Longleaf, Far as the Eye Can See: A New Vision of North America's Richest Forest - Hardcover

Finch, Bill; Young, Beth Maynor; Johnson, Rhett; Hall, John C.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807835757 ISBN 13: 9780807835753

Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press, 2012

Synopsis

Longleaf forests once covered 92 million acres from Texas to Maryland to Florida. These grand old-growth pines were the "alpha tree" of the largest forest ecosystem in North America and have come to define the southern forest. But logging, suppression of fire, destruction by landowners, and a complex web of other factors reduced those forests so that longleaf is now found only on 3 million acres. Fortunately, the stately tree is enjoying a resurgence of interest, and longleaf forests are once again spreading across the South. Blending a compelling narrative by writers Bill Finch, Rhett Johnson, and John C. Hall with Beth Maynor Young's breathtaking photography, Longleaf, Far as the Eye Can See invites readers to experience the astounding beauty and significance of the majestic longleaf ecosystem.
The authors explore the interactions of longleaf with other species, the development of longleaf forests prior to human contact, and the influence of the longleaf on southern culture, as well as ongoing efforts to restore these forests. Part natural history, part conservation advocacy, and part cultural exploration, this book highlights the special nature of longleaf forests and proposes ways to conserve and expand them.

About this title

Book Description

"The longleaf pine, presiding over the biologically richest region of North America, is well served by this beautifully written book."--E. O. Wilson, from the Foreword

From the Inside Flap

Longleaf forests once covered 92 million acres from Texas to Maryland to Florida. These grand old-growth pines were the "alpha tree" of the largest forest ecosystem in North America and have come to define the southern forest. But a complex web of factors has reduced those forests so that longleaf is now found only on 3 million acres. Fortunately, longleaf forests are once again spreading across the South. Blending a compelling narrative by writers Bill Finch, Rhett Johnson, and John C. Hall with Beth Maynor Young's breathtaking photography, Longleaf, Far as the Eye Can See invites readers to experience the astounding beauty and significance of the majestic longleaf ecosystem.

Edition details

• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0807835757
• ISBN 13: 9780807835753
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 192