nrcs special initiatives

In a recent article in the Texas Forestry magazine (May/June 2024), Alan Shadow with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) highlighted NRCS special conservation initiatives such as the longleaf pine initiative and the shortleaf pine initiative that assist forest landowners to support healthy forests which are more resilient to wildfires, disease and high wind events.
While most of our East Texas planted forest is in faster growing loblolly pine, loblolly pine cannot tolerate fire in the early part of its life cycle. As a result, large portions of our forests are in dense loblolly stands with thick midstory hardwood species that reduce the sunlight for germinating seedlings and create heavy fuel loads that make prescribed burning difficult. Prescribed fire also benefits white-tailed deer, quail, and turkey habitat. For more information on these NRCS special initiatives, visit www.usda.nrcs.gov/texas.