FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR LONGLEAF PINE PROGRAM FOR LANDOWNERS
Apply by July 13, 2018
The Florida Forest Service’s Longleaf Pine Landowner Incentive Program is now accepting applications from eligible, non-industrial private forest landowners. The application period is open Monday, June 4, through Friday, July 13, 2018.
Restoring Historical Acreage of this Prized Tree
Longleaf pine forests once covered a vast range from Texas to Virginia, as well as tens of thousands of acres in Florida. Over time they have been reduced to less than four percent of historical acreage due to conversion to other land uses and forest types. Longleaf pine forests are highly valued for their resistance to damage by insects, diseases, wildfire, and storms, and for their yield of high quality wood products, biological diversity, and scenic beauty. In addition, research suggests that longleaf pine forests may be highly adaptive to anticipated effects of climate change, as well as being capable of sequestering higher amounts of carbon than alternative forest types.
The goal of the program is to increase the acreage of healthy longleaf pine ecosystems in Florida by helping non-industrial private forest landowners make the long-term investment required to establish and maintain this valuable ecosystem. The program offers incentive payments for planting Longleaf pine, prescribed burning, native plant understory establishment, invasive species control, timber stand improvement, and mechanical underbrush treatments. A landowner will need to have at least 10 acres of land.
Application forms and more information on program requirements and procedures can be found by visiting FreshFromFlorida.com. Please contact Greg Barton, your local Marion County Forester, at 352-732-1782. He will be able to assist you in assessing your needs and preparing the necessary maps. The program is supported through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with funding from the Southern Company, USDA Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
To learn more about Florida Forest Service programs, visit FloridaForestService.com.
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