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Longleaf pine forests
once covered millions of acres throughout the Southeastern United
States. Today, only a few thousand acres of this vital habitat remains.
To help sustain, enhance and restore longleaf pine forests, USDA’s
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White announced
the availability of technical and financial assistance to help private
landowners in 9 States restore and manage longleaf pine.
“The longleaf pine is
one of our key native species; providing a home to hundreds of plant and
animal species as well as being a tremendous economic resource,” White
said. “Restoring and expanding this species is only made possible
through voluntary partnerships with conservation-minded landowners who
share our goal of healthy forests.”
Longleaf pine habitat
can contain as many as 300 different species of groundcover plants per
acre, and approximately 60 percent of the amphibian and reptile species
found in the Southeast. Additionally, this forested habitat is home to
at least 122 endangered or threatened plant and animal species including
the fox squirrel, northern bobwhite, red-cockaded woodpecker and gopher
tortoise.
“We’ve taken great
steps toward conserving longleaf pine forests in North Carolina,” said
NRCS State Conservationist JB Martin Jr. “Through this initiative, and
the great works of our landowners, we will be able to enhance and
protect more of this essential habitat.”
The Longleaf Pine
Initiative will incorporate both technical and financial assistance to
help landowners in North Carolina improve habitat on agricultural land,
nonindustrial private forest and Tribal land.
Nine states are
included in the Longleaf Pine Initiative: Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and
Virginia.
Approved participants
will receive financial assistance for implementing conservation
practices including planting longleaf pine, installing firebreaks,
conducting prescribed burning and controlling invasive plants.
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