Ten Sarracenias and a student guest traveled to Torreya State Park (Liberty Co.) for a tour of progress over the last 15 years in restoration of longleaf pine / wiregrass habitat with restoration professional Rick Davis. Mr. Davis had presented to the Chapter on the topic earlier in the year.
The Torreya SP situation is one example of long-term restoration needed on tens of thousands of acres now in the hands of the State of Florida but formerly used for, and greatly compromised by, pine farming. These lands make one of the foremost challenges in conservation of Florida's native plant communities and ecological systems.
The lands in this case had been cleared of dense row-plantings of fast-growing sand pines (Pinus clausa) as a first step in restoration. The native groundcover had been decimated under the pine row crop. We looked in on sites at all stages of the patient restoration process to observe the beginning of groundcover reintroduction. Mr. Davis discussed principles involved and varying outcomes in the different situations.
Restorations of this kind are now just underway much closer to the seat of the Chapter. We may have occasion to aid in some way in the years ahead.
