The Location‍

📍 Withlacoochee State Forest & Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, Florida, United States

Once dominating the southern coastal plain of North America, longleaf pine forests are among the most diverse ecosystems in the U.S.

These iconic landscapes are home to endangered and threatened species including the gopher tortoise, Florida panther, bald eagle, and sand skink, along with white-tailed deer, black bear, quail, and wild turkey.

However, longleaf pine ecosystems have suffered extreme loss—declining from 90 million acres to less than 3 million acres today. That’s just 3% of their original range.

Urbanization, land use conversion, overharvesting, and fire suppression have all contributed to the ecosystem's fragmentation, degrading biodiversity and forest health.

The Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, a heavily trafficked regional corridor, and Withlacoochee State Forest, home to a critical watershed, are now being restored to revive these vital landscapes.

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The Problem‍

Longleaf pine ecosystems require frequent, low-intensity fire to thrive. Without fire, fast-growing competitors like oak take over, blocking sunlight and choking out native wiregrass and pine seedlings.

These forests are now dangerously fragmented, and their degradation leads to:

• Loss of species richness
• Increased wildfire risk
• Declining water quality
• Vulnerability to climate events like droughts and hurricanes

As biodiversity fades and natural carbon sinks disappear, the urgency to restore and manage these forests grows.

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The Solution‍

With your support, and in partnership with American Forests, we are reforesting areas of the Lake Wales Ridge and Withlacoochee State Forests with a mix of longleaf pine and South Florida slash pine—both native, hardy, and resilient to fire and drought.

This project includes:

• Use of geospatial data layers to track site health and guide restoration
• Implementation of controlled burns to prepare land and support healthy regeneration
• Community engagement and stewardship to maintain the landscape long-term
• Watershed protection, enhancing yield and water storage for eight counties in the region

Together, these actions support habitat revival, carbon capture, water conservation, and climate resilience.

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Partners

American Forests and Florida Forest Service

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What is Terrestrial Reforestation?‍

Terrestrial reforestation involves planting and nurturing tree species native to degraded or deforested lands. In Florida, restoring longleaf pine is a key strategy for revitalizing biodiversity, strengthening watersheds, and building resistance to climate change.

These trees can:

• Reach over 100 feet in height
• Live for 500+ years, surviving fires and storms
• Support over 30 endangered or threatened species
• Store 5–10 tons of CO₂ per acre annually
• Improve water yield by up to 30%

Restoration here isn’t just about replanting—it’s about reweaving an ecosystem, reconnecting wildlife corridors, and creating a resilient landscape for generations to come.

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The Impact

• 1.46 tonnes of CO₂ sequestered per tree
• 75% estimated survivability
• 40 work days created per 10,000 trees planted
• 5.57 hectares restored per 10,000 trees
• Wildlife supported includes Gopher Tortoise, Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Sherman Fox Squirrel, and Bobwhite Quail

Fun Fact: The Withlacoochee State Forest supports one of Florida’s most important watersheds, covering 2,100+ square miles and feeding into the Withlacoochee River—an officially designated “Outstanding Florida Water.”

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Planting Timeline

🌱 December – March

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Sustainable Development Goals Supported‍

🌍 Climate Action
🌲 Life on Land
💧 Clean Water and Sanitation
⛑️ Good Health and Wellbeing
💰 No Poverty

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How You Can Help‍

Ecodrive makes it simple for your business to support reforestation in Florida and beyond.

Tie customer actions—like purchases, reviews, and signups—to meaningful impact like restoring longleaf pine ecosystems, supporting endangered species, and protecting watersheds.

Our platform integrates with Shopify and other e-commerce tools, while providing marketing support, tracking dashboards, and verified impact reporting so your customers and stakeholders can clearly see the difference you’re making.

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