ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the structures and processes of the frequent-fire longleaf pine ecosystem in the broad context of other forest ecosystems that historically experienced frequent fire. It compares the restoration challenges of longleaf pine with those in other frequent-fire forests. The chapter addresses the ecological commonalities among frequently burned forests and the kinds of degradation that threaten them. It provides vignettes of five other frequent-fire forests and examines how their ecology, restoration goals, and restoration approaches differ from longleaf pine. The chapter evaluates whether restoration trends and ideas in other frequent-fire areas might be relevant for the longleaf pine range. The Caribbean Basin is home to several tropical pine ecosystems that depend on frequent fire to maintain structure and species composition, with fires typically recurring at 1-5-year intervals. Fire exclusion, heavy logging, and grazing have left their mark everywhere, and degraded frequent-fire forests share functional similarities regardless of location.
