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Longleaf Pine Forests
The Role of Fire: A Burning Issue
As author Larry Earley has noted, “fire in longleaf pine forests is like rain in a rainforest.” The nation’s success at suppressing forest fires has sped the decline of the longleaf pine ecosystem, which depends on occasional fires to clear out competing species, promote seed germination, and prevent disease. Fulfilling the conservation plan’s goals will require increases in prescribed burns in key areas. Carefully managed fires will not only advance longleaf restoration, but will also reduce the threat of much larger wildfires.
Longleaf and Global Warming
Bringing back longleaf pine forests is an effective strategy for adapting to the impacts of global climate change and reining in global warming emissions. When compared with other types of pines, the highly resilient longleaf can better withstand hurricanes and other storm activity expected to increase with rising global temperatures. Moreover, this long-lived species is less susceptible to pests and can take up and store heat-trapping carbon dioxide for decades, even centuries.