Montane Project 1
Influence of Fire and Hardwood Control on Forest Structure of Longleaf Pine Communities in the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge (Dr. Lisa Samuelson, Tom Stokes, and Dr. John Kush)
- The Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge (MLNWR) has significant acreage of young and old growth mountain longleaf pine.
- The MLNWR has a lack of historical information, therefore, data are needed on forest structure and fuel loads in the Refuge.
- The objectives of the project were to:
- establish permanent monitoring plots in the Refuge,
- document herbaceous and woody vegetation,
- and measure biodiversity, forest structure, and fuel loads in longleaf communities with varying fire and management histories.
- Results:
- Without hardwood control or fire, hardwood encroachment and high duff layers are significantly inhibiting longleaf pine regeneration and development of native herbaceous and grass cover.
- Only 17 of 48 plots had longleaf pine regeneration.
- Future monitoring is needed to track regeneration success in response to management activities.
- Funding provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).
