The Longleaf Pine Forest
Trends and Current Conditions
Description:... Longleaf pine cornunities were once the most prevalent ecosystem in the Southeastern United States. Conversions of land to agricultural and urban uses and replacement of longleaf with other pine species following logging have drastically reduced the area occupied by longleaf pine. Although longleaf communities can still be found over most of its original range, the species occupies less than 5 percent of its historical acreage, Private individuals own most of the remaining longleaf pine, except in Florida. The private sector is where most losses in longleaf acreage have occurred over the last decade. Because prices and the number of sawtimber-sized trees are increasing, potential harvests in the near future will probably be high. If appropriate information and incentives are not in place, losses of longleaf from private lands could substantially increase.
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