Longleaf Pine Original Range

The longleaf pine pinus palustris is a pine species native to the southeastern united states found along the coastal plain from east texas to southern maryland extending into northern and central florida.

Longleaf pine original range. Degradation of the ecosystem is partially due to excessive timber. It includes many rare plant and animal species and is one of the most biodiverse in north america once the largest ecosystem in north america it now occupies less than a quarter of the original range. The longleaf pine ecosystem is a climax temperate coniferous forest habitat found within the southeastern united states. In 2007 the bugaboo fire burned 306 984 acres in georgia and florida.

In the past before extensive logging they reportedly grew to 47 m 154 ft with a diameter of 1 2 m 47 in. Forests of longleaf pines were cleared to make space for development and agriculture. Only about one percent of their original range remains. This tree was once so abundant that it seemed like an inexhaustible resource to early settlers.

American forests is partnering with the u s. Rather than thick woods healthy longleaf pine forests are more like savannas characterized by diverse open grasslands. Longleaf pine communities may have covered some 92 million acres but now fewer than 3 million acres remain. A great diversity of plant and animal species made up these longleaf pine forests across its historic range but two features were ubiquitous the presence of longleaf pine itself and the regular occurrence of low intensity.

Longleaf pines which once covered an estimated 90 million acres now cover less than 3 percent of their original range. Longleaf pines can grow 80 to 100 feet tall with a diameter of 2 5 feet and due to their longevity of 150 years or more they store.