2010 Longleaf Legacy Grants

The Longleaf Legacy program is focused on restoring the South's signature longleaf pine ecosystem to conserve biological diversity and sequester carbon. The following organizations were awarded Longleaf Legacy grants in 2010:

• The Longleaf Alliance - to continue the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership for restoration of 5,185 acres of longleaf pine by planting 2.4 million seedlings. The Partnership will be used as a model to expand and include the Eglin Air Force Base/Blackwater State Forest/Conecuh National Forest Significant Geographic Area in Florida and Alabama as identified by the Range-Wide Conservation Plan for Longleaf Pine.
• The Florida Division of Forestry - to restore 1,400 acres of clear-cut sand, loblolly and slash-pine plantations to longleaf by planting 1,016,400 seedlings. This project will aid in the connectivity of the Conecuh National Forest/Blackwater State Forest/Eglin Air Force Base Significant Landscape Area in Florida and Alabama as described by America's Longleaf.
• The Nature Conservancy, Florida - to restore 600 acres of longleaf pine through the planting of 90,000 seedlings in Torreya State Park, provide fire assistance on 60,000 acres and plant 6,000 pounds of wiregrass seeds. These activities directly support the Range-Wide Conservation Plan for Longleaf Pine.
• National Wildlife Federation - to restore longleaf pine habitats on private lands in Alabama. This project will restore 15,000 acres through a mix of active longleaf pine re-establishment and landowner outreach, and will have the added benefit of building community leaders and networks to sustain landscape conservation over time.
• The Nature Conservancy, Alabama - to restore longleaf pine on approximately 456 acres by planting 126,000 containerized longleaf pine seedlings. Native groundcover will be improved via prescribed burning on an additional 500 acres through a federal-state-Conservancy partnership.
• Alabama Forestry Commission - to restore a total of 667 acres to longleaf pine on four state forests through site preparation, burning and replanting with approximately 363,515 containerized longleaf pine seedlings. This project will help protect and enhance land and water ecosystems through invasive species management in longleaf understory and overstory. Once completed, the project areas will be utilized for public recreation, education, awareness and outreach.