In the late 1970s, Linda and Victor, a young couple born and raised in the Detroit suburbs, lost interest in city life. They yearned for the tranquility that accompanies rural … Read more
Shelby Flores
Managing and Harvesting Pine Straw for Wildlife
You can’t travel far in the American South without seeing longleaf pine straw in residential flowerbeds, industrial complexes, or highway landscapes. The red-orange mulch dominates the landscaping industry because of … Read more
Understanding the Benefits of Prescribed Fire
There’s an unfortunate misconception about the role of forest fires, with the public fearing the natural disaster’s potential for destruction, displacement, and disruption. However, while large wildfires can certainly be … Read more
Reclaiming Heirs’ Property: One Landowner’s Story
In 1865, Dr. Thomas Lining, a former slave owner in South Carolina, signed over his land to Lizzie Cunningham Dottree Hamilton. However, this wasn’t an act of generosity, but rather … Read more
How the Longleaf Pine’s Needles Support the Lumbee People
When settlers invaded North America, they encountered significant beauty and ecological richness, such as the sprawling longleaf pine forests that covered approximately 90 million acres of the Southeast—made possible through … Read more
Reshaping Public Perspectives of Prescribed Fire: A Success Story from the Southeast
Fire suppression dominated the 20th century, with campaigns and messaging warning the public about the danger of fires in forests. Generations of Americans grew up with Smokey Bear’s “Remember… Only … Read more
Efforts Underway to Restore Longleaf Pine at Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley State University (FVSU) is launching a new project with the National Wildlife Federation’s Southeast Forestry team in Georgia to conduct longleaf pine ecosystem restoration. This initiative is one … Read more
Academics Afield: Arming Students with Safe Hunting Practices
Hunting is integral in wildlife conservation—from connecting people with nature to managing animal populations—and since 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has been a driving force that supports hunting and … Read more
Restoring Longleaf Pine in the Hoke Community Forest
In the North Carolina Sandhills stands Hoke Community Forest, over 500 acres of protected forest land belongs to the citizens of Hoke County. This forest has historically sat idle and … Read more
