Helping People Help the Land

Longleaf Pine Initiative

Background/purpose 

At the beginning of the 17th century, 

there were an estimated 90 million 

acres of Longleaf pine forests with 

nearly 900 different plant species 

in the southeastern United States. 

Today, however, less than 4 percent, 

or 3.4 million acres, remains. Longleaf 

forests are home to about 100 bird 

species, 36 mammal species, and 170 

species of reptiles and amphibians. In 

addition, 29 species associated with 

Longleaf pine forests, such as the 

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, are listed 

by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

as threatened or endangered.

 An interdepartmental MOU among 

USDA, Interior and Defense identified 

the Longleaf pine ecosystem as 

a priority resource concern. The 

Secretary of Agriculture charged 

Through its targeted conservation programs and services, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is helping forest 

landowners more effectively address Longleaf pine forest conservation issues through the Longleaf Pine Initiative (LLPI).

USDA agencies to coordinate 

efforts helping forest landowners 

to more effectively conserve the 

Longleaf pine forest landscape. 

This led to the Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) 

establishing the Longleaf Pine 

Initiative (LLPI).

NRCS is focusing its efforts to help 

forest landowners more effectively 

address Longleaf pine forest 

conservation issues through the LLPI. 

This Initiative is part of NRCS’ “alllands” approach, which addresses 

identified priority resource concerns, 

including those of the Longleaf pine 

ecosystem. Restoring and enhancing 

Longleaf pine forests serves to 

improve critical wildlife habitat, as 

well as the health, sustainability and 

profitability of privately owned forests. 

Goals/objectives

A USDA interagency working group 

set a goal to protect, restore, or 

enhance an additional 4.6 million 

acres of Longleaf pine ecosystems 

in the natural Longleaf pine range by 

2025. The nine states participating in 

the initiative include Alabama, Florida, 

Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and 

Virginia. 

The initiative area includes the entire 

historic range of the Longleaf pine 

forests. Environmental outcomes 

will include improving herbaceous 

understory conditions in Longleaf 

pine forests, and improving habitat 

conditions in existing Longleaf pine 

forests, as well as establishing new 

Longleaf pine forests.

(Photo courtesy Randy Browning, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

(Photo courtesy Randy Browning, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

November 2011
Conservation funding/

practices

Conservation funding/practices 

NRCS has identified Longleaf pine 

ecosystem priority areas in nine states 

and will continue to refine the priority 

areas with help from local partners. 

The primary program used to support 

the objectives of the LLPI is NRCS’ 

Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program 

(WHIP), which provides technical and 

financial assistance to landowners 

to plan and implement conservation 

practices that improve Longleaf 

pine forest health and/or establish 

new Longleaf pine forest plantings. 

More than $17 million of dedicated 

WHIP funding since 2010 has been 

targeted to assist landowners working 

to restore or enhance Longleaf pine 

forests. 

Working directly with non-industrial, 

private forest landowners, NRCS uses 

a variety of conservation systems 

to restore, improve, or maintain 

understory and overstory of Longleaf 

pine ecosystems. The conservation 

systems used include forest stand 

improvement, prescribed burning, 

restoration and management of rare 

or declining habitats, and tree/shrub 

establishment.

Participation/

Partnerships

Because most of the historic range of 

the Longleaf pine range is under the 

care of private landowners, NRCS 

and its partners are working directly 

with private forest landowners to 

implement conservation practices 

to protect, improve and restore 

Longleaf pine forests. State and local 

natural resource agencies, wildlife 

organizations and forest landowner 

organizations work with the NRCS 

to leverage federal funding for this 

initiative – making it possible for the 

LLPI conservation investment to reach 

even more landowners and more 

forests.

Benefits to producers

Through the LLPI, landowners can 

qualify for up to 75 percent payment 

rates to restore or enhance Longleaf 

pine forests. For many, these 

payments help reestablish Longleaf 

pine plantings and defray the cost 

of seedlings, plantings and site 

preparation. 

Healthy Longleaf forests yield 

improved water quality, wildlife habitat 

and are more resistant to insect and 

disease infestation, wildfires and storm 

damage than other pine species. In 

addition, properly managed Longleaf 

pine forests yield good economic 

returns for landowners through highend Longleaf pine timber production.

Benefits to resources/

public

Implementing conservation plans on 

Longleaf pine forests will help improve 

wildlife habitat and will contribute to 

the long-term sustainability of nonindustrial, private forests, which will 

provide environmental, economic and 

wildlife benefits for generations to 

come. In addition, healthy Longleaf 

pine ecosystems provide wildlife 

habitat for game species and nongame species alike and support – 

within a single square meter of forest 

– dozens of species of wildflowers, 

shrubs, grasses and ferns.

www.nrcs.usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

The Longleaf pine Initiative area includes parts of nine states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 

Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.