Table Of Contentdocument
Historic, archived
Do assume
not content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.
EDOSYSM
MANAGEMENT
Table of Contents
Map of the National Forests in Alabama 3
Ecosystem Management-What's That? 4
Riparian Areas 6
Tuskegee Evaluated for Demonstration Forest 7
Conecuh Reclaims Sandhills Ecosystem 8
Nellie Pond: Home to Unique Animals 9
Sipsey Wilderness Under Investigation 10
Universities Provide Botanical Surveys 11
Native Grasses Return to Talladega 11
Native Ecosystems Returning to Oakmulgee 12
Hardwood Ecosystem Management 13
New Strategy Recovers Lost Conecuh Ecosystems 14
Pine Straw Harvesting Under Investigation 15
Recovery Underway for Talladega Longleaf Ecosystem 16
Forest Supenisor
National Forests in Alabama
2946 Chestnut St.
Montgomer\'. AL. 36107-3010
205/832-4470
Talladega National Forest
Bankhead National Forest Shoal Creek District
P.O. Box 278 450 Highway 46
Double Springs. AL. 35553 Heflin. AL. 36264
205/489-5111 205/463-2272
Conecuh National Forest Talladega National Forest
Route 5, Box 157 Talladega District
Andalusia. AL. 36420 1001 North Street
205/222-2555 Talladega, AL. 35160
205/362-2909
Talladega National Forest
Oakmulgee District Tuskegee National Forest
P.O.Box 67 Route Box 457
1.
Centreville. AL. 35042 Tuskegee, AL. 36083
205/926-9765 205/727-2652
Personsofanyrace,color,nationalorigin,sex,age,religion,orwithanydisablingconditionarewelcometouseandenjoyallfacilities,programs,andservicesoftheUSDA. Discrimination
inanyformisstrictlyagainstagencypolicy,andshouldbereportedtotheSecretaryofAgriculture,Washington,DC20250
Forestry Report R8-FR 42 October 1993
The
Alabama
National Forests
in
3
—
"Ecosystem Management What's That?"
by National Forests in Alabama Forest Supervisor John Yancy
This is the Upical response of in the way we remo^'e trees to evaluating stage. We are
forest \isitors when a Forest help pro\ide wood products for beginning to implement
Service employee says, "we the United States. There will be ecos>stem management in all
are managing your forest under some changes in wildlife aspects offorest, recreation,
the Ecos>'stem Management management; the recreation wilderness, and other land
Concept." program will be increased, and management plans in Alabama.
One ofthe best ways to The results will evolve into a
understand Ecos\stem more effective way to manage
Management is to look at a public lands.
wagon wheel Each spoke in the Howe\er. so you will know
.
wheel is necessary' for the wheel more about what is happening, let
to run effeciently. The same me briefly explain what we are
concept takes place in the doing to manage the native
ecos>'stem ofa forest. ecos>'Stems in Alabama.
Before the USDA Forest The four national forests in
Service acquired about 680.000 Alabama have some unique and
acres ofthe four national forests \er\' productive ecos>lems. On
in Alabama, most ofyour the Talladega. Tuskegee.
national forest lands in Alabama Conecuh and a small portion of
were private farms and the Bankhead National Forests,
timberland. Most ofit was cut at you will find the longleaf
least once, and some ofit had ecos\stem. This occurs on the
been deforested twice. Ho\\'ever, Johii H. Yaucy,FbrestSupervisor ridges. It can be identifiedby
after more than 50 years of looking for the longleafpine
c^r^e
management, you can witness has slaHbd tree and a mixture ofblackjack
the return ofa producti\'e forest oak and some smaller shrubs. It
through scientific management also is home to the endangered
practices. seaarrwebde >d red-cockaded woodpecker, and
The Forest Senice has gone many species ofmore popular
through many changes during apf:>foach to tmfc wildlife.
the last six decades. Today, we Prior to the settlement of
turn over another leafin the the South by Europeans.
epic ofincreasing our Africian-Americans. Hispanics.
knowledge ofnatural resource Asian-Amerians and others, the
management with ecos>stem longleafecosjstem covered
management. about 60 million acres ofthe
The Ecos\'Stem coastal plains and piedmont
Management Concept is now ttwi yDUVB seen areas ofthe South.
being intergrated into the Today, this ecos\'Stem is
management ofthe National holding on in about 4 million
Forests in Alabama. acres. The decline is attributed
Yes. change has started more emphasis will be placed to urban expansion, farming, and
taking place. You will see a more on keeping the National Forests increased emphasis placed on
balanced approach to timber, in Alabama as the source ofthe replanting other pine species that
wildlife, recreation, water quality, state's cleanest water. These are faster growing and produce
wilderness, and other t>pes of changes will become obvious in quicker profits.
managementyou've seen in the the next fewyears, but for now It has been found that the
past. There will be some changes we are in the planning and longleafecosystem is dependent
4
IM
upon fire. Before the 1900's. expanding our recreation Ous: work has
wildlfires would periodically bum program. Recreation areas are begun 15
to
along these ridges and, as they being upgraded, hiking trails
got closerto the creeks, the fires expanded, and more emphasis is aire he
would go out. Today, the Forest being placed on interpreting our
Service is working hard to mimic natural resource for YOU.
the natural fires ofpast centuries However, this too is to be the
by using prescribed burning. This evaluated to make sure these
is a ver\' important tool to reclaim activities are not harmful to the
and sustain our declining longleaf recovery or sustaining ofa
armjreth^a^
ecos\'Stems. particular ecos\'stem.
Forests also have the popular In accomplishing this wheels keep
hardwood ecos>'stems along the transition, we are working with
wildlife management, forest
recovery, and other management
activities on the State's natural
ecosystems. In turn, it will enable
us to develop more effective ways
to continue supplying the public
with all kinds offorest products,
and not harm the recovery and
health ofthe ecosy^stems.
As you can see. ecos>'stem
management is complicated.
Each ecos\'stem resembles a
wheel. Ifthis wheel has missing
spokes, they mustbe fixed so the
ecosystem will run in an effecient
manner. Iftoo many spokes are
missing, an overhaul is necessary.
Ourjob is to make that
determination and move fonvard
in supplying the public's
expectations in ways that do not
make these wheels break down.
With the use ofa stalfof
drainages and in the areas that a group ofcolleges to bring natural resource professionals, we
have deep and more productive together some ofthe best minds have embarked on an aggressi\'e
soils. Some ofthe most visible in the business. Also, we are mission to ensure our ecosystems
hardwood drainages can be found evaluating a proposal to make are reclaimed and are more
on the three districts ofthe the Tuskegee National Forest productive tomorrow than they
Talladega and Bankhead the state's premier are today. This will require
National Forests. These demonstration forest. This research, monitoring, public
participation, and time.
ecosystems are the producers of proposal, ifapproved, will
winter food for many wildlife make the Tuskegee a sho\\place Our work hasjustbegun to
species, help protect riparian for research, extension, and make sure that we~the Forest
Service and the public-work
zones, and are a very important education.
component to ecos\'stem Our overall goal now is to together and ensure these wheels
managment in Alabama. evaluate the effects ofactivities keep rolling.
In addition, we are such as recreation, timber and
5
Riparian Areas:
An Ecosystem that Protects Water Quality
y/. •
'1^
Longleaf Ecosystem
Riparian Zone
Hardwood
Ecosystem
Longleaf^cosystem
Clean water, the recharge of example ofthis cooperation is a
1^
nutrients, and unique wetland studyby the University
animal species all have one ofAlabama's Biology
thing in common ~ they depend Department on the Oakmulgee
on a protected riparian zone. District ofthe Talladega National
Riparian zones are strips ofland uptendsrf Forest. This study is gathering
that separate the upland information on hydrology,
ecosystems and those aquatic aquatic plants and animals, and
habitats in streams and lakes. oasysta the filtering capacit>' ofthe
The National Forest in wetland.
Alabama has developed a mm The last and most important
"Riparian Area and Wetland step is to develop a management
Management Strategy." This plan plan with objectives, while
outlines the steps we will use for ecosystems. This could be recognizing the dependent
managing riparian areas. endangered species, sensitive resources and unique values of
Forest Service personnel of plants, flood retention, and riparian ecosystems for wildlife,
the four national forests are now water qualit>'. timber, recreation, visual and
inventorying and identifying the The identification of cultural resources.
riparian areas. This involves dependent resources in riparian The results ofthese
identifying the soils, plants, and ecos>'stems will be coordinated inventories will enable the Forest
the hydrology or water system between the forest aquatic Service to protect, enhance and
that creates the riparian biologist, soil scientist, monitor those riparian areas that
ecosystem. hydrologist and botanist. In have the potential ofbeing
The second important step is addition, cooperation with affectedby management
to identify the dependent private organizations and practices.
resources associated with riparian universities are ongoing. An
6
Tuskegee National Forest Evaluated
for
Demonstration Forest
The
11.000-acre Tuskegee under the
National Forest, located in Ecos>stem
Macon Counts', is being Management
considered forbeing Alabama 's concept," Yancy
first demonstration national said. Under this
forest. Ifapproved. Ecos\stem new concept,
Management projects in foresty, clear-cutting
recreation, and \sildlife would be reduced
management would be showcased and other
to provide the public with methods of
examples of how ecos\'Stem timber har\'ests
management takes place. would be
"This is a bold step." said evaluated for
John Yanc\'. forest supervisor for timber
the National Forests in Alabama. management.
"We are making the evaluation in As for recreation
cooperation with the Alabama and wildlife,
Consortium for Forestry-. these resources
Education, and Research." The would be
Alabama Consortium consists of managed so they
scientists from Auburn. Tuskegee can be enhanced,
A&M
and Alabama universities, while still
the National Forests in Alabama, protecting the
and the Southern Forest area's unique
Experiment Station. cultural
"The objective is to see ifit resources, and
would be beneficial to manage plant and animal
the Tuskegee National Forest life.
Tuskegee
is home to the 200-acre contributions in pro\ading a
The Xisksgee Tsinia Wildlife Viewing better understanding to the public
| Area. Bartram National ofwhat Ecosystem Management
National Forest could Recreation Trail. Taska is," Yancy said.
oe managed to provide| RreacnrgeeaatinodnfAirsehian,gaposnhdoso.ting "TheYTaunsckyegfuerethNeartinoontaeldFtohraetst
the public with This area was once badly could be managed to provide the
eroded farm lands the Forest public with examples ofhow
examples of how Ser\'ice has restored to forestry, wildlife management,
and recreation could coexist and
productive forests for
forestry, wildlife
recreation, wildlife, and benefit each other. It couldbe a
nnanagement, and timber production. model for the state and an
"With the close important educational tool for
'ecreation could coexist proximity oftwo major visitors and private landowners
with Ecosystem universities and a major seeking new and innovative ways
interstate. Tuskegee could to manage their forests."
Management."
make significant
jjiiJLlx,>.ai^«!i»jpa^g!
Conecuh Reclaims Sandhills Ecosystem
The
major ecos\'stem ofthe Research has shown that sandhills it has a more difficult
83.000-acre Conecuh foraging for the tortoise is a time reaching adequate soil
National Forest is longleaf major limiting factor ofits moisture. In turn, this stresses
pine ecos\'Stem in association population. This is why we are the tree and makes it more
with the wiregrass/bluestem looking at ways to enhance the Milnerable to disease.
understor>-. areas where they eat. It is About 5 years ago. the Forest
Historically, fire has played a theorized that ifwe increase the Ser\'ice realized this was not
major role in maintaining this populations ofthe gopher proper ecos>"stem management
ecos>'stem. Because ofthe tortoise, the associated species and is now looking at many areas
reduction ofthis ecos\'Stem will also increase. where slash pines were planted to
throughout the South, many of About 30 years ago, the be converted back to longleaf
the plants and animals dependent Forest Service began converting pine. The change to ecosystem
on this unique ecos>'stem have the longleafpine forest to a management has been
declined in the
last centur>'.
The
Conecuh
National Forest
has at least 10
species ofplants
and animals
listed as
threatened,
endangered, or
proposed for
listing. These
mostly occur in
the fire-
dependent
longleaf pine
ecosystem.
The gopher
tortoise, one of
faster-growing slash pine forest. encouraged, applauded, and
the area's significant indicator
This was done because the supportedby the environmental
species ofthis ecos>stem. requires
seedling survival was much communit\' as evidenced by an
loose sands to construct its
higher in slash pine than unprecedented exchange ofideas,
burrows. Throughout its native
range, much ofthis habitat has longleaf. information, and cooperation on
Afterbeing planted, the several recent projects.
been lost to development.
slash pine grew fast and shaded Currently, the Conecuh plans
Although this animal is not
yet considered endangered on the the forest floor, which decreased to convert most ofthe slash pine
Conecuh, there are more than the growth ofa young longleaf forests to longleafpine when they
350 species known to utilize its forest. Longleafnormalh' grows get 35 to 40 years old. At this
burrows. Some ofthe more well- best in more open areas, when it age. the slash pines are expected
is young. to produce a merchantable
kno\\*n inhabitants are the eastern
The slash pine plantings product. In areas where the slash
indigo snake, eastern
diamondback rattlesnake, the are now showing signs of pines have poorer soils, they will
stagnation. Also, the slash pine be comerted to longleafin the
Florida pine snake, and the dusk)
does not ha\'e a tap root like the nexl decade.
gopher frog, which are expected
longleafpine, so on the
to be listed in the next 2 years.
8
