Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga., USA, is supporting a new documentary titled Secrets of the Longleaf Pine that began airing on local television stations October 21. The documentary explores the complex layers of life in the longleaf pine environment. Once blanketing the coastal plain of the Southeastern U.S., longleaf pine forests are among the most biologically diverse environments in the world.

The longleaf pine is also closely tied to the history of Georgia-Pacific, the company notes. In the 1960s, G-P revolutionized the plywood industry with a new process that allowed it to create quality plywood from Southern pine. Longleaf pine is one of several species included in the Southern pine category, so it played a critical role in the company's success in the latter half of the 20th century.

But longleaf pine trees provide much more than plywood and fiber for paper and paperboard. From lumber to paper, resins, and medicines, these trees have had many uses, virtually all of which have been important to the South’s livelihood. And people aren't the only ones benefiting from these forests. An abundance of plant and animal species live in longleaf forests. Secrets of the Longleaf Pine examines at-risk inhabitants such as gopher tortoises, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and indigo snakes.

A video trailer of the film is available online. 

Check online for local station air dates and times.

 

More information about the documentary is available online.