Why have so many areas of the Preserve been logged recently?
In the summer of 2001, Paynes Prairie, like so much of the southeast, experienced an explosive outbreak of the Southern Pine Beetle. These beetles kill pine trees (especially Loblolly Pines) and under the right conditions, spread at tremendous rates. In an attempt to reduce the spread of the beetles, infested trees and those trees within a 100 foot radius of the infested ones were cut down and shipped away. Plans are underway to restore deforested areas with Longleaf Pines which were historically present here in much greater numbers than Loblolly Pines, anyway.
