/ 



- 62 _ 



red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees, maintain some mat^ore timber (the 

 required amoiont could be a debatable point), and prescribed burns should 

 be continued on regular, fairly frequent basis. Burning of the pocosin 

 areas within the tract, which we believe would be very beneficial, 

 would probably be generally opposed by the Forest Service because this 

 would be more difficult to carry out. However, it is notable that 

 inter-ridge locations of much of the pocosin within this tract present 

 a relatively practical opportunity to burn pocosin since these areas are 

 "surrounded" by Pinus palustris/Aristida stricta . 



Belaud (19T1) reported that the Forest Service was considering the 

 creation of special "red-cockaded woodpecker management areas", where 

 all management activities would be geared to improvement of habitat for the 

 species. Such areas would be located so that they would be readily 

 accessible to the public for the purpose of public education. This tract 

 would certainly be an excellent "red-cockaded woodpecker management 

 area" or better yet, a "savannah management area". Many persons visit 

 this tract yearly in search of "savannah species". Most of these 

 persons are visitors from other areas, so the tract has some economic 

 value to the co\anty. 



22. Rating: High priority. 



23- Statement of site significance: (See Table 3). 



The tract is highly significant primarily because it includes 200+ 

 acres (generally continuous) of exemplary Pinus palustris / Aristida stricta 

 community. This community is exemplary because of its relatively large 

 size, very open aspect due to recent frequent fire, presence of many 

 fairly mature trees, and the presence of a large number of typical 

 savannah species. The tract has a large number of rare savannah species 

 also: at least 3 endangered (one federally endangered) and h threatened 

 species. 



The tract is of some geological significance because it lies on a 

 prominent Pleistocene relict beach ridge system. Such beach ridges 

 are common in the county, but are rapidly being destroyed or altered 

 by human disturbance. The tract is also of historical significance, 

 being an "environment" that was prevalent during the early history of 

 our county. 



The tract is of scientific interest and has been used in research. 

 It is very accessible, and is a site many persons visit to see "savannah 

 species". 



With the moister "pocosin areas" within the tract "surrounded" by 

 Pinus palustris / Aristida stricta areas, there is a situation in which 

 it would be relatively easy to regularly burn these moister areas. 

 This would increase the total area available to mesophytic herbs and 

 increase the populations of the rarer savannah herbs. 



