Hand plant loblolly pine seedlings at Buescher State Park, site 4, Buescher State Park, 100 Park Road 1E, Smithville, TX 78957 (public Texas state park) (2026-07-29)

This Lost Pines forest floor at Buescher State Park has been slow to recover its canopy since past fire, and hand planted loblolly pine seedlings would otherwise take root and rebuild the isolated pine island's cover. Standard: USFS BAER burn severity plus post fire erosion hazard assessment and reforestation practice, applied here to the Lost Pines loblolly pine forest recovery at Buescher State Park, Smithville, Bastrop County, Texas, following the Hidden Pines Fire of 2015. SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality. Proof: before after photos plus seedling count and species record plus GPS Method (USFS BAER burn severity plus post fire erosion hazard assessment and reforestation practice, applied here to the Lost Pines loblolly pine forest recovery at Buescher State Park, Smithville, Bastrop County, Texas, following the Hidden Pines Fire of 2015. SDG 15.3 land degradation neutrality.): 1. 1. Confirm the planting segment with Texas Parks and Wildlife staff and photograph the bare or thin forest floor before starting. 2. 2. Hand dig planting holes at the design spacing with hand tools only, no power equipment. 3. 3. Hand plant containerized loblolly pine seedlings and water each seedling in at planting. 4. 4. Photograph the planted segment from the matching before vantage and record seedling count and species. Done when: before after photos plus seedling count and species record plus GPS

Where

Buescher State Park, 100 Park Road 1E, Smithville, TX 78957 (public Texas state park)

Pay

$165 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

before after photos plus seedling count and species record plus GPS

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

advanced

Open until

2026-08-28

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 45–90 minutes. Method of record: USFS BAER soil burn severity + water-repellency assessment

Bring

• water bottle for drop test
• trowel
• clinometer or phone level
• GPS phone
• N95 + boots
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Confirm the burn area is open/safe to enter; navigate to a transect; record GPS.
2. 2. Photograph the transect capturing ground cover and ash.
3. 3. Classify soil burn severity (low/moderate/high) at 3 points.
4. 4. Run the water-drop penetration test; record repellency (time for a drop to absorb).
5. 5. Estimate remaining ground-cover percent and slope.
6. 6. Enter severity class, repellency, ground cover, slope, GPS, photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• High severity + strong repellency on steep slope -> tag high debris-flow/erosion risk; recommend priority treatment.
• Ground cover < 30% -> flag elevated erosion risk.

What counts as done

• Soil burn severity class recorded at >=3 points
• Water-drop penetration (repellency) result recorded
• Ground-cover percent + slope recorded
• GPS waypoints + transect photos

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.