As it was Memorial Day yesterday, we thought we would shine a spotlight on the US Army and their conservation efforts around Fort Stewart and Fort Jackson. Around these forts is home to the once endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. About 20 years ago, the woodpecker was on the endangered list as their habitat of Longleaf Pines (Pinus palustris), were rapidly stringing due to development around the area. The longleaf pine is a species native to the Southeastern United States that used to grow to about 154 feet tall before most of those sized trees were cut down to extensive logging. They are very slow growing trees, taking up to 100 -150 years to mature and can live up to 500 years. Longleaf pine is highly pyrophytic (resistant to wildfire) and dependent on fire. Periodic natural wildfire and anthropogenic fires select for this species by removing competition and exposing bare soil for successful germination of seeds. The Army stationed at Fort Stewart and Fort Jackson will use controlled burns to help this tree’s population. They have also transplanted some more mature Longleaf Pines as well as planting new ones, but those will take a long time to grow. The conservation efforts at these Fort have been successful, and the red-cockaded woodpecker has been downlisted on the endangered species list because of the growth of populations around these areas!