Longleaf Pine Initiative November 2011

(Photo(Photo courtesycourtesy RandyRandy Browning,Browning, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Through its targeted conservation programs and services, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is helping forest landowners more effectively address Longleaf pine forest conservation issues through the Longleaf Pine Initiative (LLPI).

Background/purpose USDA agencies to coordinate Goals/objectives efforts helping forest landowners At the beginning of the 17th century, to more effectively conserve the A USDA interagency working group there were an estimated 90 million Longleaf pine forest landscape. set a goal to protect, restore, or acres of Longleaf pine forests with This led to the Natural Resources enhance an additional 4.6 million nearly 900 different plant species Conservation Service (NRCS) acres of Longleaf pine ecosystems in the southeastern United States. establishing the Longleaf Pine in the natural Longleaf pine range by Today, however, less than 4 percent, Initiative (LLPI). 2025. The nine states participating in or 3.4 million acres, remains. Longleaf the initiative include Alabama, Florida, forests are home to about 100 bird NRCS is focusing its efforts to help Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North species, 36 mammal species, and 170 forest landowners more effectively Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and species of reptiles and amphibians. In address Longleaf pine forest Virginia. addition, 29 species associated with conservation issues through the LLPI. Longleaf pine forests, such as the This Initiative is part of NRCS’ “all- The initiative area includes the entire Red-cockaded Woodpecker, are listed lands” approach, which addresses historic range of the Longleaf pine by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified priority resource concerns, forests. Environmental outcomes as threatened or endangered. including those of the Longleaf pine will include improving herbaceous ecosystem. Restoring and enhancing understory conditions in Longleaf An interdepartmental MOU among Longleaf pine forests serves to pine forests, and improving habitat USDA, Interior and Defense identified improve critical wildlife habitat, as conditions in existing Longleaf pine the Longleaf pine ecosystem as well as the health, sustainability and forests, as well as establishing new a priority resource concern. The profitability of privately owned forests. Longleaf pine forests. Secretary of Agriculture charged

Helping People Help the Land Conservation funding/ Benefits to producers Benefits to resources/ practices Through the LLPI, landowners can public Conservation funding/practices qualify for up to 75 percent payment Implementing conservation plans on NRCS has identified Longleaf pine rates to restore or enhance Longleaf Longleaf pine forests will help improve ecosystem priority areas in nine states pine forests. For many, these wildlife habitat and will contribute to and will continue to refine the priority payments help reestablish Longleaf the long-term sustainability of non- areas with help from local partners. pine plantings and defray the cost industrial, private forests, which will The primary program used to support of seedlings, plantings and site provide environmental, economic and the objectives of the LLPI is NRCS’ preparation. wildlife benefits for generations to Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Healthy Longleaf forests yield come. In addition, healthy Longleaf (WHIP), which provides technical and improved water quality, wildlife habitat pine ecosystems provide wildlife financial assistance to landowners and are more resistant to insect and habitat for game species and non- to plan and implement conservation disease infestation, wildfires and storm game species alike and support – practices that improve Longleaf damage than other pine species. In within a single square meter of forest pine forest health and/or establish addition, properly managed Longleaf – dozens of species of wildflowers, new Longleaf pine forest plantings. pine forests yield good economic shrubs, grasses and ferns. More than $17 million of dedicated returns for landowners through high- WHIP funding since 2010 has been end Longleaf pine timber production. targeted to assist landowners working to restore or enhance Longleaf pine forests.

Working directly with non-industrial, private forest landowners, NRCS uses a variety of conservation systems to restore, improve, or maintain understory and overstory of Longleaf pine ecosystems. The conservation systems used include forest stand improvement, prescribed burning, restoration and management of rare or declining habitats, and tree/shrub establishment.

Participation/ Partnerships Because most of the historic range of the Longleaf pine range is under the care of private landowners, NRCS and its partners are working directly with private forest landowners to implement conservation practices to protect, improve and restore Longleaf pine forests. State and local natural resource agencies, wildlife The Longleaf pine Initiative area includes parts of nine states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, organizations and forest landowner Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. organizations work with the NRCS to leverage federal funding for this initiative – making it possible for the LLPI conservation investment to reach even more landowners and more forests.

www.nrcs.usda.gov USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.