NWF: How Restoring Longleaf Pine Can Help Prepare the SE for Global Warming
Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests are one of America’s natural
treasures, yet past exploitation has left them hanging by a thread,
now covering just 3 percent of their pre-settlement range. Because
other pine species in the Southeast may be more susceptible to
global warming, longleaf pine forests have an opportunity to
reclaim some of their former glory. Indeed, re-establishing longleaf
pine ecosystems will benefit all Americans by improving climate
resilience, economic opportunity, and ecosystem vitality.
This report provides a summary of recent literature on how global
warming will affect forests in the Southeastern United States and how longleaf pine is expected to be resilient to many of these
changes. It makes a strong case for why longleaf pine ecosystem
restoration should be the centerpiece of forest-based climate
adaptation and carbon sequestration efforts in the region, as well
as efforts to improve the economic opportunities of traditionally
underserved landowners.
Publication Date: 2009
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