Dynamics Laboratory
Longleaf Pine Stand Dynamics Laboratory
INTRODUCTION
The Longleaf Pine Stand Dynamics Laboratory (LPSDL) had its start in 1984 with work on the U.S. Forest Service Regional Longleaf Growth Study (RLGS). As the RLGS has been expanded so has the LPSDL.
The focus of the LPSDL is to:
1. Do research, outreach, and extension to provide landowners, land managers, and agencies with information on longleaf pine and its associated ecosystems.
2. Be an integrated effort always looking for partners that share concerns for longleaf pine ecosystems and their function.
3. Educate the private landowner and land managers and to support their efforts on the behalf of longleaf pine.
LONGLEAF PINE BACKGROUND
Forestry literature in the late 1800s and early 1900s was dominated by discussions of longleaf pine. Despite, the efforts and warnings by some of the early foresters in this country, longleaf pine-dominated forests were exploited, leading to a steady decline in the area occupied by this species.
Today, estimates indicate that less than 3.2 million acres of longleaf pine forest remain. It has been noted that longleaf pine comprised 40% of the southern coastal plain in pre-settlement time while today that percentage has declined to 0.7%. In comparison, wetlands have received much more attention from conservationists and preservationists but still comprise some 25-30% of their original area.
Last Updated: November 6 , 2012