These two magnificent longleaf pines are about 80 ft north of the UF property line and a few yards east of the 34th Street Trail. The one in the background is 22 inches DBH [diameter breast high] whereas the one in the foreground is 24 inches. Longleaf pine depend on fire for their reproduction. The charcoal at the base of the foreground tree is from a March 1999 prescribed burn, the first of many that will be needed to restore NATL's upland pine ecosystem. The proposed road will reduce the area that can be restored and make smoke management more difficult than in the past--when only 34th Street, to the west over a 7-foot berm, was of concern.

A survey of trees documents that the road will destroy 95 trees that are 12 or more inches in diameter. Of these, 49 may be considered "specimen trees" because they are 18 inches DBH or greater: longleaf pine (n=4, max=24"), loblolly pine (n=10, max.=26"), hickory (n=17, max.=29"), sweet gum (n=10, max.=42"), live oak (n=5, max.=29"), laurel oak (n=3, max.=23").