Ocala Longleaf Pine Local Implementation Team - Taking Advantage of a Fantastic Fire Season

By Cheryl Millett, The Nature Conservancy

The Ocala Longleaf Pine Local Implementation Team (OLIT) continued focusing on implementing work on the ground on public lands, beginning work on private lands in the region, and coordinating and communicating.

The timing was perfect to begin work on the ground.  The 2014 fire season in central Florida provided many great controlled burning days and The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Northeast Florida Ecosystem Restoration Team (ERT) took full advantage of the opportunity.  The ERT set a goal of delivering 7,050 acres of controlled burning with support from the NFWF LSF. The ERT overachieved, delivering a total of 8,173 acres of controlled burning on 19 properties managed by federal, state, local or private agencies or organizations. They also conducted nonnative invasive plant treatment and hardwood control on the few days without prescribed fire.

The Florida Forest Service is implementing the bulk of longleaf work on private lands, through an incentive program offering restoration, maintenance and technical assistance. There are contracts in place with 25 private landowners to conduct longleaf planting, native understory establishment, prescribed burning, timber stand improvement, and nonnative invasive control projects.

On the coordinating and communicating front, the OLIT email list is growing and several emails have been sent out with information about accomplishments, workshops, incentive programs, resources, and other upcoming events.  We worked with TNC and NRCS in Florida to get stories out on social media, radio, and print news to promote the value of longleaf pine.  We participated in the annual Florida Forestry Association meeting to gain a better understanding of private landowner needs, and in the biennial Longleaf Conference and Eastern Native Grass Symposium, presented a poster about the key ingredients for a LIT as seen through the eyes of OLIT.

Image 1. The Nature Conservancy's Northeast Florida Ecosystem Restoration Team member monitors a controlled burn in longleaf pine habitat.  Photo by Cheryl Millett

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