Federal Officials Agree to Support Longleaf Conservation

On June 28, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack came to Charleston, South Carolina, to meet with forestland owners, conservationists, and other citizens to discuss restoration of the longleaf pine ecosystem. The gathering was one of a series of “listening sessions” the Obama administration is holding around the country as part of its America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, launched in April.

Secretary Vilsack, who oversees the U.S. Forest Service, also joined high-ranking officials from the Departments of Defense and Interior in signing a formal agreement to help implement the conservation plan developed by SELC and its partners in the America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative, including our goal of expanding the longleaf ecosystem to 8 million acres in 15 years.