Grants are available to private landowners to help restore and conserve longleaf pine trees.
Private landowners in Bryan, Liberty, Bulloch, Chatham and 112 other counties in Georgia can apply for the $5 million available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service to help manage and restore longleaf pines. The deadline to apply is Jan. 7.
The financial assistance is meant to help landowners implement conservation practices, including planting, installing fire breaks, conducting burns and controlling invasive plants and species.
Longleaf pines once flourished in Georgia and eight other states, but acres of the tree have since been diminished. A longleaf pine initiative has since been established to help revitalize and protect the tree, according to the release.
Visit www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov for more information.