4/17/2012 - Jerry Melvin, a local historian, shows off his collection of turpentine artifacts found throughout Eglin and the surrounding area. The turpentine industry was the primary industry in northwest Florida from the late 1800 to the early 1900s. The display was part of a walking “eco-tour” on Eglin reservation near White Point in celebration of Eglin’s Earth Week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

4/17/2012 - Two long leaf pine trees show the scars of fire from the last prescribed burn by Jackson Guard forestry technicians at Whitepoint, an 85-acre recreation area on Choctawahatchee Bay. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

4/17/2012 - Brett Williams, 96th Civil Engineer Group fire ecologist with Jackson Guard, explains how the forests in and around Eglin reservation are “fire dependant” ecosystems, April 17. According to Williams, the forest requires fire every three years to maintain a sustainable habitat for the indigenous wildlife and vegetation. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. The display was part of a walking “eco-tour” on Eglin reservation near White Point in celebration of Eglin’s Earth Week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

4/17/2012 - A barren pine tree reaches out toward the water at Whitepoint, an 85-acre recreation area on Choctawahatchee Bay. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

4/17/2012 - A new long leaf pine tree seedling sprouts up around its much taller brothers at Whitepoint, an 85-acre recreation area on Choctawahatchee Bay. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

4/17/2012 - A few long leaf pine trees show the scars of fire from the last prescribed burn by Jackson Guard forestry technicians at Whitepoint, an 85-acre recreation area on Choctawahatchee Bay. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)