(06) Shortleaf pine restoration on the Domain: A pre-treatment analysis of the forest

The restoration of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) is a major concern across the 23 states where this species has historically grown. In 2017, the University of the South received funding from the National Fish and Wildlife... [ view full abstract ]

The restoration of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) is a major concern across the 23 states where this species has historically grown. In 2017, the University of the South received funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to create 200 acres of new shortleaf pine habitat on the Domain, in a collaboration with Berea College, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, and the Forest Stewards Guild. The initial phase of the project will take place in compartments 46 and 48, and our study’s objective was to examine pre-treatment basal area, tree densities, snag size and densities, fuel loadings, and to survey for cultural resources. We conducted an inventory of 48 points across a 100-acre unit using fixed radius plots (1/20^th acre), and our results indicated that the forest had a basal area of 117 ft²/acre, 200 trees per acre (> 4 in. diameter at breast height), 22 snags per acre (> 4 in dbh), approximately 14 tons fuel per acre, and 223 tree saplings per acre. Fifty-four percent of our shovel test pits had charcoal in them, and only 4% had historic artifacts. The average A horizon depth was 9.7 cm.  The site will be opened up through thinnings and group selections in the fall of 2018, and shortleaf pine seedlings will be planted in the group openings in 2019.