Longleaf, Far As the Eye Can See
A New Vision of North America's Richest Forest
2nd Edition
Will be published approx. on 6. October 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
200 pages
978-1-4696-9911-0 (ISBN)
Description
Longleaf forests once covered 92 million acres from Texas to Maryland to Florida. These grand old-growth pines were an integral part of the largest forest ecosystem in North America and over time came to define the forests of the southern United States. But a complex web of factors, including logging, fire suppression, and destruction by landowners, reduced those forests so that they now occupy only 3 million acres. Fortunately, the stately tree is enjoying a resurgence of interest, and longleaf forests are once again spreading across the South. Authors Bill Finch, Rhett Johnson, and John C. Hall offer an engaging exploration of longleaf pines' interaction with other species, the development of these forests prior to human contact, and the influence of the longleaf on southern culture, as well as ongoing efforts to restore these forests.
Featuring Beth Finch's breathtaking photography and a new foreword by the authors, this second edition of the classic Longleaf, Far As the Eye Can See invites readers to experience the astounding beauty and significance of the majestic longleaf ecosystem.
Featuring Beth Finch's breathtaking photography and a new foreword by the authors, this second edition of the classic Longleaf, Far As the Eye Can See invites readers to experience the astounding beauty and significance of the majestic longleaf ecosystem.
Reviews / Votes
"The lush images and meticulously researched story combine to make the case that restoring longleaf pine is not only possible, but worthwhile." -Nature Conservancy "[Longleaf, Far as the Eye Can See] pays tribute to a tree that's been a fixture in the Southern forest for centuries."-Garden & Gun blog "I lost several hours paging through the evocative pictures in this book, and the text is equally absorbing."-New York Times "Longleaf is not a story of loss, but one of deep reverence for the grandeur and mystery of these regions."-American Scientist "[Finch et al. and the Longleaf Alliance] fervently believe that an understanding of longleaf ecology might transform the entire timber industry of the South."-Journal of Southern History "Finch and co-authors offer a powerful homage to longleaf as a species, and explore how this tree was, and still is, entrenched in the culture of the Southeast."-Southeastern Geographer "The lush images and meticulously researched story combine to make the case that restoring longleaf pine is not only possible but worthwhile." -Nature Conservancy "The longleaf pine, presiding over the biologically richest region of North America, is well served by this beautifully written book."-E. O. Wilson, from the Foreword "A beautiful account of one of the continent's classic ecosystems, this book will play a role in reviving the longleaf pine to at least a semblance of the glory it once commanded!"-Bill McKibben, author of Earth: Making a Life on a Tough New PlanetMore details
Edition
Second Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Chapel Hill
United States
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
160 Plates, color - 7 Halftones, unspecified - 1 Maps
Dimensions
Height: 25 mm
Width: 254 mm
Thickness: 305 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-4696-9911-0 (9781469699110)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Bill Finch is senior fellow at the Ocean Foundation and executive director of the Mobile Botanical Gardens. Beth Finch is a conservation photographer and conservation realtor. Rhett Johnson is cofounder of the Longleaf Alliance, Inc. John C. Hall was curator of the Black Belt Museum at the University of West Alabama.