About: Longleaf Pine Heritage Preserve was acquired and dedicated by the DNR's Heritage Trust Program to protect a seasonally-wet longleaf pine Pinus palustris savanna, several pond cypress Taxodium ascendens depressions, and the rare species associated with these ecological communities. The main elements of concern on the preserve are two federally-endangered species, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis and a rare wetland plant, Canby's dropwort Oxypolis canbyi. Four active groups of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (RCW) are found on the longleaf savanna. This bird is rare because of habitat alteration.
In the period between the Wisconsin glaciation (ca. 12,000 years before present) and European settlement, fire-dependent longleaf pine ecosystems became the most extensive ecosystems in the southeastern United States. Longleaf occurred on about 90 million acres, and dominated about 60 million acres. Today, because of fire suppression and harvesting without replacement, only about 3 million acres remain. Longleaf forests, although dominated by a single canopy tree species, are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems outside the tropics. The preserve's seasonally-wet longleaf pine forest has subsisted because of periodic fire. DNR staff with assistance from the SC Forestry Commission conduct prescribed burns on the preserve to mimic natural fires.
Location: From the intersection of US 76 and Highway 527 (Elliot Highway) near Lynchburg, drive east on US 76. After 4.0 miles turn right on Atkins Avenue, then after 1.4 miles turn right on McKnight Road. After 2.0 miles, turn left onto the entrance and part in the dirt lot near the gate.
Link: https://public-lands-scdnr.hub.arcgis.com/pages/longleaf-pine-hp-wma
