Burning it up for a renewal of the landscape: a Florida tale

In September I was invited to accompany staff scientists from The Nature Conservancy in Milton, Florida to take a boat trip on the Perdido River along TNC land newly deeded for restoration. As we motored along the tranquil, broad river on a cool, misty morning, I learned that the forest I observed is greatly changed from its natural state.

The lands along this broad river were continuously logged, passing through three paper companies before being returned to the original owners, a founding family in Pensacola, FL. They were disturbed at the state of the forests that had grown back and donated 2800 acres to The Nature Conservancy for restoration and preservation.

Had the scientists not told me, I would have accepted it as the natural condition. Knowing the natural history of a place is critical. Without that knowledge, newcomers like me, and new generations will not be motivated to act on behalf of the living communities of trees, plants, and animals that maintain the well-functioning of the places we live and come to love.

The Nature Conservancy has begun a program of burning down forest riddled with nonnative species to awaken the fire-dependent seeds of native plants lying dormant in the soil. When the new forest comes back, it is the forest of old: long-leafed pine, live oak, magnolia, Atlantic white cedar, palm cypress, water oaks, willow oaks, diamond oaks, etc. It's encouraging to know this land at least will eventually be restored.

One of our companions is the last living descendant of the Wind Clan of the Musogee-Creek community. He told us stories about his people and pointed out places where burial mounds were developed over with homes and condominiums. We learned about his days on the river fishing and exploring and how it has changed as people buy up lots, remove the wetlands to build boat docks and plant sloping green lawns in front of beautiful, big vacation homes. They want a view of the river, too. But, at what cost do we all render our personal dreams?
Without his stories, how would we know what went before us? What has been lost that we should strive to save or bring back?

Along the way we measured the water depth, checked on sites where campers had chopped down trees, and trashed TNC sites to make temporary campsites, leaving trash behind. What a legacy we modern humans leave! Where is our sensibility that we are spoiling our own nests? These scientists and this tribal elder and myself, a little floating tribe of its own, need to hook up our separate boats with all the other defenders of this river and this land, and make a stronger tribe than the tribe of spoilers!


For more information, visit these sites:
www.nature.org/florida
www.eowilsoncenter.org
www.coastalplains.org
www.gulfspecimen.org