PROJECT ABSTRACT:

The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF), through the Longleaf Pine Restoration on Private Lands project, provides technical assistance, outreach, and educational information to landowners to establish and enhance longleaf pine habitat throughout Alabama.  Ecologists described the historic, fire-maintained longleaf pine ecosystem as one of the most biologically diverse terrestrial ecosystems outside the tropics that supported hundreds of plant and wildlife species.  However, only a small percentage of longleaf remains from its historic range.  This project provides strong support for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Business Plan: Longleaf Forests and Rivers, America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative, and National Bobwhite & Grassland Initiative by addressing the historic decline in fire-maintained longleaf on private lands in Alabama. 

PRIMARY ACTIVITIES:

• Provide technical assistance to landowners to establish longleaf pine habitat throughout its historic range in Alabama.
• Collaborate with project partners to increase longleaf pine habitat in Significant Geographic Areas.
• Provide technical assistance to landowners to enhance degraded longleaf pine habitat.
• Work with landowners to develop prescribed fire strategies to achieve wildlife habitat goals.
• Write and disseminate information regarding the ecological value of fire-maintained longleaf pine habitat.
• Conduct and participate in field days and seminars to demonstrate longleaf pine habitat establishment, enhancement, and maintenance practices that are beneficial to wildlife.

PROJECT FUNDING:

This project is funded, in part, through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Southern Company’s Longleaf Stewardship Fund. 

PARTNERS:

    American Forest Foundation