Several industries operate in georgia's coastal plain region. one of the biggest industries is the timber industry. georgia has 24.8
million acres of forest, and 24.4 million acres of this forest is available as timberland, which is more than any other state. timberland
is forest that can be harvested for commercial use. timber has a variety of uses, including in construction, furniture production, and in
the paper manufacturing process. loblolly and slash pine grow relatively quickly as commercial trees, and the longleaf pine is one of
the most valuable commercial pine woods in the world. since pine timberland forests need 25 years of growth before they can be
harvested, timberland farmers in georgia grow 38% more trees annually than they harvest. this allows them to be able to
continuously harvest the mature trees.
georgia's second largest manufacturing employer is the forest-related industry. forest-related industries provide over 108,000 jobs
each year in georgia. the pulp and paper production industry produces $20 billion in revenue every year in georgia. every acre of
pine timberland is worth an average of $97 per year, and soil that is not suitable for the development of farmland is often very
productive as timberland. since georgia's unemployment rate is 8.7% in the coastal plain region, compared to the average
unemployment rate of 10%, this industry is important for the livelihood of the people living in this region.
there are some concerns about protecting the natural resources in the coastal plains region, however. georgia's protected forest lands
are worth an estimated $37 billion annually to georgia by remaining undeveloped. the forests provide clean water, carbon storage,
wildlife habitats, and recreation sites for many people. furthermore, as the pulp and paper industry expands, the fishing industry
decreases due to pollution caused by paper mills. despite these concerns, it is clear that georgia's coastal plain region is critical to the
economy of the entire state.