The Longleaf Alliance

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The Longleaf Alliance

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Longleaf pine ecosystem across its natural range from Virginia to Texas. Today, only fragmented pieces of this forest remain - many severely degraded.
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The longleaf pine forest ecosystem was once perhaps the largest forest on the continent dominated by a single tree species. Prior to European settlement, this forest is estimated to have covered some 90 million acres ranging from Virginia to Florida and across to east Texas. The rate of decline exceeds that of wetlands and redwood forests, but has attracted much less attention from the media and the American public. The remanants of this imperiled forest support some of the most diverse plant and animal communities on the continent. Fire, a necessary component of the longleaf forest, is conspicuous by its absence from much of the landscape, signaling the disappearance of the complex communities that evolved with it and make longleaf forests unique. Many of the plant and animal species linked almost exclusively to functioning longleaf ecosystems have declined along with the forests. Several of these species have been given protection under the Endangered Species Act. The reasons for the decline of the longleaf forest are many, but current knowledge and other factors offer hope for reversal of the trend. Retaining and restoring the longleaf forest on a landscape level offers the only realistic opportunity for recovery of the entire suite of species that inhabit it.

10/12/2026

Looking to grow prescribed fire capacity? The Biennial Longleaf Conference offers multiple opportunities to learn about Prescribed Burn Associations and collaborative burning programs. Not to mention our Conference track record includes real-world PBA success stories like the Aiken Prescribed Fire Cooperative!

"The development of the Aiken Prescribed Fire Cooperative (APFC) was fueled by the 2022 Biennial Longleaf Conference in Wilmington, North Carolina. During the poster presentation and evening social, several SoLo-ACE Longleaf Partnership members discussed the presentations they enjoyed earlier in the day; someone asked, 'So what would it take to get a PBA in the Aiken area?' In just a few minutes, several people in the room joined the conversation and enthusiastically began brainstorming. A Conference session earlier in the day shared how Prescribed Burn Associations positively impact communities and increase fire on the landscape. Many of us have wanted to do just that, but having a core group of interested people willing to plan landowner meetings and coordinate was all we needed to light the torch that has become the APFC." – Jennie Haskell, The Longleaf Alliance, and Bennett Tucker, Hitchcock Woods Foundation

Hope we see you at some of this year's related sessions in Williamsburg, Virginia! Learn more at longleafconference.com.

10/06/2026

The synergy of the Longleaf Conference sparks fresh perspectives and strengthens collaborative opportunities! Just ask Jennifer Fawcett with the North Carolina State University...

"Following the “Fire It Up! - Planning and Leveraging Fire Festival Events” panel at the 2022 Longleaf Conference, there was interest from festival organizers in learning more about each other's efforts. From there, a Prescribed Fire Festival Learning Group was formed and has been meeting regularly. We even hosted a collaborative "Mini Fire Festival" at the 2024 Longleaf Conference in Florida. The number of events participating in the group continues to grow and has expanded beyond the Southeast. We welcome you to join us!"

Visit longleafconference.com for more information on the upcoming 16th Biennial Longleaf Conference in Williamsburg, VA (October 27th-30th)!

09/29/2026

Join the Longleaf Conference Field Tour on October 29th to experience the northernmost reaches of the longleaf pine ecosystem and hear firsthand from the partners and landowners leading restoration efforts in Virginia.

Departing from Williamsburg Lodge, passengers will experience a short ferry boat ride across the James River, to the heart of Virginia’s pineywoods.

🌲Piney Grove Preserve – See longleaf restoration in action at this 4,000-acre preserve, home to the most northern population of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and a thriving, fire-maintained landscape rich in wildlife. The Nature Conservancy Virginia
🦝Raccoon Creek Pinelands – Over 1,400 acres of longleaf pine have been planted on the 2,000-acre private property, seeing a resurgence of native plant and wildlife species (especially bobwhite quail). Visit notable projects including a longleaf underplanting demonstration and forest carbon study before enjoying lunch under the pavilion built out of sustainable-sourced old-growth longleaf pine.
🌱Sussex Nursery – Go behind the scenes at Virginia’s longleaf seedling production hub and learn how local genetics are supporting the future of longleaf restoration. Virginia Department of Forestry

Register for the field tour (and other Biennial Longleaf Conference offerings) at https://www.longleafconference.com/registration.html

09/28/2026

The people behind longleaf restoration deserve the spotlight! 🌲✨ We're honored to recognize the 2026 Regional Longleaf Award recipients at the 16th Biennial Longleaf Conference, October 27-30 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Meet this year's recipients and follow along as we celebrate each honoree in the weeks ahead >> https://longleafalliance.org/2026-regional-longleaf-awards/

09/17/2026

Multi-Aged Longleaf Management and Markets Field Day 🌲

Join us at the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center in Andalusia, Alabama on October 8th!

What you’ll learn:
– Management of Multi-aged Longleaf
– Timber Stand Regeneration Considerations
– Prescribed Fire Timing and Rotations
– Harvest and Market Insights
– Cost-share Programs for Landowners

Lunch is on us! RSVP at https://longleafalliance.org/event/field-day-andalusia-2026/

09/03/2026

Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (RCWs, Leuconotopicus borealis) are unique among woodpeckers, nesting only in LIVING pine trees rather than dead ones. Mature longleaf pines infected with red heart disease (Porodaedalea pini) are ideal cavity trees because the fungus softens the interior heartwood, making excavation easier. As mature pine forests declined due to logging, development, and fire suppression, RCW populations became increasingly fragmented, and the fire-dependent ecosystems they relied on were disappearing.

Biologists have been working since the 1970s to secure the future of this iconic species. One of the most important factors in its recovery was ensuring adequate nesting habitat. Early efforts focused on drilling cavity starts in suitable trees, eventually leading to the development and installation of artificial cavity inserts.

While artificial cavities are not a long-term solution for sustaining RCW populations, they have played a critical role in the species’ recovery. After 51 years on the endangered species list, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker was down-listed to threatened in 2024. This significant milestone reflects decades of collaborative conservation efforts across the Southeast and demonstrates the success of targeted strategies to protect and improve habitat for rare species.

📷 Photo credits: Michael Hubbard, Brady Beck, and Macey Kenney

07/27/2026

Happy bog day to everyone who celebrates the wonders of bogs! Bogs have so many unique hidden features within them and hold so many benefits in one ecosystem. Bogs are natural water filters that help provide clean water, mitigate flooding, and are powerful carbon sinks. Bogs also provide food - some of our favorite everyday snacks like blueberries and cranberries can be found in bogs. Lastly, bogs are inhabited by many rare and unique plant and animal species that rely on their acidic and waterlogged soils. Our world would not be the same without bogs, and that is why we must protect and conserve these areas!

What are some of your favorite plant species you can find in bogs?

Photo credits📸: Ashlynn Moretti & Julianne Jones - Julianne Jones 𓆙

07/17/2026

We’re celebrating World Snake Day with “your month – your snake” plus bonus fun facts about each species. Which snake are you?

✍️ Graphics by Ashlynn Moretti 📸 Photo Credits:
1. Ben Stegenga
2-3. Julianne Jones (Julianne Jones 𓆙)
4. Sergio Ibarra CC-BY-NC
5-7. Julianne Jones
8. Thrashedout (Kevin) CC-BY-NC
9-11. Julianne Jones
12. Jay York CC-BY-NC
13. Anomalocarys CC-BY-NC

07/13/2026

Did you know that a warm road can look like the perfect resting spot to a snake? That’s why it’s always a good idea to watch out for our scaly friends on the roads.

Snakes are ectotherms, meaning they rely on their surrounding environment to regulate their body temperature. Roads often provide a desirable heat source because they absorb warmth during the day and slowly release it as temperatures cool in the evening and overnight hours.

Snakes also cross roads while moving between habitats, searching for food, or seeking mates (in some cases, pheromones can lead them across roadways during breeding season).

When driving, remain especially vigilant during early morning and later at night, when snakes are more likely to seek warm pavement. If you spot a snake on the road, slow down safely, hit your hazard lights (if appropriate), and give the animal an opportunity to cross. Many times, if given the chance, a snake will move out of the way on its own.

If the snake doesn’t budge, you may gently encourage it to move in the direction it was already traveling using a long stick or similar object to coax them across. However, never attempt to handle or pick up a snake unless you can confidently identify it and have appropriate training and experience.

Safe travels to both you and our lovely snake friends. 🐍🚗

📸 Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus), photo by Julianne Jones -

07/05/2026

Longleaf-ers (yes, that includes YOU!) continue to make progress to restore, conserve, and maintain critical longleaf pine habitat.

Although 2025 data show declines in planting and prescribed burning compared to previous years, the year was marked by a record-setting acreage for long-term land protection as well as numerous successes that extend beyond acreage metrics. Despite challenges such as shifting economic conditions, poor longleaf pine cone crops, and continued recovery efforts from a very active hurricane season in 2024, the longleaf community demonstrated adaptability and strong collaboration across the Southeast.

Private landowners played a particularly significant role, accounting for the majority of new longleaf plantings and, for the first time, conducting more prescribed burning than any public lands group.

Read the full report >> https://americaslongleaf.org/news-events/news/2026/june/america-s-longleaf-highlights-2025-accomplishments-with-annual-report/

Address

12130 Dixon Center Road
Andalusia, AL
36420

Telephone

+13344271029

Website

https://longleafalliance.org/

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