Destroyed virgin longleaf pine stand lives-on in digital form

Background/Question/Methods

The Flomaton Natural Area (FNA) once stood as one of the few remnant fragments of virgin, old growth longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) stands in the Southeast. This 25 ha privately owned stand was located within the city limits of Flomaton, Alabama, United States. This stand with trees over 200 years old was burned regularly until 1950, when all burning and fuel management ceased. In 1994, restoration efforts were initiated and over the following decade off-site trees were removed, and four prescribed fires were carefully applied to reduce the years of unnatural fuel accumulations and the associated risk of wildfire. These treatments created opportunities for successful longleaf pine natural regeneration and the potential for recovery of its understory structure and associated plant and wildlife components. Detailed stand information was recorded for the site and used for monitoring changes to the overstory, understory, and soils associated with the restoration efforts. Despite the successful restoration work and demands to save the stand, the FNA was clear cut in 2008. The stand lives on in digital form and will continue to serve as an educational tool and a beacon for the continued mismanagement and loss of longleaf pine ecosystems.

Results/Conclusions

There are still many unanswered questions about longleaf pine stand dynamics, especially for virgin, old growth stands. The digital data recorded for the FNA provides a very unique opportunity to gain more insight into its stand dynamics and to learn more to aid long-term management of longleaf pine. A GIS (geographical information system) database was created by compiling the digital data recorded for the FNA, including a stem-map of all longleaf pines greater than or equal to 2.5 centimeters dbh (diameter at breast height). The database also includes ages, heights, and crown class information, which provides opportunities for a simulated view of the stand structure. The GIS database contains information for over 4,000 trees and provides a unique opportunity to explore longleaf pine stand dynamics of a virgin stand spatially. The variations in densities, size classes, and ages across the stand will be evaluated to provide information about how longleaf pine grows and the stand dynamics of virgin, old growth longleaf pine. Gap dynamics of openings in the stand will also be examined including information about successful regeneration. The stand will live on and continue to be a virtual demonstration for longleaf pine.