The Initiative

Implementing the ambitious and multi-faceted goals of the America's Longleaf Restoration Initiative (ALRI) across nine southern states requires the commitment and involvement of federal and state agencies, nongovernment organizations, universities, private industry, and the private landowner. Fortunately, restoring longleaf pine has brought together diverse partners with the resources and skills needed for success.

Under the leadership of the USDA Forest Service, Department of Defense, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a Regional Working Group of diverse organizations was formed in October 2007 to develop America's Longleaf. The vision of the America's Longleaf Initiative is to have functional, viable, longleaf pine ecosystems with the full spectrum of ecological, economic, and social values inspired through a voluntary partnership of concerned, motivated organizations and individuals.

There are several guiding principles that shape how the America's Longleaf Initiative proposes to approach the range-wide conservation of longleaf ecosystems. Accordingly, these guiding principles are intrinsic to shaping the thoughts, recommendations, organization and content of the Conservation Plan.

The 15-year goal for the Range-wide Conservation Plan is an increase in longleaf from 3.4 to 8.0 million acres, with half of this acreage targeted in the 16 range-wide "Significant Landscapes" in ways to support a majority of ecological and species' needs. The remainder will be either in Significant Sites or distributed across the range.