The Longleaf Leader - Fall 2021 by The Longleaf Alliance

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Partnerships VOLUME XIV - ISSUE 3

FALL 2021

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

20 48

P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E .....................................2

R E G I O N A L U P D A T E S .........................................24

Management Checklist............................................4 Letters from the Inbox............................................5 Plant Spotlight.........................................................7 Window into Wildlife .............................................8 GCPEP - 25 Years of Collaboration......................10

Partnership Spotlight............................................30

N E X T G E N E R A T I O N ............................................34 A R T S & L I T E R A T U R E ........................................36 Longleaf Destinations ...........................................40

P E O P L E .................................................................44 S U P P O R T T H E A L L I A N C E ................................46

R E S E A R C H N O T E S .............................................16 L A N D O W N E R C O R N E R .......................................20

Heartpine...............................................................48

P U B L I S H E R The Longleaf Alliance, E D I T O R Sarah Crate, A S S I S T A N T E D I T O R Margaret Platt, D E S I G N Bellhouse Publishing, A D V E R T I S I N G Sarah Crate – editor@longleafalliance.org C O V E R Longleaf pine flatwoods at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Photo by Vernon Compton. The Longleaf Leader is an official publication of The Longleaf Alliance, 12130 Dixon Center Road, Andalusia, Alabama 36420 and is published quarterly. The Longleaf Alliance reserves the exclusive right to accept or reject advertising or editorial material submitted for publication. Advertising rates quoted upon request. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Longleaf Alliance, 12130 Dixon Center Road, Andalusia, Alabama 36420. Periodicals Postage Paid at Montgomery, Alabama.

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The Longleaf Alliance

president’s message CELEBRATING PARTNERSHIPS

ithin the longleaf community, we understand the importance of partnerships. Our progress toward longleaf restoration over the past few decades has been possible because of the collective efforts of partners focused on bringing back this significant ecosystem across its range. Early on, we recognized the value of working together across disciplines instead of toiling away within separate silos to work through initial issues with longleaf plantings, provide technical assistance and outreach to interested landowners, and develop programs that would increase the acreage of longleaf across the landscape. These original collaborations led to the formation of the America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative (ALRI) in 2009, and subsequently, the Longleaf Partnership Council (LPC) and the range-wide Conservation Plan – creating a successful working partnership modeled by other initiatives such as the Shortleaf Pine Initiative and the emerging South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative. The Longleaf Alliance (TLA) has been an active member of the Council since its inception. We are currently engaged with partners to refine priority strategies and actions of the Initiative as we approach the 2025 goal of 8 million acres of longleaf pine across the Southeast. This is an ambitious goal, and we know that we still have a great deal of work to do before we get to that point. Still, we are energized around the partners’ continued commitment to this effort and the evolving possibilities for longleaf restoration. The resilience of longleaf pine forests and the long-term benefits of their restoration and conservation will hold special significance within the framework of a changing climate in years to come. Local Implementation Teams (LITs) are essential to the overall success of ALRI. Located in Significant Geographic Areas across the range, the teams consist of the “boots on the ground” partners that make the restoration, management, and

CAROL DENHOF conservation work happen. The 18 LITs are strategically positioned across the longleaf range and are core to achieving ALRI’s shared restoration goals. The Alliance is proud to coordinate three of these LITs – Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP) in the Florida Panhandle and South Alabama, Fort Stewart/Altamaha Longleaf Restoration Partnership in southeast Georgia, and the South Lowcountry— ACE Basin (SoLoACE) Longleaf Partnership in South Carolina—as well as Ryan Bollinger serving on our staff as LIT Consul. They are all doing great work to advance longleaf restoration. This year, we are so excited to celebrate the 25th Anniversary milestone of GCPEP and the significant accomplishments this team has brought over the years to this landscape. This longleaf partnership is the earliest to be formed and is a shining example of how working partnerships should function. In this issue’s feature article, you will learn about the history of GCPEP’s formation and the initial objectives of the Partnership. We thank The Nature Conservancy for leading the effort to formally bring those original partners together to make collaborative impacts in that region. The Alliance was thrilled to become the supporting organization for GCPEP in 2010 with the transition of Director Vernon Compton to the TLA team. The Ecosystem Support Team (EST) moved over in 2012 and allowed us to expand our role in longleaf efforts by becoming directly involved in on-the-ground restoration and management. The GCPEP staff has grown over the years and has provided tremendous benefit to partners through direct assistance on all aspects of longleaf ecosystem restoration. For prescribed fire alone, the EST has assisted in implementing 1,083 fires on 840,227 acres since 2004. Kudos to the GCPEP Partners and Staff for the work you have collaboratively accomplished over the past 25 years. Happy Anniversary!

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The Longleaf Alliance Board of Directors Reese Thompson – Chairman Amanda Haralson – Vice Chairman Rufus Duncan – Secretary/Treasurer Marc Walley – Past Chairman

Lynda Guerry Beam Craig Blair Patrick Franklin Angus Lafaye Ken Nichols Bill Owen Mickey Parker

Josh Raglin Mac Rhodes Salem Saloom Latimore Smith George Tyson

The Longleaf Alliance's mission is to ensure a sustainable future for longleaf pine ecosystems.

Staff Carol Denhof

Charlie Abeles

Alexis Feysa

Brian Schumann

President carol@longleafalliance.org

Wildlife Biologist charlie@longleafalliance.org

Wetland Resource Technician alexis@longleafalliance.org

Natural Resource Technician II brian@longleafalliance.org

Lynnsey Basala

Jacob Barrett

Susan French

Elizabeth Shadle

Vice President for Development lynnsey@longleafalliance.org

Technical Assistance & Training Specialist jacob@longleafalliance.org

GA Sentinel Landscape Coordinator susan@longleafalliance.org

Wildlife Technician elizabeth@longleafalliance.org

Lucas Furman

Kaiden Spurlock

GIS Support Specialist lucas@longleafalliance.org

Natural Resource Supervisor kaiden@longleafalliance.org

Jennie Haskell

Miles Threadgill

Coastal Partnership Coordinator jennie@longleafalliance.org

Wetland Resource Technician miles@longleafalliance.org

Kay Nail

Donna Vassallo

Camille Broxson

Accounting Specialist kay@longleafalliance.org

Natural Resource Technician II donna@longleafalliance.org

Wetland Resource Technician camille@longleafalliance.org

Edward O’Daniels

Casey White

Sarah Crate

Restoration Project Manager edward@longleafalliance.org

Administrative Assistant office@longleafalliance.org

Alan Patterson

Bob Wilken

Natural Resource Technician I alan@longleafalliance.org

Fire Specialist bob@longleafalliance.org

Ad Platt Vice President for Operations ad@longleafalliance.org

Nicole Barys Wetland Resource Crew Lead nicole@longleafalliance.org

Anne Rilling Vice President for Business anne@longleafalliance.org

Ryan Bollinger Regional Initiatives Director & LIT Consul ryan_b@longleafalliance.org

Karen Zilliox Brown Technical Assistance & Training Specialist karen@longleafalliance.org

Vernon Compton GCPEP Director vernon@longleafalliance.org

Lisa Lord

Outreach Communications Coordinator sarah@longleafalliance.org

Conservation Programs Director lisa@longleafalliance.org

Samantha Dillon Wildlife Technician samantha@longleafalliance.org

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MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST | FALL 2021 • Apply fall site preparation herbicides: For maximum efficacy, foliar active herbicides such as glyphosate (Roundup®/Accord®) should be applied to pasture grasses before the first frost; while triclopyr (Garlon®) may be delayed until after the first frost for targeting waxy leaf competitors while minimizing impact to herbaceous groundcover.

• Plant longleaf: It is never too early to plant longleaf if the following conditions are met: the site is prepared, there is adequate soil moisture, seedlings are available, and a planting crew is available. • Order native seed for groundcover restoration: Seed from local ecotypes and endemic species is limited and expensive. Although some landowners and land managers have the time and expertise to collect their own, the most restoration will occur with seed purchases from the few seed companies that sell southeastern sourced seed.

• Allow time for soil active herbicides to break down before planting longleaf, especially when using imazapyr (Arsenal®/Chopper®) or Metsulfuron-methyl, (Escort®/Patriot®). The waiting period will vary based upon the rate applied, date applied, rainfall since application, and soil type.

• Thin longleaf stands: Drier conditions typical of the fall season favor pine thinning operations.

• Apply mechanical site preparation treatments: Scalp agricultural sites; remember to stay strictly on the contour and pick the scalper up regularly. Leaving water bars in the furrow will significantly reduce erosion. Subsoil or rip sites with hardpans, but remember, do not plant seedlings directly into the subsoiled/ripped furrow. Plant just beside the rip, and the taproot will find it.

• Before the first frost, make your fall herbicide application treatments to all invasives on your property, especially cogongrass or climbing fern. Recommended prescription is 2% glyphosate with surfactant, with thorough coverage, but avoiding any contact with green needles of longleaf (or other desirable plants).

• Clean up or establish fire lanes for site prep or fuel reduction burns.

• Consider wildlife: Avoid disturbance around intermittent wetlands as some amphibians, especially salamanders, move to seasonal breeding ponds when heavy rains occur. Use caution with any mechanical operations around gopher tortoise burrows, as any newly hatched tortoises will be nearby and shallow.

• Harvest native herbaceous seeds: Certain species, such as the Indiangrasses, ripen and fall in a very short time window (as little as 1 or 2 weeks). Wiregrass can lose all of its ripe seed if a cold front blows through. Be watchful and move quickly!

Reach out to The Longleaf Alliance with any questions you may have pertaining to establishing and managing longleaf stands at longleafalliance.org/contact. Longleaf forest on Blackwater River State Forest. Photo by Vernon Compton.

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FROM THE INBOX

Q&A Q.

Dear Longleaf Alliance, We want to begin harvesting pine straw on our 30 acres of young longleaf to generate some income to fund other management on our land. The stand will probably need some clean-up before we can get a contractor interested. Is fire a tool that can help us here? What tips do you have for us in using fire in combination with pine straw harvesting?

treatments on individual undesired hardwoods instead of broadcast treatments to all your acreage, which can enable you to retain and even improve native groundcover and wildlife habitats over time, while saving money. It’s more common to see an intensive approach to pine straw production, which can be much like farming straw. This approach works best on old ag field sites, as intensive management often results in only pine straw and pine trees, with all other diversity removed. In this approach, gross receipts may be higher, but the herbicide, clean-up, and additional costs are higher, too. Be aware of the negative impacts of intensive harvesting on forest health. The same benefits pine straw provides as a landscaping mulch apply to the forest floor. Removing pine needles reduces soil moisture and nutrients available from litter decomposition. Raking also increases soil compaction, thus reducing rainfall infiltration and increasing runoff from the soil. How does that compare for you at the end of the day? For some landowners, a lower impact approach that brings in good income, incorporates prescribed fire, minimizes the stress to the trees, and offers the many other benefits of a healthy forest may help them optimize multiple objectives. Here are considerations as you make your harvesting plan and seek out a contractor. First, ask about nearby examples of their work. Discuss raking and bailing techniques – hand raking and bailing are more laborintensive but may leave a smaller footprint on your stand. In your contract, specify bale size and weight and payment method by the bale or by the acre. When cleaning up a stand for harvesting, do not allow workers to toss the cones and branches against the base of trees you want to keep. (When the fire comes, trees in “piles” can be lost due to intense heat.) Also, please do not allow your straw contractor to burn other trash, bags, or debris on your property, though you might want to help them out. Better to plainly state your expectations: “Don’t leave anything behind that was not here when you began.” All responsible pine straw producers go to great lengths to eliminate invasive species often spread in pine straw. Where such problems exist, the good land steward will exclude the affected area from collection until treatments have successfully eliminated the invasive species infestation. One last request – stick to your forest management timeline for thinning in pine straw stands. Trees that are too crowded cannot get enough resources, and ultimately health and vigor decrease (and susceptibility to pests increases, too).

Straw Rich, but Cash Poor in Georgia Georgia, A. DearThere are numerous benefits to prescribed fire in young longleaf stands, including for pine straw production. We are thrilled to hear you’re planning on putting the pine straw receipts back into other management activities; this could even provide more prescribed fire opportunities on your property. There are different methods of harvesting straw, and all are potentially lucrative. They can range from low impact to highly intensive and mechanized. Consumers desire bales free of cones, hardwood leaves, and limbs, but the strategies that get you there should be informed by your situation, objectives for your property, and local pine straw market. As the most cost-effective management tool we have, fire can control sprouting hardwoods and “clean” the stand from unwanted debris. Starting burning early, with regular fires every 2 years, will provide the best results and allow for repeated applications before your stand reaches pine straw production age (beginning as early as year 8). Since it sounds like you are looking to rake soon, careful selection and application of herbicides will help control any problematic competition if fire alone doesn’t meet your clean-up objectives. Low intensity, frequently repeated fire continues to be an important tool even after initiating harvesting when landowners are trying to balance pine straw income and other highly valued objectives, including maintaining groundcover, increasing wildlife habitats, and long-term timber investments. In our Longleaf 101 Academy, we characterize this approach as “environmental pine straw.” We see this working well for an increasing number of landowners. It typically involves periodic harvesting rather than annual or semi-annual harvests. An example “cycle” is to collect for two years, then take a “rest” year from straw harvesting (year 3) before burning so that the added needles result in a hotter fire to best control hardwoods. Yes, the fire consumes valuable pine straw, but if it does an adequate job of controlling hardwoods along with limbs and any cones, you may save the expense of herbicides as well as the labor costs for application and “clean up.” This hybrid approach could mean only having to use spot

Sincerely, The Longleaf Alliance

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By Carol Denhof, The Longleaf Alliance

PLANT SPOTLIGHT r e v o c Andropogon ternarius Michx. d n u ro G

Splitbeard Bluestem Grass Family – Poaceae

Map showing distribution of splitbeard bluestem. USDA PLANTS Database.

Description Splitbeard bluestem is a bunch grass that grows to a height of 2 ½ to 3 feet. The paired flowering stalks emerge in the fall and have silvery-white hairs, and are attached to the main grass stem by long stalks measuring up to 2 inches in length. Distribution & Habitat This species is found in dry, sandy soils throughout the longleaf range. It is especially common in the montane longleaf pine habitat but grows in all nine states where longleaf naturally occurs.

Paired flowering arrangement of splitbeard bluestem with the characteristic long stalk that is helpful in differentiating this grass from other Andropogon species. Photo by The Longleaf Alliance.

Wildlife Value Splitbeard bluestem and other bunch grasses provide important habitat structure (cover) and food sources for many wildlife species, including some butterfly species. Songbirds eat the seeds, and small mammals and deer may browse on this grass when other more edible foods are less available.

References Miller, J.H. and K.V. Miller. 2005. Forest Plants of the Southeast and their Wildlife Uses. The University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA. 454pp. USDA, NRCS. 2021. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 08/09/2021). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.

Plant Availability This plant is sometimes available from nurseries specializing in native plants. It spreads easily by seed.

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By Susan French, The Longleaf Alliance Photo by Jay McClain at the Chickasawhay Ranger District, National Forests in Mississippi

WINDOW into WILDLIFE White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Description Ragweed, often thought of as quail brood-rearing cover, is also high in crude protein and selected by deer as forage. Managing longleaf pine stands for relatively open canopies that allow sunlight to reach the forest floor increases the food and cover available to deer in the understory. Prescribed fire, particularly when utilized in a sequential patch burning style, can be a beneficial management tool by creating habitat diversity for deer and other wildlife. Additionally, prescribed burning releases the nutrients in dead plant material back into newly growing vegetation for deer to consume.

White-tailed deer are native North American ungulates, i.e., mammals with hooves, and the most popular big game species in the U.S. Their coats can range in coloration from reddishbrown to gray-brown depending on the time of year, and young fawns have white spots that fade as they mature. Male deer, or bucks, have antlers that grow and shed yearly. A buck’s antler size is influenced by age, nutrition, and genetics.

Distribution & Habitat White-tailed deer are found throughout the longleaf pine range, and populations are stable across the southern U.S. They are a generalist species that utilize a variety of habitats that provide suitable food, cover, water, and space. Bucks generally have larger home ranges than does, and their movements are most wide-ranging during the rut or breeding season. Two common predators of white-tailed deer in the southern U.S. are coyotes and bobcats.

Fun Facts l

l l

White-tailed deer have dichromatic vision and only see in the blue and yellow color spectrums. Twin fawns can have different fathers. If you see a fawn alone in the woods, leave it there. Its mom is probably nearby and will be returning shortly!

Diet

References

As herbivores, white-tailed deer browse a variety of plants, including forbs, shrubs, fruits, and hard mast (nuts and oneseeded fruits). Acorns are an important seasonal component of a deer’s diet in the fall and winter; however, forbs like pokeweed and ragweed comprise the majority of a deer’s diet during the spring and summer. Fruits like blackberry are also commonly consumed.

Miller, J.H., & Miller, K.V. (2005). Forest Plants of the Southeast and their Wildlife Uses. Athens, GA: The University of Georgia Press. Harper, C.A. (2016). A Guide to Wildlife Food Plots and Early Successional Plants. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. Yarrow, G.K. & Yarrow, D.T. Yarrow. (1999). Managing Wildlife. Birmingham, AL: Alabama Wildlife Federation. Innes, Robin J. (2013). Odocoileus virginianus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/ mammal/odvi/all.html.

Deer in Longleaf The native groundcover found in longleaf pine ecosystems contains some of the white-tailed deer’s favorite foods and essential cover. Native warm-season grasses like broomstraw provide excellent cover for fawns as well as areas for bucks and does to bed down. Beautyberry, which can be promoted through periodic prescribed burning, is high in protein and an important source of soft mast (berries and fruits) in the fall. [8]

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Blackwater River State Forest seepage. Photo by Vernon Compton.

RECOGNIZING

25 Years of Collaboration RESTORING the Longleaf Ecosystem By Vernon Compton, The Longleaf Alliance

potential to reconnect the longleaf ecosystem and the possibility those lands could provide enough contiguous forest to aid in the recovery of the red-cockaded woodpecker and the Florida black bear. With an agreement to formalize the Partnership, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) led the effort with the six other landowners to create a Memorandum of Understanding. The purpose of the MOU was to develop and implement a voluntary and cooperative stewardship strategy to sustain the long-term viability of native plants and animals, the integrity of ecosystems, the production of commodities and ecosystem services, and the human communities that depend upon them. The MOU was signed by the original seven partners in 1996. Those first partners, including a state forest, two national forests, a water management district, the Department of Defense, a private timber company, and TNC, collectively managed 840,000 acres stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Conecuh National Forest in south Alabama. One of the largest expanses of longleaf pine remaining in the world, these acres represented what was known at the time to be nearly

What started as a group of landowners recognizing the need for more collaboration to address the decline of the longleaf forest and associated rare species resulted in creating a landscape-level partnership, the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP). GCPEP is a great example of what can happen when landowners work together for a greater good. In this case, the greatest beneficiary of the heightened collaboration is the longleaf ecosystem itself. The Beginnings The idea began to circulate in 1994 and 1995 among agencies and landowners working to better understand longleaf pine, the effects of fire, and the causes of declining red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) populations and other rare species. Many science-related meetings were held at Eglin Air Force Base, and research led by The Nature Conservancy was discussed. Field trips offered increased opportunities to learn from each other, focused on what was working or not working with restoration and management efforts. Support for the idea of partnering together grew. There was excitement about the [ 10 ]

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crews and support staff continue to make a tremendous difference by providing support to partners. That work would not be possible without the leadership provided by the partners and the longleaf ecosystem funding, both private and public, that helps to get more of the critical work on the ground completed. From the beginning, partners hoped that the impact of the Partnership would grow and more landowners would join GCPEP as partners in the MOU, which is exactly what has happened. Today 16 partners work together on lands they manage in the landscape that covers over 1.3 million acres. Goals have remained consistent with a focus on restoration and management of the longleaf ecosystem. Partners prioritized actions on the ground as the greatest need. The highest priorities have centered on prescribed fire, invasive species control, rare species recovery, longleaf and groundcover restoration and management, land protection of crucial buffers and wildlife corridors, and private landowner education, outreach, and technical assistance. It is hard to imagine the level of conservation success without the extent of partner collaboration made possible by GCPEP.

Founding GCPEP Partners: Champion International Corporation Eglin Air Force Base Florida Division of Forestry Northwest Florida Water Management District The Nature Conservancy U.S. Forest Service — National Forests in Florida and Alabama

one-quarter of what remained of the imperiled longleaf pine habitat. Initially, partners identified a set of cooperative, voluntary conservation strategies to guide projects pertaining to upland and aquatic conservation targets. Of special note were unique natural communities such as steephead ravines and seepage slopes and rare species such as red-cockaded woodpeckers, the Gulf sturgeon, and the Okaloosa darter. Early conservation projects included a landscape-level site conservation plan, gully restoration and streambank stabilization with native vegetation, RCW cavity nests and translocations, cooperative prescribed fires, and public education programs.

2021 GCPEP Partners:

Expanding the Footprint Partners agreed that dedicated staff was essential to ensure the Partnership’s long-term success. Additional hands were needed to address conservation priorities, lead education and outreach efforts, and raise funds to support important projects. TNC hired initial staff in 1998, and in 2004 the Ecosystem Support Team was created as partners highlighted the need for additional resources and staff. TNC continued to facilitate the Partnership and provide staff support through 2010. At that time, the transition was made to The Longleaf Alliance (TLA). From there, the EST grew to a full-time team of four, trained to implement prescribed fire, control invasive species, and assist with recovery of rare species, focusing on the red-cockaded woodpecker. Today TLA has a team of up to 20 full-time and seasonal staff that support conservation priorities in the GCPEP landscape, including two additional teams, the Wetland Ecosystem Support Team (WEST) and the AMBBIS (Ambystoma bishopi) Team focused on the recovery of the reticulated flatwoods salamander. The field

Department of Defense Florida Forest Service Resource Management Service, LLC Northwest Florida Water Management District U.S. Forest Service National Park Service Nokuse Plantation Florida Department of Environmental Protection Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission The Nature Conservancy Alabama Forestry Commission Gulf Power National Wild Turkey Federation Westervelt Ecological Services Escambia County, Florida The Longleaf Alliance

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The trajectories for our conservation priorities are continually improving.

Longleaf on Conecuh National Forest. Photo by Vernon Compton.

Conservation in Action When GCPEP started, partners averaged less than 100,000 acres of prescribed fire per year. Today partners regularly attain 200,000 – 250,000 acres per year, a more sustainable rotation for ecosystem health. Just this year, the TLA field crews have assisted in over 90,000 acres of prescribed fire. Prescribed fire is the driver of ecosystem health for many rare species and the habitat they require for survival, and the Partnership focus on getting more fire on the ground is making a difference. The trajectories for our conservation priorities are continually improving. Two rare species, the Okaloosa darter and RCW, were in decline when the Partnership began and are now showing strong recovery. Endemic to the landscape, the Okaloosa darter benefited from stream restoration at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) and resulting population recovery, moving from endangered under the Endangered Species Act to reclassification as threatened. The RCW was declining on three partner lands in the GCPEP landscape— Eglin AFB, Conecuh National Forest, and Blackwater River State Forest; today, the RCW population has reached recovered status on Eglin AFB. It has dramatically increased on both the Conecuh and Blackwater due to habitat restoration and other management actions, including cavity inserts. The Partnership focus has also been elevated on other rare species

that rely on fire-maintained wetlands, such as the reticulated flatwoods salamander and the Florida bog frog. Like many natural communities across the landscape, fire is imperative during the growing or lightning season (during periods of dryness) to promote groundcover, an integral part of the life cycle of wildlife in the longleaf ecosystem. Invasive species control efforts have also accelerated on species with the most significant threat potential, including cogongrass, tallow tree, privet, and climbing fern. Land protection efforts have centered on key buffers and wildlife corridors providing for large-ranging species such as the Florida black bear and the RCW. Many partners played vital roles in the success of connectors like the Yellow River Ravines and Nokuse Plantation. Nokuse Plantation, an over 50,000-acre nature preserve, was envisioned and made possible by the generosity of the late M.C. Davis. Today it is home to thousands of gopher tortoises and the Florida black bear that he so loved. He also played a significant role in the first wildlife underpasses, providing safe passage for the bear and many other species moving between Nokuse Plantation and Eglin AFB. With greater education, outreach, and technical assistance, so many more have learned about the tremendous diversity of the longleaf ecosystem and how to best restore and manage

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A. Orange fringed orchid. Photo by Vernon Compton. B. GCPEP native plant demonstration project at Eglin AFB. Photo by The Nature Conservancy. C. Early GCPEP Steering Committee Meeting. Photo by The Nature Conservancy.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to have been affiliated with GCPEP for all of these years. This organization was designed to reach out beyond the borders of our respective land bases and effectively cooperate towards mutual goals, and for it to have been doing just that for over 25 years is an absolutely remarkable accomplishment. Now, 25 years later, I am quite proud to represent Eglin AFB in this remarkable partnership. There is definitely something to be said for the satisfaction obtained by being involved in such a long-lasting and effective organization like GCPEP. Bruce Hagedorn, Chief, Natural Resources, Eglin AFB the system. As a result, the sight of young longleaf pine shooting up from the grass stage is becoming more and more common. GCPEP and each of its partners deserve a ‘job well done!’ for 25 years of heightened conservation accomplishments.

What a difference each contributing partner has made and continues to make today. More work remains, but GCPEP will shine on as an example of how working together best supports the recovery and management of the longleaf ecosystem.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Damage from Hurricane Michael to longleaf pine woodlands in southwest Georgia

By Dr. Jeffery B. Cannon and Brandon T. Rutledge

HOW DO HURRICANES SHAPE

longleaf pine ecosystems?

Photos courtesy of The Jones Center at Ichauway

Disturbance in longleaf pine forests Readers of this publication are familiar with the importance of low-intensity fire for healthy and biodiverse longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests. A century of research reveals fire’s principal place in the cycle of plant death and birth that supports the high diversity and open structure of pine woodlands1. As a coastal species, longleaf pine endures less frequent, but potentially catastrophic winds from hurricanes. Like fire, wind can be an important force that shapes the development and change within a longleaf forest. High-intensity winds can cause elevated levels of mortality, release resource-starved saplings from their taller competitors, shift dominance among understory plants, and even alter the frequency or intensity of future fires2. It is difficult to overstate the intensity of hurricane impacts on coastal forests. Winds from Hurricane Michael (2018) affected a substantial portion of longleaf pine habitat, causing mortality rates that rose from 15% on the outer edges of the storm to 88% near its center3. Even more dramatically, Hurricane Katrina (2005) toppled enough trees to set back an entire year’s worth of the nation’s forest growth4.

Longleaf as a wind-resistant species Climate forecasts of the southeastern U.S forewarn of increased drought, heightened risk of wildfire, and intense hurricanes that pose elevated risk to forests5. Recent research proposes longleaf pine as a candidate for more drought-resistant forestry6. With its thick bark, resinous needles, and brevity of vulnerable growth stages, longleaf pine has long been known as a fire-resistant species7. But could longleaf pine also fare better in a world with more extreme hurricanes? Pines are important to the ecology and economy of the Southeast, and longleaf pine occurs in hurricane-prone areas throughout its range. Nevertheless, little research rigorously tests wind resistance of the species. Several post-hurricane studies have documented fewer numbers of longleaf pine killed or damaged by severe winds compared to other species. Drawing conclusions from these studies is a challenge as they do not account for other important wind risk factors such as soil type and tree size. Apples-to-oranges comparisons of mortality can complicate conclusions about wind risk. To illustrate, slash pine is thought to be more vulnerable to wind compared to longleaf pine, but the species naturally occurs on wetter soils which can accentuate

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RESEARCH NOTES

Damage following Hurricane Michael (2018) and subsequent salvage harvesting

Model prediction indicating the relationship between tree size (DBH) and estimated probability of treefall across six soil types for four pine species and two oak species groups. Soil types include excessively drained (drainage class 1) to very poorly-drained (drainage class 6).

• Pines are more vulnerable to wind on wet soils than on dry soils, but the sensitivity to soil moisture varied by species. Slash pine and loblolly pine are more sensitive in wet soils than both longleaf and shortleaf pine. • Longleaf pine was wind resistant across a broad range of sizes and soil types compared to other pine species. • Oaks typically associated with wetter soils (laurel oak, live oak, water oak) were more vulnerable to winds when they were on dry soils, while the oaks typically associated with drier soils (southern red oak, post oak, turkey oak) were more vulnerable when they were on wetter soils. An overarching theme of our study is that complex interactions make a straightforward ranking of wind resistance by tree species difficult. Instead, a full suite of factors such as tree species, size, and soil characteristics should be considered in assessing wind risk. It is widely recognized that frequent fire assembled, and continues to shape, longleaf pine systems by limiting the presence of fire intolerant species within fire-prone areas. Our research supports the idea that—like fire—hurricane winds may also act as a natural filter sharing a role in determining which tree species occur where on the landscape. Land managers can use knowledge of how hurricane vulnerability changes with tree species, soils, and topography when planning management and restoration activities.

its vulnerability. To truly judge the stability of pines, research should account for the natural range of tree sizes and the soils on which they occur. Putting longleaf to the test After destructively striking the Florida Panhandle in October 2018, Hurricane Michael continued further inland and toppled trees at the Jones Center at Ichauway—a research and conservation center with 18,000 acres of longleaf pine woodlands in southwest Georgia. Though damage was not as severe inland, the moderate damage sustained was ideal for disentangling the effects of tree species, size, and soil type. Immediately after the storm, we visited over 250 plots that were set up as part of a long-term forest monitoring program and recorded the fate of 3,500 trees. We collected data on tree species, size, and soil, and combined them into an analysis to unravel their individual effects. Our recent article in the journal Forest Ecology and Management 8 reports the full results of the study, but four patterns were clear from the analysis. • Large pines are more vulnerable to wind than small pines, but the sensitivity to size varies by species. Large individuals of shortleaf pine are especially at-risk. [ 17 ]

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RESEARCH NOTES

Assessing the damage from Hurricane Michael

References 1. Mattoon, W. R. 1922. Longleaf pine. Page United States Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 1061. 2. Cannon, J. B., C. J. Peterson, J. J. O’Brien, and J. S. Brewer. 2017. A review and classification of interactions between forest disturbance from wind and fire. Forest Ecology and Management 406:381– 390. 3. Zampieri, N. E., S. Pau, and D. K. Okamoto. 2020. The impact of Hurricane Michael on longleaf pine habitats in Florida. Nature Scientific Reports 10:1–11. 4. Chambers, J. Q., J. I. Fisher, H. Zeng, E. L. Chapman, D.B. Baker, and G. C. Hurtt. 2007. Hurricane Katrina’s carbon footprint. Science 318:2. 5. Mitchell, R. J., Y. Liu, J. J. O’Brien, K. J. Elliott, G. Starr, C. F. Miniat, and J. K. Hiers. 2014. Future climate and fire interactions in the southeastern region of the United States. Forest Ecology and Management 327:316–326. 6. Mclaughlin, D. L., D. A. Kaplan, and M. J. Cohen. 2013. Managing forests for increased regional water yield in the southeastern U.S. coastal plain. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 49:953–965. 7. Wang, G. G., L. S. Pile, B. O. Knapp, and H. Hu. 2016. Longleaf pine adaptation to fire: is early height growth pattern critical to fire survival? Page 614 p. Proceedings of the 18th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. 8. Rutledge, B. T., J. B. Cannon, R. K. McIntyre, A. M. Holland, and S. B. Jack. 2021. Tree, stand, and landscape factors contributing to hurricane damage in a coastal plain forest: post-hurricane assessment in a longleaf pine landscape. Forest Ecology and Management 481:118724.

Upcoming studies on wind damage in longleaf pine

Although we are learning more about the wind resistance of longleaf pine, many questions remain about the role hurricanes play in the ecology of longleaf pine woodlands. Several upcoming and ongoing projects involving the Jones Center and partners hope to explore this important topic further: • How do roots, stems, and crowns contribute to wind vulnerability in southeastern pines? We are conducting tree winching studies to experimentally measure torque needed to topple southeastern pines. Combined with detailed studies of crown architecture, these data will allow us to predict the vulnerability of trees at varying wind speeds. • What risk do hurricanes pose to forests of the southeast? By combining simulations of hurricane-force winds with national forest inventory data, we aim to measure the expected annual risk that hurricanes pose to forests of the southeast. • How does wind damage interact with prescribed fire regimes? Though fire-resistant, frequent prescribed fire can leave scars and alter growth of longleaf pine. Do patterns of burning and scorch change susceptibility to wind damage?

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LANDOWNER CORNER

Northern bobwhite quail. Photo by Randy Browning.

Longleaf Pine Habitat Enhancement on Working Lands in Mississippi By Randy Browning, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Wildlife Mississippi

Quail Hollow Ranch in Lamar County, Mississippi, is privately owned by Orby and Brenda Wright. With a strong interest in managing northern bobwhite quail (hence the property's name), the Wrights began making land acquisitions in 1989. Now a little less than 2,000 contiguous acres, the property is highly diverse and consists of a mixture of bottomland hardwoods, loblolly pine plantations, and both natural and artificially regenerated longleaf pine stands. Longleaf pine is now the dominant overstory species on approximately 50% of the property. Having been a wildlife biologist with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks prior to joining the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, I was somewhat acquainted with the property. This made it easy to approach the landowners about initiating longleaf pine restoration and related management activities that would benefit not only the northern bobwhite quail but also other longleaf pine associated species, including the gopher tortoise. The most intriguing area was a 135-acre longleaf pine stand that had been aerially seeded in the late 1970s. The

stand was extremely dense (basal areas ranging from 180210 square feet) with a patchy herbaceous groundcover. Prescribed fire was the only management in the stand since its establishment. In partnership with the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Wildlife Mississippi, and American Forest Foundation, the Wrights began enhancement activities, starting with pre-commercial thinning in 2003 to reduce stand density. A crew with chainsaws targeted longleaf that averaged less than 4 inches at diameter breast height. This was followed up with a second partnership project in 2004 to target understory/midstory hardwoods less than 6 inches at diameter breast height. In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina subjected the stand to 100 miles per hour sustained winds. Fortunately, minimal damage occurred. The landowners conducted a commercial thin in 2006 that further reduced stand density. The stand has been burned several times since, and a planned commercial thin will further improve gopher tortoise, black pine snake, and eastern diamondback rattlesnake habitat. This stand is the focal point for the many conservation field days held on the property. [ 20 ]

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B. A. Backing fire in longleaf. Photo by Randy Browning. B. Brenda and Orby Wright, proud owners of Quail Hollow Ranch in Lamar County, Mississippi. Photo by Drue DeBerry.

The Wrights restored an additional 125 acres of longleaf pine habitat, are committed to controlling invasive cogongrass and feral swine, and are actively enhancing their remaining longleaf pine acreage with prescribed fire and herbicide applications, including their latest project. After a pre-commercial thin on a 115-acre naturally regenerated longleaf pine stand, understory hardwoods were controlled in 2019 by partnering with USFWS and Wildlife Missis-

C and D. Aerially seeded longleaf pine stand in 2003 prior to enhancement activities and in 2009 showing the results of pre-commercial thinning, hardwood control, and a prescribed burn. Who knew you could see the lake from here! Photos by Randy Browning. E and F. Naturally regenerated longleaf pine stand after a pre-commercial thin (in 2018) and understory hardwood control (in 2019) with a great groundcover response in 2021 following a 2020 growing season burn. Photos by Randy Browning.

sippi. This was followed up in 2020 with a growing-season burn in partnership with the Mississippi Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. The management at Quail Hollow Ranch has substantially improved habitat for longleaf pine associated species and will only improve with time and future stand entries. This success is attributed to dedicated landowners, sustained partnerships, adaptive management, and community involvement.

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By Chris Erwin, American Forest Foundation, Longleaf Partnership Council Chair

Carbon and Climate Change Mitigation in Longleaf Pine – Research Updates at the Summer Longleaf Partnership Council Meeting The Longleaf Partnership Council hosted its third quarterly meeting in August. We were honored to hear from Dr. Tom O’Halloran from Clemson University who is working at the Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science. Dr. O’Halloran updated us on work that he, Colette DeGarady with The Nature Conservancy, Dr. Marzieh Motallebi, Dr. Bo Song, and PhD student Lucas Clay from Clemson University Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, are leading on the role of longleaf pine in mitigating climate change. Dr. O’Halloran described atmospheric carbon sampling technology (Eddy Flux Systems) mounted on towers that measure carbon exchange rates. He described two studies in longleaf stands located on Hobcaw Barony, a 16,000-acre plantation owned by the Belle W. Baruch Foundation on the Waccamaw Neck Peninsula of South Carolina. One study is a newly restored stand that is a carbon source, emitting more carbon into the atmosphere than it stores, and the second in a

60-year-old stand that is a carbon sink, storing more than it emits. This work at Hobcaw Barony supports other research looking at carbon stocks above and below ground., including important studies led by Dr. Lisa Samuelson (Auburn University) and Dr. Susanne Wiesner (University of Alabama and The Jones Center at Ichauway, now at University of Wisconsin-Madison). It was interesting to see that longleaf and other southern yellow pine forests peak in carbon storage around 20 years of age at a rate that is comparable to tropical forests. It is a pleasure to listen to dedicated professionals who spend their careers pursuing data to support the body of knowledge that informs the best management practices for landowners. Thank you, academic and research professionals, and all landowners who make lands available to pursue science. We are all drinking from the well that you and your predecessors have dug.

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REGIONAL UPDATES

Burning for Seed on the Cody Scarp: Some Dirt is Sand, and Some Dirt is Clay By Brian Pelc, Apalachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance LIT Coordinator

Members from several ARSA agencies, including The Nature Conservancy and Florida State Parks, team huddle up for a mid-day shift in burn zones. This burn occurred at Torreya State Park, mostly located north of the Cody Scarp. Photo by Brain Pelc.

The growing season brings a lot of focus on wiregrass seed production in the eastern portion of the Florida Panhandle. Members from the Apalachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance (ARSA) frequently join forces to burn large tracts when seed is needed for the following fall. This past May and June, partners from across the region and multiple agencies prioritized and completed thousands of acres of sandhill and upland pine longleaf burning in an effort to ensure adequate seed production for restoration projects. The Cody Scarp (escarpment) transects the ARSA region from east to west along the northern third of the LIT. Land managers and biologists do their level best to provide seed sourced from the correct side of this biogeographical boundary. Clay deposits to the north of Cody Scarp provide more soil moisture, supporting slightly different species composition and locally adapted plants compared to the sandy soils south of the escarpment. Sourcing seed from the correct habitat type helps conserve local genetics and ensure successful restoration outcomes. However, it can be difficult to find adequate supply from proper donor sites. ARSA members cooperatively burn in a wide variety of habitat types with healthy groundcover communities to obtain seed for restoration projects the following winter.

Louisiana Pine Snake Recovery Underway at Kisatchie National Forest By Dan Weber, The Nature Conservancy The Catahoula Ranger District on the Kisatchie National Forest is the site of an ongoing effort to reintroduce the federally threatened Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis ruthveni). This April, representatives from the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well as zoos in Memphis, Tennessee; Fort Worth, Texas; and Alexandria, Louisiana, released 50 captive-bred, young pine snakes Captive bred pine snake at the Louisiana pine snake to be released into their natural habitat. This release brings Memphis Zoo. Photo by Mark Weber, on the Kisatchie National Forest. the total number of individuals to 228 since the The Commercial Appeal. Photo courtesy of the Memphis Zoo. start of the project in 2010. The snakes are equipped with microchips that store identifiable information allowing biologists to track their movements and survivorship over time. Originally occurring in longleaf pine forests across Louisiana and Texas, Louisiana pine snakes are currently found in only five Louisiana parishes and three Texas counties. Their primary prey source is the pocket gopher, and they tend to live in the gopher burrows, spending more than half their lives below ground. Their disappearance has been due largely to habitat loss associated with poor land management practices, including fire suppression and large-scale timber production. The Louisiana pine snake is the rarest snake in North America and is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In Texas, it is state-listed as threatened and protected from direct harm and unauthorized collection. It is classified as imperiled in Louisiana and protected from illegal possession or harvest from the wild. The Kisatchie National Forest consists of approximately 604,000 acres and forms the core of the Kisatchie/Fort Polk SGA where the local longleaf implementation team, the West Central Louisiana Ecosystem Partnership, composed of the U.S. Department of Defense, state and federal wildlife agencies, conservation NGOs and others have united to restore longleaf pine and other native ecosystems within a six-parish conservation area.

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Texas Team Hosts TLA President for Field Tours By Jenny Sanders, Texas Longleaf Implementation Team Coordinator In June, the Texas Longleaf Implementation Team (TLIT) was excited to host Carol Denhof, President of The Longleaf Alliance, for a series of field tours and social gatherings to celebrate recent longleaf efforts. The visit included tours on several tracts where the team heard from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service staff about their project monitoring bird and snake species occurrence in longleaf. The group toured the East Texas Plant Materials Center (ETPMC) and learned about efforts by Image 1: Texas State Ornithologist, Cliff Shackelford, explains remote monithe USDA Natural Resources Conservation toring technology used to monitor bird species occurrence in longleaf pine. Service and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Image 2: Partners tour the greenhouses at the East Texas Plant Materials Research Institute’s East Texas Natives Center, where locally-adapted native plant species are propagated for distri- Program to develop locally adapted native seed bution and restoration. Photos by Jenny Sanders. sources for restoration work in our area. These undertakings are breaking new ground, and we hope they can serve as a model for the rest of the longleaf range as other teams work to develop wildlife monitoring and groundcover restoration. The TLIT extends a big thank-you to Carol and The Longleaf Alliance for giving our team an excuse to break the “Zoom Cycle” and gather in the field. It was a wonderful time to network, learn from one another, and be inspired by some outstanding longleaf restoration and management.

Okefenokee-Osceola LIT Boundary Expansion By Rebecca Shelton, The Nature Conservancy In late November 2020, the Longleaf Partnership Council approved a boundary expansion for the O2LIT. By expanding our boundary, we have effectively increased our range from 1.2 million acres to over 3.2 million. The changes are intended to provide comprehensive and cooperative resource management among partners and programs to facilitate greater support for longleaf landowners and managers. Additionally, expansion towards other existing LIT boundaries allows us to provide unified coverage for resource management and increase the outreach funding opportunities for our current and potential partners, effectively increasing our “service area.” To set, prioritize, and highlight resource opportunities, a subcommittee for the O2 LIT will revise our Charter and Conservation Plan with the new boundary and other updates that have been made since its 2016 inception. To aid this effort, we will incorporate findings from the Southeast Conservation O2 LIT expanded boundary. Map by Rebecca Blueprint in spatial planning. The Southeast Conservation Blueprint, from the Shelton. Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy, is a living, spatial plan that identifies important areas for conservation and restoration across the Southeast and Caribbean. The Blueprint stitches together smaller subregional plans into one consistent map, incorporating the best available information about key species, ecosystems, and future threats. For landowner outreach, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in cooperation with The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, is holding another landowner outreach meeting at the South Prong Plantation in Baker County, Florida in November 2021. This outdoor meeting will provide an overview of invasive plant identification and commonly used herbicide treatment techniques. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network and connect with other participants, including private landowners, land managers, contractors, and conservation partners, potentially influencing restoration on over 55,000 acres of private land. [ 26 ]

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Bright Future of Fire in the Georgia Sentinel Landscape By Susan French, The Longleaf Alliance The Georgia Sentinel Landscape (GSL) Pilot Project is a collaboration between public and private stakeholders who have overlapping natural resource management goals in proximity to one or more of the nine military installations that anchor the landscape. The project goals are to help private landowners, who own approximately 90% of the forestland in the state, overcome challenges associated with effectively managing and enhancing their forestlands with prescribed fire by providing technical and financial assistance as Image 1. Positive native vegetation response in a Jefferson County longleaf well as outreach programs. stand approximately 2 months post-burn. Photo by Susan French. Image 2. The In the first year, cost-share funding was Coastal focal area of the Georgia Sentinel Landscape. Map by Susan French. provided to more than 100 landowners resulting in over 10,500 acres of prescribed burning. Two new burn trailers will also soon be available for rental by private landowners, one housed at the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) Talbot County office and the other at the GFC Glynn County office. The burn trailers contain equipment such as drip torches, fire rakes, and ‘smoke ahead’ road signs to help landowners conduct safe and effective prescribed burns. The application period for the 2022 cost-share funding cycle in the focal area (see map) is open, and the deadline to apply is November 1, 2021. Applications received after this date will be accepted and evaluated for future rounds of funding. All applications will be competitively ranked, emphasizing longleaf pine ecosystem health, gopher tortoise habitat, and proximity to military installations. You can learn more about this program by visiting longleafalliance.org > what-we-do > conserving-diverseforests > georgia-sentinel-landscape-prescribed-fire-program. Be sure to follow The Longleaf Alliance on social media for announcements and updates on upcoming prescribed burning workshops and events.

South Carolina SLPCP Enables RCW Expansion By Charles Babb, Sandhills Longleaf Pine Conservation Partnership Coordinator The South Carolina Sandhills Longleaf Pine Conservation Partnership (SLPCP) aided local red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) colonies to expand onto private properties. After assisting three landowners in improving RCW habitat and entering the SC Department of Natural Resources Safe Harbor Program, twelve artificial nest cavities were installed in the spring of 2020 to allow nearby colonies the room to expand outside public lands in Chesterfield County. For the first time, trail cameras revealed consistent RCW activity at eight of the sites this spring, where birds created pitch wells and used the cavities for roost sites. One pair was successful in raising a brood of chicks. “We were thrilled to discover this nest,” said Charles Babb, LIT Coordinator. “We had not seen signs of activity at this tree but noticed the adults feeding chicks during one of our regular visits. I think it was a quick move in response to heavy pressure from flying squirrels at another New RCW residents. Photo by Charles Babb. cavity. As far as we know, this is the first nest on private land within our LIT.” Hopefully, next year will bring an increased number of active nesting pairs as the birds continue to create sap flow around the cavities. “This is a perfect example of how cooperation between private landowners, the SLPCP, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and SCDNR can have a lasting impact on a species’ long-term survival,” according to Babb. “We are working with two adjacent landowners to expand this project.”

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Lands Added to Blackwater River State Forest Benefit Longleaf Ecosystem Recovery and Protection of the Military Mission By Vernon Compton, The Longleaf Alliance The Wolfe Creek Forest Florida Forever project is a land protection priority for the state and the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP). The Trust for Public Land, along with the U.S. Navy, the Florida Forest Service, Santa Rosa County Commission, U.S. Forest Service, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, worked together to protect 3,490 acres of the forest, furthering efforts to restore longleaf pine habitat and prevent incompatible land development that could interfere with the operations of Naval Air Station Whiting Field. “The conservation of this landscape-level property bolsters private and public efforts to restore longleaf pine forest, providing critical habitat to numerous federally and state-protected plant and animal species, offers public access to incredible recreational opportunities and supports our national defense Coldwater Creek as it flows through Wolfe operations at NAS Whiting Field,” said Doug Hattaway, Senior Project Manager Creek Forest. Photo by Vernon Compton. for The Trust for Public Land. “NAS Whiting Field enjoys an outstanding community-military partnership with the State of Florida, Santa Rosa County, and numerous stakeholders. Through these partnerships, we have been able to safeguard more than 10,000 acres to protect a mission that has a critical role in the DoD’s National Military Strategy. Our collaborative efforts are fundamental in encouraging compatible land development, conservation of public and private lands, and base buffering initiatives.” NAS Whiting Field Commanding Officer Captain Paul Flores stated. “The execution of this project complements our efforts to sustain military mission training and preserve the environment in perpetuity.” “The addition of nearly 3,500 acres to the Blackwater River State Forest will provide exciting new recreational opportunities to the public and create connectivity among conservation forest lands in the area, benefitting native plants and wildlife,” said Erin Albury, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. “This conservation success would not have been possible without the hard work of our many partners.” Florida Department of Environmental Protection Interim Secretary Shawn Hamilton added, “The acquisition of this critical parcel is a testament to the importance of partnerships at the federal, state, and local level. Not only will this project further the department’s mission of protecting water quality, it will also preserve a crucial ecosystem, as well as a buffer for military operations.” Congratulations, and thank you to all of the partners who collaborated to protect this important conservation parcel.

Protecting the Altamaha River Corridor – 6,200 acres Conserved on Beards Creek By Fort Stewart Army Compatible Use Buffer Staff The Altamaha River and its associated upland communities have long been recognized as a biodiversity treasure, supporting a long list of at-risk species. Thanks to the efforts of many partners over the past 20 years, great progress has been made towards establishing an ecologically functional and sustainable corridor along the river. In 2021, another big step forward was taken when The Conservation Fund (the Fund) acquired over 6,200 acres near the river’s confluence with Beards Creek. In addition to providing habitat connectivity for wildlife, this linchpin property will also help protect an undeveloped corridor between the Marine Corps’ Townsend Bombing Range and the Army’s Fort Stewart, helping to ensure that homeowners won’t complain about noise from military aircraft moving between the two installations. The partnership between the Department of Defense (DOD) and Altamaha River. Photo by Randy Tate. various conservation organizations has led to the protection of over 150,000 acres in Georgia alone since Congress established DOD’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program in 2003. Fort Stewart and the Fund are working with several other members of the Fort Stewart/Altamaha Local Implementation Team (LIT) to establish conservation easements that will provide for permanent protection of the property, as well as restoration and management of longleaf pine with seedlings secured by The Longleaf Alliance. Protection of the Beards Creek property illustrates how close-knit LITs can achieve outstanding conservation goals in support of America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative.

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Keeping Our Water Clean through Forest Conservation Local Collaborative Builds Support and Funding for Healthy Forests

By Matt Inbusch, International Paper, and Lisa Lord, The Longleaf Alliance

International Paper Savannah Containerboard Mill. Photo courtesy of International Paper.

People often view forests from a forest production, wildlife habitat, or recreational perspective, but healthy, well-managed forests also help keep drinking water safe, reliable, and affordable. In the United States, nearly two-thirds of freshwater comes from forested watersheds. How forests are retained and managed impacts the quality and the quantity of water from them. Southeastern forests face threats such as forestland conversion, climate change, and forest diseases, causing drinking water quality and quantity declines. Watershed collaboratives are forming all over the country, combatting these threats by bringing forward their collective resources around a common goal of protecting their local forested watershed. There are many different types of ecosystem financing mechanisms to fund watershed activities, including those where the beneficiaries (utilities or water customers) pay through utility rates or fees, bonds, state revolving funds, or other revenue streams and sustainable markets. These watershed collaboratives are an important new strategy for water conservation and forest retention. Together these coalitions can leverage their combined resources and achieve significant benefits. Forestland conservation and stewardship clearly benefit drinking water and public health, but they also benefit forest landowners and local economies. Landowners have [ 30 ]

an essential role to play, as most large drinking water supplies in the southeast originate in forested headwaters, much of which are privately owned. Building the Coalition to Support Drinking Water The 2.8-million-acre Savannah River Watershed provides drinking water to more than 1.5 million people in two states. And one collaborative, the Savannah River Clean Water Fund (Fund), has been actively working to protect the lower Savannah River basin since 2014. The Fund coordinates efforts among public water utilities in Georgia and South Carolina, state environmental and forestry agencies, local land trusts, and others to facilitate a holistic approach to land protection in the watershed. It is a ground-breaking example of how actors from unique sectors can work cooperatively to protect water resources. The Fund also overlaps the South Lowcountry – ACE Basin (SoLoAce) Longleaf Partnership’s focal area and works closely with the partnership to identify properties for protection or restoration. “The Fund’s goal is to keep 60% of the lower watershed (around 1.67 million acres) in forests by protecting the 210,000 highest priority acres in terms of water quality impact,” says Lisa Lord, Conservation Programs Director with The Longleaf Alliance. “Collaborating with partners like International Paper

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PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

will help accelerate progress towards this important goal for the entire watershed.” International Paper Joins the Partnership In 2019, International Paper, one of the world’s leading producers of renewable, fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper, joined the Fund with the goal of helping the collaborative permanently protect and responsibly manage forests – nature’s original water filter – in the Savannah River Watershed. International Paper owns and operates two mills in the area: Port Wentworth Pulp Mill, which produces pulp used in diapers, tissue, and other personal hygiene products, and Savannah Containerboard Mill, which produces the essential material used to create corrugated packaging. Both mills rely on a sustainable supply of water from the Savannah River for their operations. “This project is important for us, as this watershed’s vast wetlands and forests contain the natural resources all of us depend on to filter clean water for all the water users in this community,” says Sophie Beckham, Chief Sustainability Officer, International Paper. “As one of the largest users of fiber, we Lower Savannah River are committed to lead forest Watershed. Map by South stewardship efforts globally. Carolina Chapter of The Our entire business depends Nature Conservancy. upon the sustainability of forests and the ecosystems that they support.” International Paper’s Vision 2030 goals underscore the company’s commitment to building a better future for people and the planet. The goals include an increased focus on water stewardship, with plans to reduce operational water use 25% by 2030, and support watershed health in partnership with local water users and stakeholders. As part of Vision 2030, the company will look to apply the Savannah River model in other watersheds where it operates. “We’re excited to be the first private-sector partner to join the Fund,” says Matt Inbusch, Senior Manager for Sustainable Operations at International Paper. “Our hope is that we can help open the door to other potential partners who share our interest in protecting and sustaining the Lower Savannah for the long-term.”

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Supporting On-the-Ground Implementation A U.S. Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration grant, awarded to the Georgia Forestry Commission, leverages International Paper’s support, making it possible to collaboratively employ hydrological, environmental, and social data to identify high-priority parcels for forest protection. The University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources leads the conservation planning effort. International Paper’s support is also helping build a foundation to engage local communities, landowners, and industry in supporting the Fund’s long-term success. This focus on the co-benefits of forest and water complements International Paper’s long-running support for Southeastern forest conservation. Launched in 2013, the Forestland Stewards Partnership between International Paper and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and enhances ecologically important forestlands and coastal savannas in ten southern states.

The Savannah River Clean Water Fund has helped protect over 14,000 acres with its land protection partners in the watershed with contributions from two drinking water utilities, Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority and the City of Savannah. Going forward, with the help of International Paper and other partners, including The Longleaf Alliance and The Nature Conservancy, the Fund is continuing to focus on creating sustainable funding for land protection projects, building an economic case for protecting water supplies through land protection, and developing a business plan to increase its overall conservation outcomes. New partnerships, such as the Savannah River Clean Water Fund, where every stakeholder has a seat at the table, will help keep our southern working forests as forests. Find more information at savannahrivercleanwater.org.

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NEXT GENERATION

A Walk in the Woods with

Burner Bob and Friends ®

A scene from “A Walk in the Woods with Burner Bob® and Friends, Episode 1: The Fire Forest.” Burner Bob® and Shan Cammack prepare to walk into the forest with the team of young fire ecologists.

urrently in production is the first episode of “A Walk in the Woods with Burner Bob®,” a short video in which a group of young fire ecologists visit the longleaf forest ecosystem for the first time. Escorted by Burner Bob® and Shan Cammack with Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the young crew learns about the longleaf pine and the role of fire in its well-being. This pilot episode is sponsored by The Longleaf Alliance with support from several partners, including U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service Partners Program, The Orianne Society, The Environmental Resources Network, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Reese Thompson, and Ellen Jacobs. Future plans for the video series include depicting a different element of the fire forest in each episode, such as gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, pitcher plants, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and insects. The series goal is to celebrate the ecology of the South and to educate young audiences about ongoing conservation efforts.

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ARTS & LITERATURE

LONGLEAF

Art SPOTLIGHT

Home + Hoop

Save the Snails Magnificent Ramshorn Snail created for Coastal Plain Conservation Group, 2021. Cotton, embroidery floss, watercolor, and acrylic on 5” bamboo hoop

ABOUT THE ARTIST

After moving far and frequently as a child, it was important to Kevina Casaletto to put down deep roots once she chose coastal North Carolina as her home in 2002, which meant learning as much as she could about the local ecosystem. She became aware of longleaf pine’s relationship with fire at an Earth Day celebration at what is now Long Leaf Park in Wilmington, North Carolina. Enthralled by the idea that longleaf needs fire to thrive, she soon learned about Wilmington’s Fire in the Pines Festival. And then a friend loaned her Janisse Ray’s Ecology of a Cracker Childhood. Over the years, Kevina’s fascination with fire and the pines that once covered most of the Southeast continued to grow. With in-person school unavailable during the pandemic, Kevina developed supplemental lessons on local ecology for her two children. They spent mornings in salt marshes and nature reserves sketching periwinkles, cicadas, and flytraps. At the Longleaf Series, 2021 same time, Kevina resumed her hand embroidery hobby, stitch- Lifecycle of a Longleaf, Summer Savanna, Good Fire ing hoops inspired by the coastal landscape while her children Cotton, embroidery floss, and watercolor on 6” bamboo hoops explored the marsh or climbed trees. Since then, she has launched her small business, Home + Hoop, finding a robust community of people passionate about longleaf education and restoration. Kevina uses her art to spark an appreciation for this incredibly diverse and once prolific ecological system. Through Home + Hoop, she partners with individuals and organizations in the longleaf restoration field to promote their work and spread knowledge about the unique plants and animals dependent on a landscape built by fire. She looks forward to learning and sharing more longleaf knowledge across the Southeast, and hopefully, the nation. Long live the longleaf!

ABOUT THE ART Kevina’s pieces are hand-embroidered custom cotton hoops. She utilizes watercolor paint and embroidery floss to achieve layered landscapes featuring native southeastern plants and ecosystems. Fire, longleaf pines, and native carnivorous plants are some of her favorite subjects. Follow Home + Hoop on Facebook & on Instagram @homeandhoop. Shop etsy.com/shop/homeandhoop or email Kevinacasaletto@gmail.com for custom commissions.

Artist at Long Leaf Park with her piece, A Pine Fell in Love. Featured quote by Janisse Ray. Photo by Sara Williams.

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Triple Threat Series, 2021 Spoon-leaved Sundew, Venus Flytrap, Pitcher Plant Cotton, embroidery floss, and watercolor on 5” bamboo hoops

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ARTS & LITERATURE

LONGLEAFLITERATURE

The Last Butterflies

A Scientist's Quest to Save a Rare and Vanishing Creature By Nick Haddad Princeton University Press, 2019 Reviewed by Sarah Crate, The Longleaf Alliance The Last Butterflies by Nick Haddad had been on my reading list for some time, having first heard of it on The State of Things, a favorite North Carolina Public Radio program. It finally made it off the list and into my hands this summer, just as our native plant garden was bustling with pollinators. As I read through the author’s stories of the rarest butterflies, I was on my own butterfly journey. This was the summer that our prized milkweed finally flowered, after two years of waiting, and I was regularly on the lookout for monarch eggs. When I reached the chapter on monarchs, I happened to spy a female ovipositing in our milkweed patch. As I stalked this momma butterfly from a distance, texting photos and videos to my husband, I officially related to the author’s affinity for butterflies. A familiar favorite, Monarch butterflies do make an appearance in The Last Butterflies, but most of the book is devoted to the rarest of species – those with small populations, small distributions, and substantial habitat loss. It was one of these species that motivated me to purchase the book. The St. Francis’ satyr, an endangered

butterfly endemic to North Carolina, is known only to occur at Fort Bragg. The species is very dependent on disturbance; its grassy wetland habitat is created naturally by fire and flooding events from beavers. Today the military activities at Fort Bragg maintain the open wetland habitats as well as the surrounding longleaf pine uplands. For the St. Francis’ satyr and the other rare species highlighted in The Last Butterflies, a significant conservation challenge is determining the level of disturbance needed for critical habitat to increase small populations, while knowing this disturbance temporarily makes the habitat unsuitable, killing some individuals. Haddad repeatedly breaks down these complicated disturbance dynamics in a reader-friendly way while weaving in personal experiences, having sought out many of these species for his “butterfly life list.” The book’s conservation and ecological themes will resonate with anyone exploring these issues in the biological diverse longleaf pine ecosystems — home to many rare plants and animals, including rare butterflies.

“Weaving a vivid and personal narrative with ideas from ecology and conservation, Haddad illustrates the race against time to reverse the decline of six butterfly species. Many scientists mistakenly assume we fully understand butterflies’ natural histories. Yet, as with the Large Blue in England, we too often know too little and the conservation consequences are dire. Haddad argues that a hands-off approach is not effective and that in many instances, like for the Fender’s Blue and Bay Checkerspot, active and aggressive management is necessary. With deliberate conservation, rare butterflies can coexist with people, inhabit urban fringes, and, in the case of the St. Francis’ satyr, even reside on bomb ranges and military land.” [ 37 ]

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Photos by Christina Larson

Longleaf Destinations Shoal Sanctuary Nature Preserve Originally a longleaf forest, Shoal Sanctuary in north Walton County, Florida, is the revival of land exploited for a century and abandoned to succession growth. Since purchasing the first of eight adjoining parcels in 1990, Robert and Christina Larson have worked tirelessly to restore the natural forest. The elimination of invasive tallow, wisteria, cogongrass, the mass reduction of laurel oaks, yaupon, and sand pines, and the planting of over 14,000 seedlings has brought about a thriving longleaf community. Today Shoal Sanctuary serves as an ecological, educational forest program, offering hiking and guided tours to visitors. Eco-Education & Stewardship Both retired teachers, Robert and Christina bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to Shoal Sanctuary. Robert taught humanities, philosophy, and sculpture at Northwest Florida State College for three decades. Chris was the first female paramedic in Okaloosa County and taught psychology

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at the University of West Florida. Together, the Larsons were foster parents, caring for 145 at-risk children over a span of twelve years. Their passions for caretaking and education run deep. In 1990, the Larsons ventured on a steep learning curve to implement best stewardship practices on their property. They work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Forestry Service, The Nature Conservancy, South Walton Community Council, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Florida Land Steward Program, agricultural extension departments, biologists, mycologists, and master gardeners. In 2008, the couple became certified in Type-II wildland firefighting, coordinating 14 prescribed burns to promote a healthier natural environment for flora and fauna. To reduce their carbon footprint, they fitted the farmhouse with solar panels. In 2020, they expanded Shoal Sanctuary from 50 to 115 acres and were recognized by the Florida Forest Service as “outstanding Florida forest landowners.”

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Prescribed burn at “Madonna of the Orbs” sculpture

The gazebo is one of many special spots for gatherings or peace and quiet at Shoal Sanctuary.

Lo & Behold longleaf pine

Along with restoring longleaf pine, the Larsons have planted other imperiled conifer trees on their property. Connie Barlow, paleo-ecologist and world authority on the Florida torreya (Torreya taxifolia), entrusted 40 seeds to Shoal Sanctuary. The nonprofit Archangel Ancient Tree Archive cloned and then donated 50 redwoods—the largest deciduous conifers on Earth—to Shoal Sanctuary. Of the over 100 species of redwood that once existed, the three remaining species all grow at Shoal Sanctuary amid the longleaf forest. These assisted migration projects are just one of several unique points of interest for Sanctuary guests.

spiral stairway that hugs a live oak, invites climbing. “Council Compass” is surrounded by PineHenge, a circle of longleaf pines planted by Boy Scouts. Unlike stuffy, hands-off museums, Larson sculptures welcome viewers’ touch as the different textures are part of the enjoyment. Robert’s artwork has been purchased by Paramount Pictures, museums, churches, universities, banks, corporations, and private collectors across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Hikers confident in their navigation skills can borrow a detailed trail map. Roads are marked with leaf-shaped signs created from repurposed campaign placards. Lo and Behold, a section of forest between Lo Creek & Behold Creek, hosts a whimsical Fairyland, installed by Girl Scouts. Nestled amid aspiring young and old-growth longleaf are benches and gazebos offering relaxation spots along the way. “Getting out among the trees boosts physical and mental health,” says Robert. “Even a short hike is rejuvenating. Strolls through a forest are said to improve the human immune system. As mystic theologian Thomas Merton proclaimed, ‘Nothing has

Sculpture Trails & Hiking Visitors can spot hundreds of Larson sculptures along five miles of hiking trails. “Creation Totem” with its indigenous symbols is a central point. “Sentinel,” Larson’s signature piece, keeps a watchful eye over the forest. A dance company came to Shoal Sanctuary, and two dancers performed a beautiful pas de deux on “Haiku” sculpture. “Emu Observation Station,” a [ 41 ]

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LONGLEAF DESTINATIONS

Longleaf pine cones

“Sentinel” amid longleaf

Robert and Christina Larson

One of many hiking trails at Shoal Sanctuary

For the Larsons, Shoal Sanctuary is a living tribute to God’s creation. The care for their family forest is apparent. Taking the time to lift a fallen branch off a longleaf sapling, the Larsons know even the smallest of trees may become a magnificent giant in centuries to come.

Reservations are required to visit Shoal Sanctuary. Call (850) 651-0392 or email LarsonStudio@cox.net. In the meantime, enjoy a virtual visit at ShoalSanctuary.com. ever been said about God that hasn’t already been said better by the wind in the pine trees.’ ” Visitors Welcomed! Over the years, Shoal Sanctuary has been blessed by a Cherokee chief, a Catholic bishop, an evangelic minister, an Egyptian priestess, and a Zuni medicine man. Visitors have come from as far away as Lithuania, Namibia, Bolivia, Japan, Germany, Sweden, and the South Pacific islands. Guests are [ 42 ]

invited to inscribe a message on the sign-in walls inside the farmhouse, some of which are deeply philosophical. One simply declares, “Carson will never fight again.” Chris recalls assuring the 6-year-old writer that rather than making impossible promises, striving to use words instead of fists is what’s important. As Robert said, “Peace is a full-time commitment, something you work at every day. It doesn’t happen after the last plate is thrown. It’s an ongoing effort rather than an attainable goal. Peace is a verb.”

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PEOPLE

{ Transitions within The Alliance } On TLA staff since 2018, Jessica Sandoval served on both the Wetland Ecosystem Support Team (WEST) and the AMBBIS Team (supporting the reticulated flatwoods salamander) before leaving this summer to pursue a M.S. in Biology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a focus on aquatic ecology. Samantha Dillion was promoted from her position as Wetland Resource Technician with WEST to the AMBBIS Team as the new Wildlife Technician. After two seasons with the AMBBIS Seasonal Team, Ronald Henderson III started a new adventure with The Nature Conservancy. Zack Vegso, also on the AMBBIS Seasonal Team, began graduate studies on salamanders at Humboldt State University.

GCPEP Ecosystem Support Team (EST) member Benjamin Tuttle is pursuing new endeavors in natural resources after three years with TLA. Alan Patterson transitioned from the Wetland Resource Technician to the EST with a promotion to Natural Resource Technician I. Wetland Resource Technician Connor Wagner accepted a new role with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as a Park Service Specialist. Joining the Wetland Ecosystem Support Team (WEST) are Camille Broxson, Alexis Feysa, and Miles Threadgill. Randy Tate retired after a noteworthy career in natural resource conservation and management. Thank you, Randy, for 35 years of restoration, conservation, prescribed fires, and beautiful photography. Congratulations and best wishes!

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SUPPORT THE ALLIANCE

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HEARTPINE

By James Furman, U.S Forest Service Liaison at Air Force Wildland Fire Center, Eglin Air Force Base

Pontifications of a Paid Pyromaniac

I’ll admit it—it was exciting when the firetruck came. Barefoot in Wilcox County, Alabama, lighting leftover Fourth of July firecrackers in fire ant beds (they deserved it) on the parched hill above the pond behind the homeplace, life was good. And even more exciting once the grass caught fire, followed by a wind gust from a distant thunderstorm. My brother Stephen and I did our best to stomp it out with our leather-soled bare feet and almost had it, but after a bigger gust of wind, we realized it was time to sound the alarm and get some help. No plausible deniability here. A busted, 10year-old firebug, I could almost see the mugshot in the post office. Auburn Forestry School led to a fire job with the Florida Division of Forestry working on Blackwater River State Forest, with its 186,000 acres of longleaf pine forest, and fighting fire in Santa Rosa County (then the arson capital of Florida). I eventually found a home on 12 acres of cutover longleaf pine forest just off Blackwater’s southern edge. I was burning on the homeplace and Blackwater to restore the longleaf ecosys[ 48 ]

tem and fighting wildfires, all while learning from experienced burners at Blackwater and teaching others the joys of painting a landscape with a drip torch. Never satiated, gatherings with friends and family at the house always included bonfires, some that I’m sure were picked up by Landsat and had roosters crowing ½ mile away at midnight, thinking the sun was rising. I even got to drive a fire truck home—red lights, siren, the works. Life was good. While at Blackwater, I began hearing of something called GCPEP (Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership). It started as an idea, then crafted into a framework for sharing information and resources related to fire and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker between seven large landowners in Northwest Florida and South Alabama. A major career move took me to Eglin Air Force Base, the largest contiguous longleaf forest in the known universe, to manage the fire program, arriving there just in time for the kickoff of Florida’s epic 1998-2000 drought/fire season. I am still trying to convince some folks at Eglin that all the wildfires were not my fault; though given the timing and my sordid pyromaniacal past, I can’t blame them.

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HEARTPINE

GCPEP’s full staff and mission under its wing. And the rest, as they say, is history. Happy 25th Anniversary, GCPEP! I’ll close with a couple of my favorite quotes. Life is a daring adventure, or it is nothing. Helen Keller He not busy being born is busy dying. Bob Dylan

When I arrived at Eglin, the Air Force, and the Department of Defense in general, were fully embracing, and more importantly, funding science-based ecosystem management. Eglin was “all in,” supporting The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to coordinate GCPEP, conduct longleaf pine restoration research, and facilitate science integration into management decision-making. TNC hired Vernon Compton, one of my previous compadres at Blackwater, as the first Director for GCPEP (and first staff of any kind for that matter). Cross-border collaboration and resource sharing, including “partnership burns,” became a regular occurrence as multiple GCPEP partners would converge on Garcon Point, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and other locations. This concept is now more commonplace across the country with the “National Wildland Fire Cohesive Strategy” but was almost unheard of pre-GCPEP. GCPEP grew in stature and gained staff and influence assisting with projects and facilitation across the Partnership, including development and staffing of the Ecosystem Support Team (EST). The EST concept became a model for grant and partnership-funded collaborative ecosystem management support across the longleaf pine landscape and beyond. Nearly ALL of the GCPEP partners relied heavily on the Partnership for a myriad of services and support. In 2010 The Longleaf Alliance was willing to take the huge step forward of taking

Smokey scene post-fire on Eglin Air Force Base. Photo by Kaiden Spurlock.

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The Longleaf Leader - Fall 2021

Articles inside

Landowner Corner

Heartpine

ARTS & LITERATURE

Longleaf Destinations

PEOPLE

NEXT GENERATION

GCPEP - 25 Years of Collaboration

REGIONAL UPDATES

RESEARCH NOTES

Partnership Spotlight

Letters from the Inbox

Management Checklist

Plant Spotlight

Window into Wildlife