FORT JACKSON, S.C. (Sept. 4, 2014) -- More than half of Fort Jackson's training areas are considered to be a part of what is called the longleaf pine ecosystem, which is also home to three endangered species.
"The longleaf (pine) ecosystem is one of the most imperiled in the world, with over 97 percent of it being destroyed, but it also has one of the highest diversity of plants in the world," said Nicole Hawkins, a wildlife biologist with the Directorate of Public Works.
The Wildlife Branch of DPW's Environmental Division has the responsibility of maintaining and improving the training grounds on post and protecting the endangered species in the area.
Hawkins said because of its mature trees and diversity in plants, the longleaf pine ecosystem is home to three types of endangered species -- the red-cockaded woodpecker, the rough-leaved loosestrife plant and the smooth coneflower plant.
"The red-cockaded woodpecker depends on mature pine forest. (The birds) are unique in North America among woodpeckers because they excavate cavities into living pine trees," Hawkins said, explaining that a cavity is a hole that is dug into the tree by the birds for them to live in. "Most other woodpeckers excavate cavities into dead trees or they live where (a cavity) has already been created."
Hawkins said a study at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, showed that it takes woodpeckers three to 11 years to complete a cavity.
"Normally the trees need to be mature, which means we are probably talking about a 70-year-old tree," she said. "So you can see what type of burden that can be on a bird that is expected to live to be about 10 years old."
Hawkins explained that the endangered woodpecker not only requires the mature trees that the Fort Jackson training areas offer, but they also require a large living area for each family group.
"On Fort Jackson, we have about 200 acres per family group of birds, and a family of red-cockaded woodpeckers can reach up to five or six woodpeckers," she said. "If they are successful in nesting then they will have one nest per year. From that nest they'll usually fledge about two to three young per year. You can have more than that, but it's kind of unusual."
Currently, about 35 active clusters of red-cockaded woodpeckers call Fort Jackson home, said Stanley Rikard, wildlife biologist. He said the goal for 2016 is to increase the population to 126 clusters in accordance with federal guidelines.
Rikard said Basic Combat Training can be affected because of the large area needed for the endangered species.
"Soldiers are aware that each tree where the woodpecker lives has a 200-foot restriction buffer zone, labeled with signs, which means they can only train in those areas around the bird's home for no more than two hours," he said.
However, Hawkins said biologists on post have found the birds making homes in some of the most unexpected places.
"We have found the red-cockaded woodpeckers out behind the hand-grenade range," she said. "Apparently, the loud noise from the training does not affect them."
South Carolina has the second largest population of red-cockaded woodpeckers, trailing only Florida.
In order to maintain the training areas for Soldiers, animals and plants, the land requires habitat management.
"Habitat management can consist of herbicide treatments, thinning trees and monitoring wildlife and plants," Hawkins said.
Rikard explained that because these plants and the red-cockaded woodpecker are listed as endangered in the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the installation is required to conserve the listed species and to avoid jeopardizing and taking listed animals and plants.
The two endangered plants here on post were added to the federal endangered species list in 1987 and 1992. The red-cockaded woodpecker was listed in 1970.
Rikard said there is a very small population of the smooth coneflower in a training area on the eastern part of the installation.
"We think the area where the smooth coneflower plant is found used to be an old home site where someone from many years ago -- before World War II -- may have planted the (flower)," Rikard said.
He said this plant normally likes open areas, but on Fort Jackson it is found on tank trail and hill sides in training areas.
The rough-leaved loosestrife is located in the northeast corner of the artillery impact area.
"The rough-leaved loosestrife is a wetland-dependent plant and is also found in several counties in North Carolina in isolated pockets," Rikard said. "The only other place in the world it's found is here on Fort Jackson."
Rikard said what Soldiers and all personnel who are in the training areas should keep in mind is that they should not disturb endangered plant sites, recognize the red-cockaded woodpecker buffer signs, know and follow the Army red-cockaded woodpecker activity restrictions, obey range operations guidance and do not harm rare animals.
In addition to the three endangered species on post, a number of rare animals can be found on post, such as the Rafinesque's big-eared bat, the Southern hognose snake, Bachman's sparrow and the Southeastern kestrel.
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