Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

The longleaf pine forest is a biologically diverse, fire-adapted, ecosystem that once dominated 90 million acres across the Southeast. Today, this ecosystem is much less common and only about 5.2 million acres remain across its historic range.

Many native plants and animals, including species of conservation concern, rely on habitat provided by the longleaf pine forest. Today, several plant and animal populations are in jeopardy because of the decline of the longleaf pine ecosystem. 

The decline of the longleaf forest occurred over a long period of time and was due to several factors including:

• The harvest of mature longleaf trees without attention to replanting young longleaf trees and replanting former longleaf sites with other kinds of trees (most often loblolly or slash pine).
• Tapping longleaf trees for resin to produce ‘naval stores’ (turpentine/tar) caused tree mortality.
• Converting land from longleaf forest to agricultural use or intensive human use (i.e. “development”).
• The idea promoted by Smokey the Bear (and others) that proclaimed “all fire is bad for the forest.” Longleaf is a tree which depends on periodic fire in order to thrive.

Fortunately, both public and private conservation groups recognized the need to address the decline of this iconic forest ecosystem. Working together partners drafted the “Range-wide Conservation Plan for Longleaf Pine” in 2009. This collaborative effort enhanced the efficiency, leadership, and communication around longleaf pine and accelerated its restoration across the historic range.

Conservation partners created America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative (ALRI) and set a goal to restore 8 million acres of longleaf by 2025. Their collaborative efforts have successfully reversed the century-long decline of longleaf pine across nine southern states! The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) strongly supports longleaf restoration and the goals of ALRI through the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Program. 

The Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Partnership (CFLCP) is working locally in west Georgia and east Alabama, where longleaf was historically abundant, to help achieve the range-wide restoration goal set by ALRI.

Private landowner participation in longleaf restoration is critical!  Are you interested in learning more about longleaf pine and understanding if it fits your goals as a forest landowner? If so, there are many resources to assist you.  Please refer to the Landowner Resources section of this website or contact the CFLCP for more information.