Local Implementation Team Update Andrew Schock Longleaf Partnership Council Okefenokee/Osceola Longleaf Implementation Team April 25, 2013

Success with the goals identified in the Range-wide Conservation Plan for Longleaf Pine requires the resources, talents, leadership, and collaborative efforts of a full range of private and public landowners. Implementation Teams are the workers on the ground to get this done while enhancing collaboration between public and private landowners.

Current Implementation Teams Ongoing Activities and Accomplishments Implementation Needs and Recommendations Communication and Collaboration

New Teams (7) Fort Stewart/Altamaha Partnership Okefenokee/Osceola Longleaf Implementation Team Mountain Longleaf Local Implementation Team Ocala Local Implementation Team Cape Fear Arch Partnership Texas Ridge Partnership Sewee Longleaf Conservation Cooperative

Existing Teams (12) Sandhills Longleaf Pine Conservation Partnership Low Country of South Carolina Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Partnership Apalachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance Georgia Red Hills Region West- Central Louisiana Ecosystem Conservation Project Onslow Bight Conservation Forum North Carolina Sandhills Conservation Partnership Osceola NF Cooperative Forest Landscape Restoration Project Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP) DeSoto-Camp Shelby Longleaf Implementation Team Longleaf Ridge Place Based Project

2013 NFWF Longleaf Stewardship Fund Update 2013 Partnership Performance Report Longleaf Maintenance Condition Class Definitions Longleaf Seedling Planting Density Update on RESTORE ACT Longleaf Seedling/Sapling Toppling 2012 FIA Longleaf Status and Trends Report forests-in-the-south-past-and-future/ forests-in-the-south-past-and-future/ Longleaf Growth and Yield Model Update

Longleaf and groundcover restoration – almost 8,000 acres Hire Implementation Team Coordinators Land acquisition/protection – establish connectivity, base buffering – >26,000 Technical Outreach – private landowners and resource professionals – field days,workshops, academies - >1200 Prescribed burning – communications, resource sharing, fire strike teams – almost 100,000 Invasive species control Cooperative research and monitoring Coordinated conservation funding/grants

Several Implementation Team startups are occurring now. Ongoing support/engagement of these teams noted as they will be anchor points for future longleaf efforts. Landowner incentive programs and grants by NRCS, USFWS, and NFWF/Southern Company are crucial to restoration and management efforts. The Longleaf Stewardship Fund that emphasized Significant Geographic Areas and Sites provided new opportunities to Implementation Teams.

Longleaf focused education needs remain. Working with large industrial owners is critical. Consider successful partner training programs, where they are most needed across the longleaf range, and how we can get them there. Seasonal or permanent fire teams are priorities for many teams and are either in place, have just been initiated, or are planned

Extraordinary land protection opportunities exist in light of the economic downturn, especially related to key connector projects and base buffering efforts. Chattahoochee Fall Line success 23,000 acres Fort Stewart/Altamaha 2700 acres Land & Water Conservation Fund Collaborative Funding in FY14 President’s Budget ($9.4 MM) Need for creative funding/agreements that prioritize restoration of these lands so losses do not occur on other lands currently being managed sustainably or those recently restored.

In depth conversations need to occur between the Local Implementation Teams especially around: Fire teams and equipment - sharing Funding opportunities - synergies Large landowner partnerships - learning

Thank You For All You Do In Support of Implementation Teams Thank You For All You Do In Support of Implementation Teams Beth Maynor Young