Operation Reforest: Restoring Eglin Air Force Base
How reforestation at Eglin Air Force Base supports a healthy balance in natural stewardship and military operations.
Home to the world's largest contiguous acreage of longleaf pine, Eglin Air Force Base is activating vital reforestation projects to protect its land.
Beneath the roar of jet engines and land- and air-based military training exercises, Eglin Air Force Base is at the heart of another critical mission: a much quieter, ongoing effort to restore and protect the forests that surround the base.
Eglin is the largest Air Force base in the world, spanning nearly 500,000 acres of the Florida Panhandle — roughly half of which is covered by diverse and ancient forest lands. In fact, Eglin houses the world's largest contiguous acreage of old-growth longleaf pine, which was once the primary tree species found across more than 80 million acres in the southeastern United States. Today, those trees cover less than two million acres.
The region’s diverse terrain also makes it home to a remarkable number of rare and endangered plant and animal species, like gopher tortoises and eastern indigo snakes. It’s a place of beauty and a trove of biodiversity.
It's also a place in need of help.
Nestled along the Gulf Coast, this area is no stranger to tropical storms and hurricanes, which can have significant long-term effects on forest ecosystems. These storms can cause everything from tree loss and soil erosion to habitat disruption and lead to increased fire risk. Hurricanes Delta, Sally, and, especially, Michael, have contributed to the high need for reforestation in this area.
Hurricane Michael, alone, caused extensive and long-term damage to the region. After making landfall as a Category 5 storm in October 2018, winds reached 160 mph and widespread destruction followed. The storm resulted in considerable tree canopy loss, with some estimates suggesting that up to 70 percent of the trees were affected to some degree.
Since 2019, the Arbor Day Foundation has helped plant three million trees in Eglin’s forests as part of a collaborative effort to restore and conserve these vital ecosystems. Trees can do profound layers of good anywhere, but the Arbor Day Foundation uses science and technology to identify areas with a critical need for reforestation — areas where trees can do the most good. And Elgin lies in one of its global priority regions.
Here, trees like the longleaf pine are more than just part of the scenery. They’re vital to the survival of endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, which relies on mature pines for nesting, and the Florida black bear, which roams the forest’s vast acreage in search of food and shelter. These species, along with countless others, rely on healthy, fire-adapted forests for survival. Without restoration, many of them could lose their homes forever.
Reforestation in this area does much more than just restore tree canopy — it revives the entire ecosystem for those that depend on it. Healthy forests help make the region more resilient to the effects of climate change by improving soil quality, preventing flooding by filtering rainwater, and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Forests that are healthy and actively growing act as “carbon sinks,” storing carbon both in trees themselves and in the soil.
The reforestation efforts underway in the Florida Panhandle are not just about planting trees; they’re about nurturing an entire ecosystem, protecting endangered species, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. In a world facing increasingly severe weather events and environmental challenges, the work being done at Eglin is a reminder that true strength lies in balance—where military operations and natural stewardship work hand in hand for the long-term health of the land.
You Pledge. We Plant.
Did you know this forest is home to the trees being planted by the Arbor Day Foundation on behalf of supporters nationwide who took the Planet Pledge? By committing to an eco-friendly habit, people are making a positive impact. In exchange, the Foundation is planting a tree in the forest lands surrounding Eglin Air Force Base to maximize that good.
