Bibb County, Alabama is the southern terminus of the ancient Appalachian Mountains and is the home to a unique form of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). With the advent of fire protection, natural succession of hardwoods, and commercial loblolly pine plantings, the mountain longleaf pines have declined over the past century. The Nature Conservancy of Alabama is actively preserving geologically and biologically diverse areas in the Cahaba River watershed, including the Bibb County Glades. In September, 2004, another unique landholding was added when the Hancock Timber Resource Group sold 168 acres of natural mountain longleaf pine stands to The Nature Conservancy. This land conservation transaction preserves a remnant stand of mature mountain longleaf pine.