On December 30, 2020, the Associated Press published an article looking at recent collaborative efforts being made to restore the ecosystems of the culturally significant, and fire adapted tree species known as the longleaf pine across the USET region.
“Now, thanks to a pair of modern day Johnny Appleseeds, landowners, government agencies and nonprofits are working in nine coastal states from Virginia to Texas to bring back pines named for the long needles prized by Native Americans for weaving baskets…. About 400 acres (160 hectares) of land returned to longleaf were planted by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, for their needles. But branches from most of the first planting are now too high to reach. So Gesse Bullock, the Tribe’s fire management specialist, said he is pushing for another planting on the 10,200-acre (4,100-hectare) reservation.”