Quail Forever and Longleaf Alliance Ink New Partnership for Southeast Forest Restoration Projects Benefitting Bobwhites.
Alexandria, LA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Quail Forever and The Longleaf Alliance have established a partner commitment to quail conservation efforts by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The announcement was made during this week’s 12th Biennial Longleaf Conference in Alexandria, Louisiana and sets the stage for future partnership projects to restore/manage longleaf forest in its historic range of the Southeast.
History has taught that bobwhite quail are closely associated with longleaf pine communities of the Southeast primarily because of their co-dependence on fire. Fire is the most important natural process that allows the longleaf pine community to thrive, and frequent fire is essential for maintaining suitable quail habitat. Once covering more than 90 million acres, modern landscape changes have fragmented vast longleaf forests of the Southeast most suitable for quail. Coupled with fire suppression or the elimination of prescribed burning altogether, the loss of early-successional habitat in the longleaf ecosystem has been detrimental to bobwhite populations.
“This new agreement sets the stage for working with the Longleaf Alliance and are other close partners to help revert longleaf forests back to a healthier state,” stated Tim Caughran, director of field operations for Quail Forever. “Our goal remains helping to manage longleaf stands for optimal habitat conditions that are conducive to quail and other wildlife. Our new partnership with the Longleaf Alliance is another big step for achieving conservation success in Southeast quail country.”
The MOU establishes a framework of cooperation between Quail Forever and The Longleaf Alliance to work jointly with state agencies and other groups to promote the restoration of early-successional longleaf habitat on public/private lands with the most benefit for bobwhite quail and other wildlife. As part of the agreement, Quail Forever will contribute to The Longleaf Alliance by partnering in forest and landscape scale restoration efforts to ensure healthier, more resilient longleaf pine forests in the Southeastern United States.
About The Longleaf Alliance
The Longleaf Alliance was established 1995 to be an advocate for retention, management, and restoration of longleaf throughout its historic range, serve as clearinghouse of information on all things longleaf, provide technical assistance to landowners and managers, provide education and training to natural resource professionals and facilitate partnerships among the numerous public and private interests that are key factors in the future of the longleaf forest.
About Quail Forever
Quail Forever is a leading organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation efforts for the United States’ native quail species. Since its creation in 2005, Quail Forever has conducted more than 13,000 habitat projects across the nation benefitting quail and other wildlife. Along with its affiliate organization Pheasants Forever, it has committed more than $784 million to improve more than 17 million acres of wildlife habitat. Quail Forever has more than 16,000 members and 170 local chapters across the country. Both Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever are part of Pheasants Forever, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Quail Forever is dedicated to the conservation of quail, pheasants and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.