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Effects of Sea Level Rise on the Vulnerability of Wood-Consuming Mills in Coastal Georgia, United States

Author

Listed:
  • Hosne Ara Akter

    (School of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

  • Parag Kadam

    (Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

  • Puneet Dwivedi

    (Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

Abstract

This study assesses the potential impact of sea level rise (SLR) on wood-consuming mills in coastal Georgia, a major forestry state in the southern United States. To assess the vulnerability of wood-consuming mills in coastal Georgia, two potential wood procurement zones are defined: areas within 40 miles (64.4 km) and 64 miles (103 km) of the radius of each wood-consuming mill. The projected SLR scenarios of 2 ft (0.61 m) and 6 ft (1.83 m)—approximating intermediate and high-end conditions for coastal Georgia, respectively—are then overlaid onto the procurement zones of each mill to calculate the percentage of procurement area lost to the inundation. Our findings indicate that a 2 ft rise would have a minimal impact on wood supply for most wood-consuming mills. On the other hand, some facilities in Glynn and Liberty Counties could experience a substantial loss of up to 26% of their wood procurement area under a 6 ft sea level rise with a 40-mile wood procurement zone due to proximity to inundation. A larger procurement radius of 64 miles mitigates this impact, though spatial variability persists. Woody wetlands suffer the highest proportional losses across buffers and scenarios; upland forest types remain mostly intact under 2 ft SLR and display moderate loss under 6 ft. This study emphasizes the significance of accounting for spatially variable climate change impacts when planning for mill resilience. The results inform long-term sustainability strategies for wood-consuming mills in coastal regions of Georgia and beyond.

Suggested Citation

  • Hosne Ara Akter & Parag Kadam & Puneet Dwivedi, 2025. "Effects of Sea Level Rise on the Vulnerability of Wood-Consuming Mills in Coastal Georgia, United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8795-:d:1762168
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maricar Aguilos & Charlton Brown & Kevan Minick & Milan Fischer & Omoyemeh J. Ile & Deanna Hardesty & Maccoy Kerrigan & Asko Noormets & John King, 2021. "Millennial-Scale Carbon Storage in Natural Pine Forests of the North Carolina Lower Coastal Plain: Effects of Artificial Drainage in a Time of Rapid Sea Level Rise," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Matthew L. Kirwan & Keryn B. Gedan, 2019. "Sea-level driven land conversion and the formation of ghost forests," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(6), pages 450-457, June.
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