World Wetlands Day
World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on February 2nd to raise awareness about wetlands. Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, with 35% degraded or lost since 1970, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet,...
Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 8 Invasive Species
The definition of an invasive species used by the University of Florida IFAS has three parts. It is not native to the area.Was brought to the area by humans; either intentionally or accidentally.Is causing an environmental or economic problem, or somehow lower...
Ghost Forests
As the name implies, they are haunting—long stretches of standing, dead trees with exposed roots. These “ghost forests” are an unsettling scene in unsettling times for the environment. While coastal erosion is a fact of life—incoming waves, hurricanes, longshore drift...
Reforesting this winter? A good planting plan and long-term forest management plan is essential to success.
Pine tree seedlings. Planting, growth. UF/IFAS Photo by Dawn McKinstry I get calls every year about planting pines, stand establishment, and related requests. I also get many calls from landowners who have planted pines recently (10 years or less) and are wondering...
Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 7 the Marsh
The land of the wet and muddy – that’s what lot of folks call the salt marsh. If you have ever experienced walking through one you know why they call it that. Salt marshes are wetlands that are dominated by grasses and are partially flooded with salt water...
Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 6 The Maritime Forest
For some the forest is a scary place; for some it is a magical one; and for others it is spiritual. For wildlife it is a popular place. There are many places to shelter and plenty of food. Though the forest of our barrier islands is not as dense and...
How to Plant a Tree for the Future
January is Tree Planting Time The colder part of the year is the best time to install hardy trees and shrubs. All their energy is in the root zone. They will establish much faster than if you wait until they are actively growing leaves. The shaved rootball...
Sawtooth Oak: A Good, Not Perfect Tree for Wildlife Enthusiasts
Since entering the U.S. from Eastern Asia in the 1920s and especially since its promotion as the ultimate wildlife tree in the last few decades, I doubt there has been a more widely planted tree by outdoor enthusiasts than Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima). It...
Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 5 The Dunes
The dune fields of the panhandle barrier islands closely mimic those in the deserts of the American southwest. With rolling hills of sand (less the rock), small, spaced shrubs, and high temperatures, hiking through the dunes reminds me a lot of hiking the...
Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 4 On the Beach
The open sandy beach is one of the hardest habitats to live in on a barrier island. There is no where to hide and almost nothing to eat. Add to this the direct wind and waves from the Gulf of Mexico and you have a barren landscape with continuous climate...