Table Of Content

document 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