State of Alabama FINAL Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP ...

SPENDING ESTIMATE PER CALENDAR YEAR OF PROJECT
DURATION:
AL-8
2008 $ 250,000.00
2009 $ 250,000.00
2010 $ 250,000.00
2011 $ 250,000.00
GOAL: The goal of the State of Alabama CIAP is to protect, conserve, and restore natural coastal
habitat and wildlife through data analysis, research, and on-the-ground conservation activities.
OBJECTIVE: The objective is to restore 2,000 acres of Longleaf Pine community in the Perdido
River Corridor.
The Perdido River Corridor (30˚ 42’ 27.34” N, 87˚ 28’ 31.56” W) is comprised of publicly-owned state
lands which were purchased from an industrial timber company that intensively managed it for fiber
production for over sixty years. Prior to this intensive management, much of the upland area was
dominated by Longleaf Pine. Historically, the Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) was the dominant tree species
on an estimated 60 million acres in the southeastern Unites States. However, natural stands of longleaf
pine have rapidly declined and currently occupy less than three million acres of its original range. Much of
the remaining stands are severely degraded, and thus, does not function fully as a viable ecological system
or provide the historical values associated with this forest type. At least 1,200 vascular plant species are
endemic to the longleaf pine system, many of which are considered rare, threatened, or endangered by
state and federal authorities. The longleaf system is one of the most diverse regions in North America in
terms of species richness, species endemism, and community diversity. This system is now reduced to
less than 5 percent of its former range, making it one of the most endangered landscapes in North
America.
The acquisition of over 20,000 acres in the Perdido River Corridor by the State of Alabama has created a
unique opportunity to conduct large-scale Longleaf Pine restoration The goal of this project is to restore
native Longleaf Pine communities along state-owned land in the coastal area. Specifically, the objective of
the project is to restore 2,000 acres of native longleaf pine habitat in the Perdido River Corridor.
Foresters within the SLD will identify areas in need of restoration via analysis of soil type, previous stand
history, and aerial photography to select the areas to be planted in the most cost-effective manner. Costs
of the restoration include site preparation, burning, herbicide treatment, seedling propagation, and
planting.
After restoration, the SLD will employ typical forest management techniques in order to maximize the
conservation benefit of this project. For example, Longleaf Pine forests require prescribed fire to
maintain stand conditions, reduce competition, promote growth, and reduce fuel load. After stand
establishment, restored areas will be subject to a prescribed fire regime implemented by SLD.
State of Alabama Final Coastal Impact Assistance Program Plan
State of Alabama Tier One Project Descriptions
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