Longleaf pine reintroduction

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ricardo Guerero, left, and Juan Guerero, right, with Valencia Forestry of Silsbee return for additional longleaf pine seedings (Pinus palustris) in newly acquired land of The Big Thicket National Park in Kountze on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007. The project intends to re-introduce native species of plants to the protected forest.


Workers with Valencia Forestry of Silsbee plant longleaf pine seedlings in newly acquired land of The Big Thicket National Park.


A freshly-planted longleaf pine seedling tries to take root in The Big Thicket National Park.


The Big Thicket's fire ecologist Deanna Boensch, from left to right, fuel specialist D.W. Ivans and lead fire effects monitor Iola Hallock oversee the planting of longleaf pine seedlings at The Big Thicket National Park.


Ricardo Guerero with Valencia Forestry of Silsbee plants longleaf pine seedlings at The Big Thicket National Park.

Please read, "Big Thicket stems from one tree at a time" by Jennifer Avilla.