Skip to main content

Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Pine Flatwoods 

Pine flatwoods represent the most extensive type of terrestrial ecosystem in Florida, covering approximately 50 percent of the natural land area in the state. These low-lying pine forests were formed by changes in the sea level during glacial times. As sea levels increased vast expanses of flat land were flooded, thick layers of sand were deposited on the land. As the sea levels receded early, pioneer species such as pine trees were able to establish in the sandy soil.

Flatwoods - also called pine flats or pine barrens - once covered much of the land in Florida, and had such open understories that it was said you could drive a wagon through them. While today's pine flatwoods are less extensive and have more shrubby groundcover, they still cover vast land areas, and play an important role in Florida's natural environment and economy.

Many valuable products come from pine flatwoods. The trees are cut and used as timber or pulp to make paper products. The sap, resins, and cellulose from the trees are used in the production of many everyday items such as soap, cosmetics, perfume, shampoo, chewing gum, rayon, ice cream, varnish, and paint thinner.