States
Georgia, South CarolinaPinckney Island and Harris Neck NWR’s, administered by the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex, propose to use mechanical selective removal of trees and shrubs to reduce hazardous fuels, control invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species , and improve forest habitat for resident, migratory, and imperiled wildlife species. The selective removal of trees and shrubs, in this instance, is defined as the cutting and/or removing of trees by various techniques, such as chipping, mulching, and chainsaw felling. This is an existing refuge use but is being currently reviewed as the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 and US Fish and Wildlife Service Compatibility Policy requires re-evaluation of non-priority uses every 10 years. The 2011 Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment found this use to be compatible with the mission of these NWR’s.
This use would be conducted primarily within established pine and mixed pine hardwood stands scattered across the landscape of both Pinckney Island and Harris Neck NWR’s. In addition to hazardous fuel reduction and invasive Chinese tallow tree control, these areas would be overall improved for a variety of wildlife species found here. These include painted bunting (Passerina ciris), Bachman’s sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis), various woodpeckers, tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), and many others.
The Compatibility Determinations and Environmental Action Statements related to the proposed forest management action, as well as informational posters on both Pinckney Island and Harris Neck NWR's projects may be viewed by clicking on the "Library" link below.
UPDATE 10/7/24: The contract for the project has been awarded and crews are scheduled to mobilize in early to mid-October. At Harris Neck, machinery will be mobilized by Saturday, October 12 with work set to begin on Tuesday, 10/15. The crew will start at Pinckney Island NWR the week of October 21. Once equipment is mobilized and crews begin work, there will be short-term partial closures of treated areas on both refuges for the duration of the project, which is estimated to be 3-6 months. Refuge staff will communicate with the public early and often as to where these closures will occur.
