Longleaf Pine Forests and Savannas

Native longleaf pine forests once stretched along the southern coastal plain from eastern Texas to Virginia. Prized for lumber, pulp, and naval stores such as pitch and turpentine, the longleaf forests were cut extensively during the early years of European settlement of the South. By the 1960s, much of what remained had been cut; commercial plantations of faster-growing loblolly and slash pines now occupy much of the historic range of longleaf pine. More than 98 percent of the original longleaf pine forest has been lost.

A truly iconic southern tree, longleaf pine is the state tree of Alabama and is part of the official toast of North Carolina. Early explorers and settlers noted the open, park-like quality of the fire-adapted virgin longleaf forests and savannas.

Longleaf pine thrives under a natural regime of regular, low-intensity fires that keep the canopy open, reduce litter on the ground, and encourage the growth of young pines. Without these fires, longleaf forests cannot regenerate properly and will eventually become dominated by hardwoods. The practice of fire suppression, which dominated U.S. forestry policy for much of the twentieth century, has contributed to the loss of the longleaf ecosystem and the species it supports.

Longleaf pine forests and savannas are critical habitat for many species that have declined along with the forests themselves, including the threatened gopher tortoise and endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Many other birds, reptiles, and amphibians are found in longleaf ecosystems. The ground layer is also highly diverse, hosting a variety of grasses, wildflowers, and carnivorous plants, including well-known species such as pitcher plants.