Ninety percent of North Carolina’s land is in private ownership. The role of private landowners in longleaf pine restoration is extremely important, not only for the ecosystem itself, but for the landowners and their families. In this talk, John Ann Shearer will demonstrate how private landowners have played a significant role in longleaf pine restoration in North Carolina over the last 25 years. The NC Longleaf Coalition’s Longleaf Honor Roll recognizes model landowners. John Ann will share the goals, criteria, and nomination process for the Honor Roll as well as examples of landowners who have been recognized for their excellent land stewardship.

Longleaf pine forests are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America, but they depend on fire to thrive. In this talk, you will discover how fire shapes the structure and function of these habitats, how fire affects the plants and animals that live there, and how fire can be used as a management tool to restore and conserve these rare and valuable ecosystems. Whether you are a landowner, land manager, or enthusiast of longleaf pine natural areas, this talk will provide you with valuable insights and practical tips on how to use fire as a force for good.

Register Here with Colette DeGarady, Longleaf Pine Whole System Director, The Nature Conservancy Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024 Time: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET Location: Virtual and in Reeves Auditorium Fee: Free; preregistration required The longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most diverse and endangered habitats in North America, supporting hundreds of plant and animal...

The longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most biologically diverse in North America, and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker is one of its most iconic species. In the 1990s, populations of this woodpecker in the NC Sandhills were critically low. The largest population was on Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), but the Army did not want to alter training or land management. Private landowners mistrusted government agencies and were cutting their longleaf rather than see an endangered bird move in. It had the makings of a classic environmental conflict, until some forward-thinking people decided they had more to gain from solving the underlying problem than fighting each other. What resulted was the invention of several key programs that are now used nation-wide, the recovery of the Sandhills population, and a partnership that became a model for how to do collaborative conservation. This talk will discuss longleaf conservation efforts in NC and across the range and will explore how the lessons learned from the Sandhills can be applied to other environmental conflicts. This talk is part of the Saving our Savannas: Stories of the Longleaf Pine exhibition, which explores the history, ecology, and culture of the longleaf pine ecosystem.