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MS SAF Position Statement on Longleaf Restoration and Management

Position:

The Mississippi Society of American Foresters (MS SAF) supports the restoration and maintenance of longleaf pine on appropriate sites in the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi.

Background:

In presettlement times, the longleaf pine ecosystem occupied an estimated 60 million acres and is reported to have occurred on another 30 million acres in mixed stands. This ecosystem declined dramatically for a variety of well-documented reasons to less than approximately 3.5 million highly fragmented acres (96% decline), making it one of the most threatened ecosystems in the United States. In Mississippi, longleaf pine once occupied a gross area of 9.1 million acres based on 1880 census data (John McGuire, Longleaf Alliance) and approximately 2.1 million acres as of 1935 (Wahlenberg, 1946). According to Outcalt and Sheffield (1996) there were 3.2 million acres Southwide in 1993, with 255,000 acres in Mississippi. More than half (54%) of the longleaf acreage in Mississippi is held by private, nonindustrial forest landowners.

Ecological Significance

Although the overstory is dominated by one tree species, the longleaf pine ecosystem has one of the richest species diversity outside of the Tropics with about 42 small-scale plant species per square meter and the highest species density of amphibians and reptiles in North America is found over the geographic distribution of longleaf pine (Means 1996). Nearly 900 plant species are confined to the longleaf pine ecosystem. The decline of longleaf pine has contributed to the threatened or endangered status of 26 federally listed plant and seven wildlife species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker and gopher tortoise keystone species. The “restoration” of the fire-maintained longleaf pine ecosystem would not only benefit these species but also populations of Northern bobwhite, a highly prized game species dependent upon open pine forests.

Restoration is defined as “an intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity, and sustainability” (SER 2004). Restoration is complete when the ecosystem will sustain itself structurally and functionally.

Economic Benefits

Compared to other longleaf-producing states, Mississippi has the greatest percentage of longleaf pine sites classified as “superior quality” (i.e., sites capable of producing at least 85 cubic feet per acre per year when fully stocked). This is due to suitable climate, topography, and soils. More than 75% of Mississippi’s longleaf pine sites are superior quality, whereas only 15% of longleaf sites outside of Mississippi are superior quality.

Longleaf pine has potential financial advantages over loblolly and slash pines, particularly in sawtimber-length rotations. Longleaf’s primary economic advantage is that its tall, straight, knot-free form is ideal for producing high-valued poles, which historically are worth 30-50% more. An Auburn University study has shown that almost 72% of 39-year-old longleaf pine sawtimber-sized trees could be sold as poles, whereas less than 12% of slash pine and less than 8% of loblolly, planted at the same time, could be graded as poles (Browning et al. 2009). Wood from longleaf is denser and, therefore, heavier than other southern pines, thus providing economic returns that are higher for longleaf when compared to other pines on a per volume basis. Studies have shown that longleaf will outgrow slash and loblolly in 12-15 years on poor sites and in 25-30 years on average sites, but would generally take longer to equal loblolly on highly productive sites.

In addition to providing competitive economic returns, longleaf pine is also more resistant in its range to most diseases and insects, notably fusiform rust, and pine bark beetle infestations that plague other southern pine species. Longleaf grows well on sandy soils, is fire resistant, and actually thrives from periodic fires. It generally continues growth and responds to thinning throughout its life. Well-managed stands of longleaf pine are also more aesthetically pleasing due to its park-like appearance.

Landowners near the Gulf Coast Plain should consider longleaf restoration for wind resistance. According to NOAA, “it is quite possible that extreme hurricane activity since 1995 marks the start of another active period that may last a total of 25-40 years.” Research conducted after Hurricane Katrina on 20-year-old thinned loblolly, slash, and longleaf plantations found that only 16% of loblolly pines were undamaged, 52% of slash pine was undamaged, and 64% of longleaf pine was undamaged. In addition, the majority of the damage with both loblolly and slash pine was with snapped trees, which rapidly lose the majority of their value. The majority of the damage to longleaf, however, was either in the leaning or blown over category, which are able to be harvested for higher value forest products long after snapped trees have gone for pulpwood.

Financial Incentives

Most potential longleaf pine sites are located on private land. Private landowners have a wide array of financial incentives available to them for longleaf restoration and maintenance. These incentives can complement various landowner objectives including long-term management for legacy, recreation, wildlife, and timber income. One or more of the following financial incentives for enhancement, restoration, and protection of longleaf pine are currently available:

• Carbon Sequestration
• Conservation Easements
• Conservation Reserve Program
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program
• Healthy Forests Reserve Program
• Partners for Fish and Wildlife
• Reforestation Tax Credits
• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

References

Browning, R. W., J.L. Cummins, J.D. Elledge, Jr., T.R. Jacobson, and H.G. Hughes. 2009. Restoring and managing longleaf pine: A handbook for Mississippi landowners. 2nd ed. Wildlife Mississippi, Stoneville, MS. 62 pp.

Hughes, G. 2006. Hurricane Katrina Impacts on Pine Species: Implications for Landowners, Southern Regional Extension Forestry. Available online at: http://www.sref.info/news_items/newsitem_01.31.2006a/view

Longleaf Alliance, Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building, Auburn University, Alabama.

Means, B.D. 1996. Longleaf pine forest, going, going…Pages 210-229 in: M.B. Davis, ed., Eastern old-growth forests: Prospects for rediscovery and recovery. Island Press, Washington, D.C.

Outcalt, K.W. and Sheffield, R.M. 1996. “The Longleaf Pine Forest: Trends and Current Conditions”, USDA For. Serv. Southern Research Station, Resource Bulletin SRS-9. 23pp.

SER. 2004. The SER International Primer on Ecological Restoration. Society for Ecological Restoration International, Tucson, AZ.

Wahlenberg, W.G. 1946. Longleaf pine: Its use, ecology, regeneration, protection, growth, and management. Charles Lathrop Pack Forestry Foundation, Washington, D.C. 429pp.

http://www.longleafalliance.org/

http://www.americaslongleaf.org

http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/20672

Originally adopted by the Mississippi Society of American Foresters (MS SAF) on November 14, 2007. This statement will expire December 31, 2012, unless revised by the MS SAF.