This is a map of the locations where Pinus palustris has been located in the U.S.

(Pinus palustris… [updated 2008])

This is a photo of Pinus palustris in the grass stage, near Georgetown, S.C.

(Wikipedia c2008)

Here is a photo of longleaf pine needles from a 30 m specimen near Tallahassee, FL.

(Wikipedia c2008)

This is a photo of a longleaf pine forest near Georgetown, S.C.

(Wikipedia c2008)

Longleaf Pine

Pinus palustris

       The longleaf pine thrives in the temperate coniferous forest in the southern U.S. (Dinerstien et al. 2001). The longleaf pine is adapted to coarse textured soils as well as medium textured soils mainly in the southeastern United States (Pinus palustris… [updated 2008]). The temperate coniferous forest consists of year-round precipitation along with hot summers. The warmest month in the summer reaches temperatures above 71.6̊F (Christopherson 2007). Longleaf pine forest are native to what’s known as the "upland" of the south which is a more dry, almost grassland type of ecosystem. It once covered about 90 million acres in the southern U.S. and now only about three million acres are still existing (Longleaf Pine Ecosystem... [Cited 2008]). The Longleaf pine is listed as critical and endangered under it’s conservation status (Dinerstien et al. 2001). It is home to many species in it’s ecosystem, is wind firm and resistant to many diseases as well as insects (Longleaf Pine Ecosystem... [Cited 2008]).

      Humans have a long history with Pinus palustris dating all the way back to the days of the Indians (Williams 1989). Indians burned forested land to create open space for agriculture. Much of the burning took place in longleaf pine forests along with cutting down the longleaf for use of the wood. Once the English began to settle in the U.S., humans began cutting the tree for the production of tar and pitch, which the bulk of came from the North and South Carolinas longleaf pine forests (Williams 1989). As new means of production came into play, such as big mills and the continental transport system, the longleaf pine forests became essentially under attack by humans cutting the tree for naval uses, paper, and urbanization. Although natural burning along with accidental burning of longleaf forests seems to cause mass amounts of destruction, the longleaf depends on fire to reproduce and therefore, small prescribed burnings often help regenerate the longleaf (Williams 1989).

     Today, humans are still the main threat to the longleaf pine forests in the south. Longleaf pine areas have been converted to loblolly or slash pine plantations and have been extremely fire suppressed (McGinley 2007). The growing residential as well as industry growth has forced fire suppression which has stopped longleaf seedlings from germination. Also, large plantations have greatly reduced biodiversity creating not only issues with the longleaf but many other species (McGinley 2007). Still present, is the threat to this species with the usage from humans along with poor conservation management of the forests. 

     Not all hope is lost for the longleaf pine forests. Many conservation groups and associations have enacted many restoration plans. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program have been working to get private landowners to take responsibility for the longleaf forests by developing and carrying out habitat restoration plans for their property (Longleaf Pine Ecosystem... [Cited 2008]). They are also working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement restoration projects through farm bill conservation programs (Longleaf Pine Ecosystem... [Cited 2008]).

     Many other species in the temperate coniferous forest ecosystem are also affected by the diminishing landscape. Among these species are the red-cockaded woodpecker and the gopher tortoise which are both endangered species (Dinerstien et al. 2001). The red-cockaded woodpecker depends on the longleaf pine for it’s home and the reduction in this tree species has been the cause of decline in the red-cockaded woodpecker. The gopher tortoise is known for digging burrows that nearly 400 other species use as part of their habitat (Dinerstien et al. 2001). Obviously from these examples in the temperate coniferous forests, it is east to see and understand why it’s diminishing numbers are cause for great concern. 

      According to studies and clear evidence, this distinctive ecosystem may not be here within the coming centuries (Dinerstien et al. 2001). The only hope is that the remaining 2-3% of the temperate coniferous forest are conserved and people begin to realize the consequences of their actions and begin to take steps towards maintaining their environment. It is suggested that the remainders of this ecosystem are small and isolated areas and are not properly or formally protected (Dinerstien et al. 2001). Many organizations along with individuals are currently working to help protect what’s left of this forest ecosystem. For example, Karen and Phil Leabo from the Georgia Red Hills area donated 61 acres of longleaf pine forest to the Nature Conservancy for permanent protection (The Nature Conservancy....[Updated 2008]). For association purposes, Karen and Phil’s property contains not only gopher tortoises but also the red-cockaded woodpecker (The Nature Conservancy....[Updated 2008]). If people, like Karen and Phil, begin to realize how much they can help save this ecosystem and work with conservation groups or protection agencies, one day we might actually see a return of the longleaf pine ecosystem.

Works Cited

Christopherson R. 2007. Elemental Geosystems: Fifth Edition. Upper Saddle River (NJ): Pearson Prentice Hall. P.588-589.

Dinerstien E, Weakly A, Noss R, Snodgrass R, Wolfe K. 2001. Southeastern Conifer Forests (NA0529). World Wildlife Fund [Internet]. [Cited 2008 March 4] Available from: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/terrestrial.html

Lockhart, Matthew A. 2007. Looking for the Longleaf: The Fall and Rise of an American Forest. Georgia Historical Quarterly 91(4):508-509

Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Fact Sheet [Internet]. Partners for Fish and Wildlife; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [Cited 2008, March 3]. Available from: http://www.fws.gov/southeast/partners/pfwpine.html

McGinley, M. 2007. Piney Woods Forests. Encyclopedia of Earth [Internet]. Cited 2008, March 3] 10:53. Available from : http://www.eoearth.org/article/Piney_Woods_forests

Moore, Lincoln 2002. Plant Fact Sheet: Pinus palustris. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service [Internet]. [Cited 2008 February 18] Available from: http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_pipa2.pdf

Pinus palustris [Internet]. [Updated 2008 February 18]. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service; [Cited 2008 February 18]. Available from: http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?keywordquery=Pinus+palustris&mode=sciname&submit.x=22&submit.y=7

The Nature Conservancy Protects Critical Longleaf Pine Habitat in the Georgia Red Hills [Internet]. [Updated 2008]. The Nature Conservancy; [Cited 2008 March 4]. Available from: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/georgia/press/press1300.html?src=search

Wikipedia. c2008. Longleaf Pine. [Internet] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: [cited 2008 February 18]. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longleaf_Pine

Williams, M. 1989. Americans & Their Forests: A Historical Geography. New York (NY): Cambridge University Press. P.45,47, 237-239, 487