Fire and the Longleaf Pine Forest—

Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is the state carnivorous plant of North Carolina.

Fire Management and Biodiversity in a Natural Wonder of the Coastal Plain

by Roger Shew

Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) forests are special to the history and economy of the southeast, especially to southeastern North Carolina, with lumber and naval stores products. Some have even said it is the tree that built the South. Longleaf was once one of the most extensive ecosystems in the U.S., covering over 90 million acres in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain from Virginia to Texas. It was greatly reduced in acreage and area through the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. William Bartram in 1791 wrote: “We find ourselves on the entrance of a vast plain which extends west sixty or seventy miles. This plain is mostly a forest of ‘longleaved pine,’ the earth covered with grass, interspersed with an infinite variety of herbaceous plants, and embellished with extensive savannas, always green, sparkling with ponds of water.”

Early morning in Bean Patch Savanna. Longleaf Pine canopy and biodiverse herbaceous layer with grasses, forbs, and wildflowers. The small white flowers are Venus flytraps in bloom. The dense forested area in the background is the pocosin that surrounds the savanna.

all photos this article by Roger Shew

In less than 150 years, NC State’s B.W. Wells (1932) noted that “Not a part of this great natural wonder ... remains intact within the state’s borders.” Much of the reduction in longleaf forests was attributable to three factors: 1) Overexploitation (lumber and naval stores uses), 2) Agricultural Activity including conversion to pine plantations, and 3) Habitat Loss from development.

Big Island Savanna. Photo 1/14/21. Note very thick grass. Shrubs and thick grass will eventually lead to reduction of the health of the herbaceous ground cover. Fire is required periodically to manage the growth. Note the post-burn look and recovery of the savanna in the two photos below.

Photo 2/21/21. The controlled burn occurred on 2/9/21.

Photo 5/21/21.

Today, organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Longleaf Alliance, Forest Service, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, among others, are working to reverse the loss and restore longleaf pine acreage. The low of ~3.4 million acres in the late 1990s into the first decade of this century, has been increased to 4.7 million acres with both public and private efforts; there is a goal of 8 million acres by 2025. The restoration efforts/goals were summarized in 2009 with the publication of the Range-Wide Conservation Plan for Longleaf Pine (https://americaslongleaf. org/media/fqipycuc/conservation_plan. pdf). It should be stated that the longleaf pine forest ecosystem is an important part of what was designated as the 36th Biodiversity Hotspot in 2016. This included the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain. I consider the Longleaf Pine Forest to be like an “Umbrella Species” as the conservation of longleaf results in many other species being conserved in the landscape. It has been said that these forests host ~900 plant and over 300 animal species. In addition, U.S. Fish and Wildlife has listed 29 species that occur in the longleaf pine forest as either threatened or endangered.

Orchids are abundant in the Green Swamp, particularly following controlled burns. This one is Grass Pink (Calopogan tuberosus).

Orchids are abundant in the Green Swamp, particularly following controlled burns. This one is the Rosebud Orchid (Cleistesiopsis divaricata).

Rough-leaved loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia) grows in the ecotone between the higher savanna and pocosin. Fire is essential to the survival of this endangered species.

The pine lily (Lilium catesbaei) blooms in late summer to early fall. A Praying Mantis enjoys my favorite flower, too.

The restoration of the longleaf pine forests/ecosystem is dependent on fire management. Longleaf pine forests are fire-dependent or pyro-climax communities. In fact, the absence of fire in the longleaf landscape today would have to be considered as the leading cause of biodiversity loss and negative health impacts in the forest. Fire is critical for longleaf pine as well as for the rich diversity within the herbaceous groundcover layer. Without fire, seed germination would be difficult as the seed of the pine need to reach bare soil to germinate. In addition, woody vegetation and overly thick grass cover would quickly shade out much of the herbaceous vegetation, including species such as the Venus flytrap. The Nature Conservancy has documented the importance of fire in the landscape. Their restoration efforts and management using controlled burns have increased the health and biodiversity of the forests, which leads to a more resilient ecosystem. And the reward for good management is healthy forests that have green savannas, many wildflower species, and a variety of animals. There is a reason the NC Toast includes the line “Here’s to the Land of the Long-Leaf Pine.” So, get outside and enjoy our longleaf pine ecosystems, one of southeastern NC’s natural wonders. And whether you go to a drier Xeric Sandhill Longleaf Pine Community like that on the UNCW campus, or the magnificent Wet Pine Savannas of the Green Swamp in Brunswick County, remember, the “sound of the wind in the trees can physically change our mind and bodily systems, helping us to relax.”

Abundant wildflowers, like the White-bracted sedge in the background, are present in Shoestring Savanna; the photo is six months post-burn. The Yellow Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia flava) in the foreground is abundant in the Green Swamp as are many more carnivorous species (up to 14 species). Shown below are two more: Sundews and the Purple Pitcher plant.

Sundew.

Purple Pitcher (Sarracenia purpurea).

Roger Shew is in the Earth and Ocean Sciences and Environmental Sciences Departments at UNC–Wilmington.