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National Association of State Foresters Weekly Newsletter February 26, 2021: Partners announce #WMA winners, plus more 🌳 news!

Secrets of the Longleaf Pine: SECRETS OF THE LONGLEAF PINE explores the forgotten Longleaf Pine forest that historically blanketed the coastal plain of the southeastern United States. Once comprising 90 million sprawling acres, the over-exploited forest declined to just a fraction of that size by the 20th century. Only a tiny percentage of precious old growth remains, but these remarkable patches display more biodiversity than any other ecosystem in the northern hemisphere. The hour-long film takes viewers on an unprecedented journey through the forest to examine some of the unique plants and animals that can only be found here, and profiles the conservation efforts that are helping to restore the incredible biologically diverse ecosystem.

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea): Reed canary grass is an aggressive, cool-season perennial grass that invades and dominates a variety of wetland types including marshes, wet prairies, sedge meadows, fens, stream banks, and seasonally wet areas. This species can also grow in disturbed areas and spoil piles. Roots spread extensively by creeping rhizomes and runners. Reed canary grass is difficult to eradicate and is one of the first wetland plants to emerge in the spring, enabling it to shade out native species that emerge later in the growing season.

Common reed (Phragmites australis): Common reed, or Phragmites, is a tall, perennial grass that can grow to over 15 feet in height. Phragmites forms dense stands which include both live stems and standing dead stems from previous year’s growth. Phragmites forms a dense network of roots and rhizomes which can go down several feet in depth. This pervasive species quickly invades sites taking over wetland communities and alters hydrology and habitat by blocking light to native plants and occupies the belowground growing space.

Cindy Schulz: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Virginia: Cindy Schulz highlights the value of bringing together many federal, state, and NGO groups to establish relationships and how acquiring access and knowledge of GIS and other information-sharing tools can greatly benefit conservation work being done around the region.

Braven Beaty: The Nature Conservancy - Clinch Valley Program: Braven Beaty discusses his work in the Appalachian region with mussels, the biological importance of the Clinch-Powell River Basin, and how the Appalachian LCC helped to preserve freshwater mussel populations.

Hugh Irwin: The Wilderness Society: Hugh Irwin, Landscape Conservation Planner at the Wilderness Society, talks on how the Appalachian LCC can begin to fill in research gaps and develop common research needs across the region to preserve natural resources.

Marquette Crockett: Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Wildlife biologist Marquette Crockett (formerly of the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge) talks about the unique habitats and common problems that stretch across the Appalachians and how Appalachian LCC meetings are developing relationships and products that will help conservation in National Refuges.