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An Imperiled EcosystemShortleaf pine forests and associated habitats once covered a vast area of the continent stretching from eastern Texas and Oklahoma to the eastern seaboard from New Jersey down to Florida. Early settlers and Government Land Office surveys describe these pine dominated and mixed pine-oak forests as open woodlands where sunlight reached the ground and a diverse assortment of native wildlife flourished.
Over the last 30 years, this extensive shortleaf pine ecosystem has lost over 50% of its former acreage with most of the significant decline taking place east of the Mississippi River. Massive pine beetle outbreaks in poorly managed stands, changes in timber management practices, altered fire regimes, disease, and land use changes have contributed to this rapid decline. These forested landscapes across twenty two states represent an extraordinary diversity of cultural, ecological and economic values centered on wildlife and recreation, water quality, and a high-value wood products industry. With millions of people depending on the values and benefits of this imperiled ecosystem, the need to develop a range-wide conservation strategy is more compelling than ever.
Shortleaf Pine InitiativeIn 2010, a diverse group of the region's resource management leaders formed the Shortleaf Working Group (SWG). This group began to focus regional attention on the extensive and rapid loss of shortleaf pine habitats and the associated values. As a result of the SWG's efforts, the Shortleaf Pine Conference (2011) in Huntsville, Alabama was a huge success, with more than one hundred and twenty of the region's resource managers attending. This conference galvanized the need for a much more extensive range-wide conservation effort in shortleaf pine habitats. In 2013, to address the multiple threats facing this imperiled ecosystem, the Shortleaf Pine Initiative (SPI) was formed. The SPI represents a broad range of public and private organizations, as well as key state and federal agencies currently working in the shortleaf pine ecosystem. In addition, the SPI is currently forming an Advisory Committee and Planning Team to lead efforts in developing a range-wide conservation plan for shortleaf pine and launching an initiative to implement the plan's strategies and actions. The Advisory Committee represents an extensive group of conservation minded agencies and organizations with the common goal of restoring this imperiled ecosystem. Advisory Committee members currently include representatives from USDA Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern Group of State Foresters, Southern Regional Extension Forestry, National Association of Conservation Districts, University of Tennessee, American Forest Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Southeastern Association Fish and Wildlife Agencies, National Wild Turkey Federation, The Nature Conservancy, and Natural Resource Conservation Service. As of November 11th, 2014 Mike Black, formerly of the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative, is the director of the Shortleaf Pine Initiative. To get involved, please e-mail us at info@shortleafpine.net. A Chronology of Highlights in Shortleaf Restoration and Related EffortsThe SPI builds on the past efforts of federal and state agencies as well as other shortleaf proponents. Here's a brief chronology of some key developments that ultimately led to the launch of SPI in the spring of 2013.
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