Tyndall AFB restores its ecosystem

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Vesta M. Anderson
  • 325th FW / PA

As the largest installation in Air Education and Training Command facility, Tyndall Air Force Base encompasses 29,000 acres. Of this area, 18,000 acres are forest and coastline that have remained in their natural state, rich in wild life. 

According to Wesley Westphal, Natural Resources element chief, when Tyndall AFB opened Dec. 7, 1941, the land was mostly flat due to the abundant use of its resources - the Longleaf Pine. The tree was used heavily by the turpentine industry for navy ships, and was also used to supply schooner masts. 

The Longleaf Pine was eventually replaced by the Slash Pine as a commercial tree for the naval stores industry and the adaptable Sand Pine. However, after more than 70 years, there is a shift in the sails - the native Longleaf Pine forest is being restored to its true home. 

Tyndall AFB has already started the first phase of the Air Force policy to implement "ecosystem management." 

There are three phases to the restoration plan. 

"Phase one is the removal of all species of trees and shrubs other than Longleaf, Slash Pine and significant hardwoods," said Daniel Childs, 325th Civil Engineer Natural Recourses forester. He continues to explain that this phase is 15 percent complete and is expected to be finished April. 

Phase two is the mechanical site preparation of the cleared areas. 

"This is done with a roller chopper that cuts the remaining debris, roots and stumps into smaller pieces in advance of the reforestation phase," said Mr. Childs. 

Phase three is reforestation. 

"This is where we plant Longleaf Pine seedlings," said Mr. Childs.
There are many advantages both the forests and wildlife receive when restoring the natural habitat. 

By reducing Sand Pine Scrub, underbrush, dead trees and pine straw and restoring Longleaf Pine, the hazard fuel load for a catastrophic wildfire is reduced. 

"Longleaf Pine dominated ecosystems require frequent, low-intensity fires to sustain the incredible biodiversity they develop," said Mr. Childs while contrasting the native-pine tree against the currently Sand Pine. "The Sand Pine cannot be managed by prescribed burning." 

However, after the "cut and run" harvest operations during the turn of the century, the Longleaf Pine was nearly wiped out and soon the Sand Pine took over. 

"Sand Pine will establish by 'opportunity,'" said Mr. Childs. "Any dry barren ground left unmanaged and unburned will reforest with Sand Pine Scrub." 

Tyndall AFB has joined the ranks of many in the ecosystem management effort. 

"Longleaf Pine restoration is the restoration project in the Southeast at this time," said Mr. Childs. "It is said that Longleaf Pine ecosystems support higher biodiversity than any other forest ecosystem with the exception of the rain forest." 

"There is an estimated 5 percent of the original old-growth forest remaining," explained Mr. Childs. "Many of the plant and animals associated with Longleaf are threatened or endangered due to the loss of habitat and fire exclusion." 

"All woods in the Southeast are going to burn sometime," said Mr. Childs. "It's better to maintain a fire-dependant ecosystem with prescribed first than to wait for a stand-replacing wildfire (which burns more fuel and thus burns hotter, making it harder to suppress as it kills vegetation and wildlife)." 

The benefits continue. 

"Habitat modification resulting from restoration of Longleaf Pine ecosystems will benefit many species of management concern," said Tyndall's forester. 

The harvest rate for phase one, removing Sand Pine and Shrub Oaks, is between 50-75 acres per month. Prepping the site is scheduled for this summer and the machine plant of the native Longleaf Pine will begin this winter.