Before Europeans colonized the present day United States, longleaf pine forests covered almost all of the southeastern region.  In fact, the longleaf pine forests of pre-colonial times were believed to cover an estimated 90 million acres from southern Virginia down through the Carolinas to Florida and across the Gulf Coast states to East Texas. It was the most extensive forest dominated by a
single tree species ever to be found in the United States. These rich forests were like treasure chests full of usable products for indigenous people, along with a diversity of plants and animals. Colonization dramatically changed the longleaf pine forest ecosystem and brought about many factors that contributed to the decline of the longleaf pine ecosystem. From about the mid-1700’s to late 1800’s, longleaf pine trees were “tapped” for their naval stores, i.e., tar and pitch, which were collected from the trees to waterproof boats including Navy ships.  Years of tapping and harvesting longleaf pines caused a significant decrease in their population. Because of the impact of harvest, invasive species, and fire suppression, only 5% of the historical extent of the longleaf pine ecosystem remains. In this Sandbar Lecture from Bryce Tholen, learn how landowners and conservation groups are helping restore these forests.

Tholen graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in May of 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences and a minor in Geospatial Technology. Later that year 2021 Bryce joined the Coastal Land Trust team as an AmeriCorps Service member. In 2023, Bryce officially joined the staff as the new Environmental Education Coordinator and Stewardship Assistant. Bryce will support the stewardship team with fieldwork and continue to grow our environmental education programs.