At some sites the pinestraw is removed each month. At others it's left to build up on the ground. Light is not nearly as important as we had originally thought. Instead, we've found below-ground resources like water and nutrients play a more significant role in the health of these understory communities. The results will help us to identify treatments that encourage a species-rich understory of herbaceous plants.
Research continues here and elsewhere in the Southeast.
In fact Harrington says there is growing interest in longleaf pines among landowners and conservationists. And, he says, the Forest Service is also interested in the benefits of restoring longleaf forests on public lands for recreation and wildlife habitat as well as timber production. This site works best with the latest version of Netscape Navigator 4.0 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0.