreation). It sells licenses, permits, park accommodations, and educational programs to Georgia residents and visitors, and operates over one million acres of public lands and waters.

Product overview

Georgia Department of Natural Resources operates as a state government agency with five operating divisions offering distinct services. The department provides a unified platform of natural resource management through its Coastal Resources Division (managing marshes, beaches, and marine fisheries), Environmental Protection Division (air, land, and water protection), Law Enforcement Division (wildlife and resource protection), Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division (managing 63 state parks and historic sites), and Wildlife Resources Division (regulating hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation). Online services include license purchasing, campsite reservations, and interactive mapping tools. The department also operates educational programs including the DNR Career Academy for youth and various public education initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Licenses State-issued licenses and permits required to legally hunt, fish, and trap in Georgia, available online through GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com and via phone. Includes annual, short-term, and specialty licenses for residents and non-residents, with a hard-card option featuring four design choices.
• Boat Registration and Titling Registration and titling services for watercraft operating in Georgia, available online through GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com and via toll-free phone (1-800-366-2661). Required for legal operation of boats on Georgia waters, with annual fees.
• State Park Accommodations and Reservations Overnight accommodations at Georgia's 63 state parks and historic sites, including 374 cottages, 414 lodge rooms, 2,486+ campsites, yurts, picnic shelters, and event facilities, bookable online through the ReserveAmerica-powered gastateparks.reserveamerica.com reservation system and by phone (1-800-864-7275).
• Annual Park Pass Annual pass providing entry to Georgia state parks and historic sites, available to residents and non-residents.
• Environmental Permits (EPD) Regulatory permits issued by the Environmental Protection Division under state statutes and major parts of five federal environmental statutes, covering air quality, water quality, hazardous waste, water supply, solid waste, surface mining, and underground storage tanks, for businesses and industrial entities operating in Georgia.
• Coastal Permits (CRD) Permits administered under the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act and Shore Protection Act, including dock permits and shore protection permits, plus monitoring of coastal water quality and management of shellfish harvest areas and artificial reefs.
• Hunter and Boater Education Programs Safety and regulatory education programs delivered by the Law Enforcement Division, including hunter education, boater education, kids fishing events, interpretive programs, Project WILD, and Adopt-A-Stream workshops.
• DNR Career Academy Week-long summer camp for rising junior and senior high school students exploring careers in natural resources management, featuring hands-on training from DNR employees across wildlife management, fisheries, law enforcement, and state parks. Curriculum aligned with the FWMT 1000 Intro to Wildlife Management course for dual enrollment credit at Georgia Technical Colleges.
• Boating Access Facilities 151 boat ramps and associated fishing piers and artificial reefs across Georgia, providing public access for recreational boating and fishing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 11 million annual visitors to state parks and historic sites
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Georgia Natural Resources FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010A 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 2010 that supports the preservation of Georgia's natural and cultural resources through projects, activities, and programs of the Georgia DNR. The foundation relies on donations and partnerships with individuals, corporations, and other foundations.
• Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund Board of TrusteescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner11-member board responsible for accepting applications and evaluating and approving proposals for the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program, which funds land conservation and outdoor recreation projects.
• Georgia Forestry CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency responsible for forest management, forest protection, and wildland fire management across Georgia. The GFC Director serves on the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Board of Trustees.
• Georgia Department of TransportationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState transportation agency. The GDOT Commissioner serves on the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Board of Trustees.
• UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Georgia academic unit. The DNR Commissioner serves on the Dean's Advisory Board.
• Georgia Technical CollegesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical colleges in Georgia offering Fish and Wildlife, Forestry and Conservation Law Enforcement programs. DNR Career Academy curriculum aligned with Intro to Wildlife Management course (FWMT 1000) for dual enrollment credit.
• Sapelo Island Heritage AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthority established to preserve the cultural and historic values of the Hog Hammock community of Sapelo Island. DNR has authority to enter into agreements for lot use on Sapelo Island.
• Jekyll Island AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState authority managing Jekyll Island. The DNR Commissioner serves on the Jekyll Island Authority board.
• Lake Lanier Islands Development AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState authority managing Lake Lanier Islands. Pursuant to an Army Corps of Engineers lease, DNR is the 'landlord' for this authority. The DNR Commissioner serves on the governing board.
• Stone Mountain Memorial AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState authority managing Stone Mountain Park. The DNR Commissioner serves on the governing board.
• Atlantic States Marine Fisheries CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional fisheries management organization. The DNR Commissioner serves as Georgia's representative.
• South Atlantic Fishery Management CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional fishery management council. CRD staff represent Georgia on this council.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Georgia Forestry Commission: Separate Georgia state agency managing forest resources, forest protection, and wildland fire. Adjacent/ecosystem partner to DNR, with cross-representation on the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Board; not a competitor but a closely coordinated peer.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Federal agency managing national wildlife refuges, endangered species, and federal hunting/fishing programs. Overlaps with Georgia DNR in wildlife management, endangered species, and federal grant administration (e.g., Pittman-Robertson funds).
• U.S. National Park Service: Federal agency operating national parks and historic sites. Provides broader-scale comparison for Georgia DNR's State Parks and Historic Sites Division, particularly on visitor management, lodging operations, and interpretive programs.

Direct peers

• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: North Carolina's state wildlife agency regulating hunting, fishing, and boating, managing game lands and public fishing areas. Directly comparable Wildlife Resources Division equivalent, including inland fisheries and hunter education programs.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Texas state agency operating state parks, wildlife management, and inland/coastal fisheries. Comparable in scale, multi-division structure, and statutory authority over outdoor recreation and conservation; a benchmark for large southern state DNRs.
• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: Adjacent Southeast state DNR with very similar portfolio: wildlife management, marine fisheries, state parks, and environmental coordination. Direct peer for benchmarking license systems, WMA acreage, and coastal management programs.
• Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Alabama's state-level conservation agency managing Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, State Parks, Marine Resources, and State Lands. Comparable structure, scale, and Southeast outdoor recreation focus.
• Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: Tennessee's state wildlife agency handling hunting/fishing licensing, Wildlife Management Areas, and boating. Very comparable to Georgia's Wildlife Resources Division in programmatic mix and Southeast demographics.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Florida's state-level natural resources agency managing wildlife, freshwater and marine fisheries, hunting/fishing licensing, and law enforcement. Highly comparable structure to Georgia DNR's Wildlife Resources and Law Enforcement Divisions, with overlapping responsibilities in coastal fisheries management.

Emerging players

• The Nature Conservancy (Georgia Chapter): Major nonprofit land conservator active across Georgia, often partnering with DNR on land acquisition and stewardship. Comparable mission and overlap on protected-area management, though operating through private philanthropy rather than state authority.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gadnr
• Xx.com/GeorgiaWild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Georgia Department of Natural Resources