Historically, open savannas and woodlands were largely maintained by periodic fire, which served to remove dense blankets of accumulated leaf litter from the ground and promote the growth of fire-adapted trees, such as shortleaf pine. Due to the loss of periodic fire, it is estimated that at least 90% of shortleaf pine-oak savanna has been lost. It’s complicated. A healthy herbaceous woodland flora provides a rich and diverse nectar resource throughout the growing season, which supports a diverse insect fauna, which in turn serves as a food resource for a variety of wildlife, including bats, small mammals, and insectivorous birds. These plants also produce the food resources of fruit and seeds for wildlife, forage for herbivores, and cover for a variety of species who call these habitats home. A healthy herbaceous woodland flora provides a rich and diverse nectar resource throughout the growing season, which supports a diverse insect fauna, which in turn serves as a food resource for a variety of wildlife including bats, small mammals, and insectivorous birds. These plants also produce the food resources of fruit and seeds for wildlife, forage for herbivores, and cover for a variety of species who call these habitats home. That’s why our restoration efforts are so important.