Pine plantations restored to savannas

[@casualearth-dandavis]

Was prescribed fire used in that restoration effort?

[@ForestWolf1757]

Yes it was. If you look at 1:08 at the bottom of the tree next to him, you can see where the tree bark has been blackened by prescribed fire.

[@micah_lee]

Is loblolly pine a savanna tree species? I understand it will act like a longleaf or shortleaf pine, but was it historically part of savanna ecosystems? I learned that the original range of loblolly was restricted to following stream banks due to fire intolerance. However this opens a can of worms, that I love. In the modern south we do loblolly plantations. How do we use what we have to most effectively bring back pine savannas? I suppose many sites should be transformed into this in order to cause the least amount of disturbance and not totally restart the stand. Great video and great food for thought.

[@Winterascent]

Most likely loblolly was not, due to it's fire sensitivity when young, but it can fill the role of other species like longleaf, shortleaf or or slash that would have been a savanna while converting that forest over.