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HEARTPINE
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Earlene Jackson burning around a RCW cavity tree (marked with the white band) during a prescribed fire
Living and Learning in Longleaf By Earlene Jackson, USDA Forest Service
As a native of southern Alabama, longleaf pine has always been a part of my life. I’ve walked through many longleaf pine communities and admired the beauty, smells, and sounds of these ecosystems. Even amongst Alabama’s diverse tree composition, including eight native pine species, longleaf pine’s unique silvics make it stand out. After initially designating the ‘southern pine tree’ as Alabama’s State Tree in 1949, the longleaf pine was later named the official tree in 1997.
Longleaf pine has been prominent throughout my professional journey, which includes a silvicultural practice skill set, knowledge in longleaf pine silvics, and silvicultural treatment implementation. I received a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from Alabama A&M University, then gained field experience with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. I started with the USDA Forest Service as a forestry trainee then transitioned to a permanent forester position. Working for this agency
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