Imagine the world’s 8.3 trillion humans crashing to a population the size of Cleveland (360 k) in just 150 years. That’s roughly what happened to longleaf pine forests of the southeast, one of North America’s richest natural systems. Longleaf forests covered about 90 million acres in the early 1800s but were reduced to a mere 15,000 acres of uncut timber by the 1950s. Some of the best remaining examples of this rich forest occur on private properties in the greater Tallahassee area and serve as invaluable guides to restoration on public lands. Come hear about the many random events that conspired to save these forests — a mix of quail hunting, firearm technology, dead-end railroads, a brilliant naturalist, and lots and lots of sheer luck.
