22. Threats: 



Logging is a chronic threat, but its disruptive effects are 

 moderated if severe soil disturbance is avoided. However care- 

 fully done, logging will unavoidably decrease the already limited 

 foraging and nesting habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker. 

 Site preparation and pine planting, which have followed logging 

 elsewhere on Minnesott Ridge, will critically disturb the natural 

 areas 1 pine flatwoods ecosystem, through drainage, soil disturbance 

 and fire suppression. Overall disruption of the natural fire cycle 

 throughout the natural areas has already taken place, resulting in 

 increased dominance of shrubby species, reduction of herbaceous 

 diversity and loss of red-cockaded woodpecker habitat. 



Other threats include subdivision of the natural areas into 

 building lots, expansion of the landfill or development of other 

 dumping sites, and possibly involvement of the natural areas in 

 phosphate production. 



23. Management and Preservation Recommendation: 



Protection of the Minnesott Sand Ridge natural areas should 

 be aimed at maintaining the relatively undisrupted hydrologic and 

 edaphic conditions at the two sites, and at restoring the vigor 

 and diversity of the herbaceous assemblage present. The natural 

 areas typify many important sand ridge and savanna sites in the 

 Southeast, in that the pine cover has been thoroughly disturbed 

 in the past. This does not diminish the value of the natural 

 areas, since the conditions required by the diverse herb assem- 

 blages still generally prevail. 



The most pressing management need, after prevention of sheer 

 physical disruption, is the resumption of a regime of frequent 

 fire, through prescribed burns. The potentially herb-rich eco- 

 tones between upland and swale are especially in need of shrub 

 control by fire. 



Fire will also aid the red-cockaded woodpecker by maintaining 

 the open pine forest preferred by the species. Potential and actual 

 cavity trees are very scarce on the Ridge , and should be identified 

 and protected from logging. Sufficient foraging habitat should 

 also be withdrawn from logging, or at least, logged on a long 

 rotation designed to provide adequate foraging stands (and cavity 

 tree replacements) . 



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