Planting Trees in Alabama

Restoring Longleaf Pines

Longleaf pine was once the dominant tree species in the South, covering more than 90 million acres from Virginia to Texas. Early settlers gradually began clearing the forests away for agriculture and lumber around 400 years ago. As they disappeared, these valuable trees were replaced with less expensive and faster-growing varieties. Today, the longleaf pine covers less than 3% of its original range. That loss of ecosystem has been devastating to the nearly 600 animal and plant species that depend on it.

As the trees grow, they will reduce forest fragmentation and give a home to endangered wildlife like the red-cockaded woodpecker, indigo snake, and gopher tortoise. They’ll also reduce erosion, due to their ability to grow in sandy and mountainous areas. And, because longleaf pine is resistant to weather extremes and disease, these positive impacts will continue for generations.