Mission: The mission of tall timbers research,inc. Is to foster exemplary land stewardship through research, conservation and education. Our primary research focus is the ecology of fire and natural resource management including bobwhite quail and other wildlife in the southeastern coastal plain. Our conservation efforts are dedicated to helping protect the distinctive red hills landscape of south georgia and north florida, and its traditional land uses. Our education program transfers research and conservation information for resource management. Defining exemplary land stewardship exemplary land stewardship (els) balances ecological values and economic utility within a framework of long-term conservation. The foundation of els on upland habitats in the red hills is the frequent use of fire to accommodate management for bobwhite quail, selection timber harvest, and other traditional land uses. Scenic, open multi-aged forest structures are fundamental to els.
Programs: Quail management research conducted critical research on population dynamics on northern bobwhite on our core study areas in the red hills of florida and georgia; we continued regional research and outreach on bobwhites in al, sc, nc, nj, and md; we also established a new research and demonstration project in central florida developing new management techniques in saw palmetto/mesic flatwoods habitats; we radio-tagged over 800 bobwhites as part of graduate student research on bobwhites on our study sites; we translocated wild bobwhites from fl and ga for research purposes and to establish new populations on 6 sites in the southeastern and mid-atlantic u. S. ; we continued research on bobwhite neonate survival and habitat use in collaboration with researchers in texas and missouri; we continued the 3rd year of a 6-year study of predator-prey dynamics on two sites conducting pine savanna restoration, we monitored bobwhite on collaborative forest restoration landscape project on osceola national forest and on 4 sites in florida on public lands. Quail management research staff published 17 papers in scientific journals and symposia; published a new book on the ecology and management of bobwhite quail; we visited over 40 properties to provide outreach on quail management.
prescribed fire, fire ecology and ornithology research staff produced 28 scientific publications in 2017 and received $1. 8 million in research grants and projects. Per our strategic plan we increased focus on our prescribed fire science program; a major accomplishment was establishment of the prescribed fire science consortium composed of government and university researchers, and managers, and hosted the first collaborative research with 40 attendees; staff made 6 presentations at the association for fire ecology national meeting, including the closing plenary presentation; we used remote sensing research to determine how frequently and to what extent fire is used to manage lands in florida; we continued research on dendrochronology to determine historical use of prescribed fire; we conducted terrestrial laser scanning at 4 ecologically-important longleaf pine sites; we conducted training through the prescribed fire training center for 30 agency administrators and over 100 federal employees. Ornithology staff concluded field research on behavior ecology of brown-headed nuthatches; translocated 4 endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers to a safe harbor site in the red hills; assisted staff at river creek wma with planning for expanding rcw's; hired a rcw specialist to assist landowners with the federal safe harbor program and to census the red hills population; we continued research on the ecology of old growth longleaf pine ecosystems.
in 2017, tall timbers completed four donated conservation easements: 1) 855 acres in miller county, ga, 2) 588 acres in thomas county, ga, 3) 500 acres in baker county, ga, and 4) 487 acres in terrell county, ga. Collectively, tall timbers holds +/- 133,111 acres in conservation easements with 99 landowners. Tall timbers completed phase i and ii of the dixie main house rehabilitation special category grants awarded by the state of florida; the project budget totaled $1,248,184. Tall timbers hosted over 600 attendees at its first red hills fire festival. Tall timbers staff worked with area science teachers to develop lesson plans on local ecology through our 2017 teacher-in-residency program.
Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy is an accredited land trust. Accreditation means Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy has demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate their commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. Learn More: http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about.
