Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Fire & Old Forests in the Red Hills: A Day at Tall Timbers
On April 29th, forest professionals, conservationists, and industry leaders gathered at Tall Timbers Research Station for the Forest Stewards Guild’s Fire & Old Forests in the Red Hills field day. The event brought together a dynamic group representing organizations such as Tall Timbers, the Forest Stewards Guild, Smurfit WestRock, The Nature Conservancy, Avalon Plantation, and the Turner Foundation for a full-day exploration of one of the Southeast’s most iconic fire-adapted landscapes.
The day began at the historic Tall Timbers Lodge with a light breakfast and an introduction to the Red Hills region — a 300,000-acre conservation focus area stretching between Thomasville, Georgia, and Tallahassee, Florida. The group then headed into the field to visit a series of forest sites that highlighted the power of prescribed fire, long-term research, and thoughtful land stewardship.
Stops included a rare old-growth shortleaf pine stand, uniquely preserved through decades of prescribed burning and habitat-focused management. Unlike many shortleaf stands thought to be post-agricultural regrowth, this one bore the indicators of a native forest, challenging long-held assumptions about shortleaf ecology in the region.
Attendees also toured a postcard-worthy longleaf pine savannah, where towering pines and a rich wiregrass understory served as a model for restoration potential. During an impromptu gopher tortoise survey, the group was rewarded with a sighting of a healthy tortoise — a tangible reminder of the biodiversity that thrives in well-managed, fire-adapted systems.
Conversations throughout the day explored the evolving relationship between land management, certification, and market access. Anna Duff, Fiber Sustainability Manager from Smurfit WestRock, who leads forest certification efforts out of Jacksonville, remarked that “the whole forestry world has changed since certification was implemented — it’s been a game changer.” Her point underscored the growing value of systems like FSC in supporting sustainable forest practices across diverse ownerships.
With representatives from FSC-US present — including Southeastern Regional Manager Kaylyn Glenn — discussions also touched on the importance of integrating prescribed fire more intentionally into certification frameworks, particularly in regions like the Southeast where fire is foundational to forest health and resilience. Participants reflected on how certification could help reinforce the cultural acceptance of prescribed burning, even as development pressure and public unfamiliarity continue to rise.
The final site visit brought the group closer to the Georgia border, where they explored another historic stand and discussed differences in topography, legacy management, and future restoration strategies. The day wrapped up at the barn with a catered BBQ dinner and a presentation from the Tall Timbers team highlighting recent land protection milestones and ongoing fire science initiatives.
This field day served as a powerful reminder of the importance of place-based learning and the role collaboration plays in shaping the future of forests in the Red Hills and beyond.
