Longleaf-Leader-Spring-EXTRA-2020.qxp_Layout 1 3/15/20 2:41 PM Page 2 Longleaf Communities VOLUME XIII - ISSUE 1 SPRING 2020 Longleaf-Leader-Spring-EXTRA-2020_ver19.qxp_Layout 1 3/16/20 10:40 AM Page 23 REGIONAL UPDATES By America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative Communications Team News from the Longleaf Partnership Council Interview with LPC Chair Tiffany Woods, The National Wildlife Federation value of having biannual face-to-face meetings and the connec- tions that the Initiative provides. For instance, NWF recently gained the Sandhill Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) as one of our programs, which is a landowner group that works to ed- ucate and provide peer-to-peer learning opportunities for pre- scribed fire in North Carolina. Jesse Wimberly, the leader of this PBA, hosted the Longleaf Partnership Council on his farm a few years back—this was how we met, and I was able to see first-hand the amazing work that he and the PBA were doing. When the opportunity arose to help him find an organization for the PBA, NWF jumped at the chance because of the won- derful work they do and the benefits to forestry and wildlife. This venture would have never happened had we both not been involved with ALRI. The community and regional connections LPC Chair Tiffany Woods with Gary Burger, Past-Chair are incredibly special. and mentor, holding an education indigo snake at a field day near Ft. Benning. Courtesy of T. Woods. What is the LPC working on this spring? This year marks ALRI’s 10th Anniversary, and we are incred- How did you become involved in longleaf restoration and ibly proud to elevate the Initiative’s decade-long work to re- America's Longleaf Restoration Initiative? verse the decline of longleaf. While we are disappointed that I joined the National Wildlife Federation (NWF)’s Forestry the March celebration in Washington D.C. was postponed due Program in 2012, working closely with our affiliate, the Ala- to travel concerns around COVID-19, we will continue to look bama Wildlife Federation (AWF), to provide outreach to pri- for opportunities to share our group’s successes. We are excited vate landowners to restore longleaf pine with a specific focus to unveil our 2019 Accomplishment Report this spring, and for wildlife habitat restoration. I fell in love with the project, we are also working on documents that describe the value and and from there, I worked with AWF and NWF to implement resiliency of longleaf. similar outreach programs for both Georgia Wildlife Federation and Florida Wildlife Federation. It is incredibly rewarding to How does it feel to be elected the first female LPC chair? be a part of innovative landowner outreach programs centered It is such an honor to be nominated and elected and a huge around longleaf pine restoration and to know that we are chang- privilege to be both the first female and youngest chair to date. ing how private landowners think about and manage their I think this is representative of the number of women that are properties to improve habitat for wildlife. joining the fields of forestry, wildlife, and prescribed fire. We I took on the NWF Longleaf Partnership Council seat for are seeing so many different leaders throughout this work that America's Longleaf Restoration Initiative (ALRI) during my are females—my hope is for other women entering this field to first year on the job—I was very much a “newbie” to the Ini- see someone like them and know that these opportunities await tiative's efforts, but there were so many wonderful members on them. The LPC is unique in the diversity of representation the council that mentored and guided me into the position to among non-profits, businesses, government agencies, exten- learn and eventually take on a leadership role. If you had told sion/educators, and landowners, and over the past few years, me during those initial years that I would one day take on the more women have taken a seat at our table. There is a place for Chair position, I wouldn’t have believed it. I am so grateful to all when it comes to longleaf pine restoration. the leadership team and for the guidance of the past chairs to provide me the skills and knowledge as I work to lead the Ini- You are quite an outdoor recreation enthusiast! What is tiative into this new decade. your favorite way to get outdoors in the piney woods? One of the biggest perks of this work is that I get to travel What is the most rewarding experience in your work with throughout the Southeast to see these incredible landscapes. I the Longleaf Partnership Council (LPC)? love endurance sports, and my favorite way to connect with na- This Initiative has taught me the importance of community ture is running through the woods. I have been lucky enough and the immense value in working beyond the mission and to run the trails at places like Weymouth Woods, as well as goals of my organization. New projects and partnerships have running on rural roads in the Southeast with tall pines swaying developed solely because of the Initiative, as there is immense overhead—it is quite the experience. The Longleaf Leader [ 20 ] Volume XIII - Issue 4 Spring 2020 Longleaf-Leader-Spring-EXTRA-2020_ver19.qxp_Layout 1 3/16/20 10:41 AM Page 24 REGIONAL UPDATES By the Mississippi Longleaf Implementation Team The Mississippi LIT – A Confident Conservation Team Meeting its Goals Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. Inspecting Hurricane Katrina damage. Photo by Photo by Scott Hereford, USFWS. James Cummins, Wildlife Mississippi. Touring herpetofauna study in DeSoto National Forest. Photo by In Mississippi, we under- Tamara Campbell, USFWS. Our team struggled to find our identity, as evi- stand constraints. We are one denced by multiple inquiries from external partners, of the poorest states in the na- and occasional disgruntled correspondence from in- tion. Yet here we are today, the ternal partners. As with any expectant family, there’s “Hospitality State,” fully inte- initial excitement, followed by a phase of discomfort grated and functional, and and fatigue, then the reality of problematic disrup- considered one of the most tions and near derailments. However, during those charitable states in the union, challenges, relationships may be strengthened, resolve based on federal reports. As deepened, and hope sustained for a successful future. far as longleaf implementation With the proper ingredients over time, a beautiful teams go, we have a unique family can develop and thrive. history among the region, one This is a normal process in building resilience in with resolve, tenacity, and a the face of challenges. Our team suffered from lead- strong value for collaboration ership changes, the BP oil spill incident, some initial that has strengthened our distrust that may accompany territoriality, member- partnership, helped us overcome challenges, accomplished ship turnover (retirements), reduced capacity, and the usual goals, and expanded our boundaries. growing pains and misconceptions that come with listing a new At times we may have appeared defiant and unruly, like a species for federal protection (the black pinesnake) within our strong-willed child. “There they go again, only in Mississippi.” operational area. We were told to focus our efforts and prioritize activities due Nevertheless, with grace and fortitude, our transparency has to shrinking budgets and reduced capacity. To us, “hone your built trust among our members, and our relentless drive pro- vision” meant “think small.” We responded, however, not pelled momentum when challenges threatened to derail our ef- small, but collaboratively. We broadened our partner base. We forts. We are now recognized as having one of the strongest leveraged existing programs and empowered those partners to conservation teams in the state, and dare we say, the region? partake in our vision and goals. We’ve become more than a natural resource network; we’ve become a partnership team. History of the MS LIT: Longleaf pine restoration in Mississippi was stimulated by Team: (noun) a group of people who work together events such as Hurricane Katrina (2005) and release of Amer- (adj) marked by devotion to teamwork rather than ica’s Longleaf Range-wide Conservation Plan (2009), where pri- individual achievement. 2. Two or more draft vate and public land interests were peaked due to superior animals yoked together to pull the same vehicle. native qualities and resiliency of longleaf pine compared to Although we may at times appear more akin to definition #2, other southern pines, and in an increase in financial incentives, the Mississippi Longleaf Implementation Team (MS LIT) em- such as the Longleaf Pine Initiative authorized by the Farm bodies the essence of teamwork. Bill. The development of the Longleaf Pine Implementation The Longleaf Leader [ 21 ] Volume XIII - Issue 4 Spring 2020 Longleaf-Leader-Spring-EXTRA-2020_ver19.qxp_Layout 1 3/16/20 10:41 AM Page 25 REGIONAL UPDATES Team organized entities in the longleaf pine management com- gleaf pine annually, while also reporting a positive increase in munity and advanced coordinated conservation delivery efforts. prescribed fire in this landscape, particularly on private lands. Initiated by the Forest Service, America’s Longleaf, and the Based on trends from the past six years, the state plans to es- Mississippi Forestry Commission in April 2010, the first part- tablish roughly 22,000 acres of longleaf pine on public and pri- ner meeting birthed the MS LIT - committed to longleaf pine vate land by 2022. restoration and sustainability. Although a Significant Geo- Targeted localized initiatives promote longleaf pine restora- graphic Area (SGA) was identified around Camp Shelby/DeSoto tion and provide technical guidance for restoration and pre- National Forest, the MS LIT elected to focus activities across scribed fire on private land, including the Partners for Fish and the entire historic range of MS, which included 16 counties in Wildlife Program, the Department of Wildlife Private Lands the Piney Woods Region with the greatest potential for increas- Program, USDA Farm Bill Programs, Fire on the Forty, Mis- ing longleaf pine acreage in priority areas.