PROJECT REPORT
SOUTH EAST 2023SPECIES CONSERVATION AND LONGLEAF PINE RESTORATION
THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Dear friend,
Thanks to your support, a total of 1.5 million trees were planted to restore 2,500 acres of land in the states of Florida, South Carolina and Virginia.
Planting trees in areas that have been degraded or deforested helps the environment by accelerating and assuring the re-establishment of healthy forests. Through reforestation, the canopy is restored, ecosystems are made whole, and biodiversity can thrive.
None of this would be possible without you. On behalf of everyone at One Tree Planted, thank you!
What follows is a report outlining the project you supported in the Southeast US. I hope you enjoy reading it and truly feel the impact you have made.
OVERVIEW
This project worked to establish 2,500 acres of longleaf pine (and improve 5,500 acres of existing longleaf forest with prescribed fire) on large-acreage private lands that are located within the historic longleaf pine range. The project will address barriers to restoring longleaf pine on private lands by building trust among stakeholders to achieve collaborative conservation for at-risk and listed species — and by providing technical and financial assistance to support the planting and managementoflongleafpine.
TREES PLANTED
1,500,000 HECTARES REFORESTED
1,011 ACRES REFORESTED
2,500
ENDEMIC WILDLIFE SPECIES
900+
30+ ENDANGERED SPECIES BENEFITED
TREE SPECIES PLANTED
During Phase I of the South East 2023 - Species Conservation and Longleaf Pine Restoration project, 1,5 million containerized longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) trees were planted on three sites. Longleaf pine is a keystone species that naturally grows in pure (single species) stands, which are maintained by low-intensity fire. Adaptations to fire include thick bark, highly flammable needles, and a unique reproductivestrategythatallowsseedlingstosurvivefire.
SPECIES PLANTED THROUGH THIS PROJECT
Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)
ACHIEVING LARGE-SCALE LONGLEAF PINE ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT ON PRIVATE FORESTLANDS WILL BENEFIT SPECIES IN WAYS THAT OTHER, SMALL-SCALE EFFORTS STRUGGLE TO ACHIEVE.
YOUR IMPACT ON THE MAP
In addition to the three sites planted in Florida, South Carolina and Virginia, an additional 26 sites will be planted at locations within the historic longleaf pine rangeillustratedinthemapbelow.
Source: U.S. FWS
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT
Sometimes called the Amazon of the South, the longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most biodiverse outside of the tropics. Once extending across most of the Southeast, from southern Virginia to the piney woods of East Texas, less than 6% of thisimperiledecosystemremains.
Interestingly, the diversity of the longleaf pine ecosystem is not present within the overstory — which is typically composed only of longleaf pine — but in the groundcover. More than 40 plant species may be found in a single square meter (andmorethan200specieshavebeenrecordedinareasof100squaremeters).
Numerous natural communities comprise the longleaf pine ecosystem. These communities, which include montane longleaf forests, sandhills and flatwoods, are home to more than 900 endemic plant species and provide habitat for more than 300 species of wildlife (at least 30 of which are threatened or endangered) — includingthered-cockadedwoodpecker,gophertortoiseandEasternindigosnake.
A unique feature of the longleaf pine ecosystem that has contributed to its decline is that it is fire-dependent. This means that fire is required to maintain the structure and biodiversity of the system. Low-intensity fires, historically ignited by lightning during the rainy season, move through the grassy understories of longleaf pine forests, preventing the establishment of midstory vegetation and preserving the open, savanna-like structure. In doing so, these fires ensure that longleaf pine seeds can germinate by providing bare mineral soil and reducing the abundance of competingvegetation.
Many factors contributed to the decline of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Unsustainable logging practices in the 19th and early 20th centuries resulted in widespread clearcutting of old growth forests. Land use changes, fragmentation and fire suppression further reduced the extent of longleaf in the ensuing decades. Bythe1980s,littlemorethan3millionacresoftheoncevastecosystem(92million acres,historically)remained.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT
Fortunately, over the last several decades, a region-wide effort to restore longleaf pine has gained momentum. Collaboration among public and private landowners, and land management and conservation organizations is critical to ensuring success. Despite notable progress, much more work is needed to save the Amazon oftheSouth.
Since 2017, donors like you have helped One Tree Planted and our partners plant more than 3.4 million longleaf pine trees on 12,000 acres of public and private landsacrosstheSoutheast.
DOCUMENTING YOUR IMPACT
Through authentic and informative storytelling, we help donors relate to the people who plant their trees and to the impact they're making for the planet. We share photos, videos, and updates from our global projects across our social media, website, and other media to create a personal connection to the incredible work happeningontheground.
PHOTOS FROM YOUR PROJECT
LONGLEAF PINE FORESTS ARE WELLADAPTED TO A WARMING CLIMATE AS LONGLEAF PINE IS A RESILIENT SPECIES THAT IS FIRE-DEPENDENT, DROUGHTTOLERANT, AND LONG-LIVED.
BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS
The longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most biodiverse in the United States. The great diversity of this ecosystem is derived from the significant number of herbaceous plant species, including grasses, forbs and legumes, that compose its understory. In addition, the species-rich understory provides a continuous fuel source for the low-intensity fires that maintain the ecosystem. Longleaf pine communities support more than 300 species of wildlife, many of which are endemic,threatened,andendangered.
Longleaf pine communities can support more than 40 plant species in 1 square meter.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
The South East 2023 - Species Conservation and Longleaf Pine Restoration project will benefit communities across the Southeast. Forests contribute to watershed health by protecting soil and water resources that are critical to drinking water supplies, local economies and outdoor recreation. Forests also provide many ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and flood control. Additionally, the forestry industry is critical to rural economies in the Southeast, providing tens ofthousandsofjobs.
U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
THIS PROJECT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
WHAT ARE SDGS?
Sustainable development entails seeking out solutions that not only boost the economic outcomes of developing and poorer nations, but also work to limit (or eliminate)ourimpactontheplanet.Treesareonesuchsolution.
From creating jobs and reducing hunger to improving gender equality, cleaning air and water, absorbing carbon, protecting life on land and water, and more, planting trees can address all 17 sustainable development goals.
“One Tree Planted is proud to support longleaf pine restoration on private lands in the Southeast, which are critical to achieving regional wildlifehabitatmanagementgoalsandobjectives.”
Stephanie Rochemont Project Manager
United States