Who We Are

Save Our Pines’s mission is to preserve and maintain the Australian Pine canopy at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West, Florida.

Save Our Pines began with kitchen table discussions that soon galvanized into an action plan when it was announced that our majestic pines were slated for removal.

We realized that our dream of preserving the pines for future generations necessitated the creation of a strong formal entity. As a result, Save Our Pines was formalized as a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit organization.

It soon became apparent that our initial battle to save this precious resource was only the first step in ensuring their ongoing preservation.

With an outpouring of kind and caring contributions, we developed a strategy, hired lawyers, arborists, and other advisory personnel.

For the past seventeen years, Save Our Pines has overseen, planned for, and helped orchestrate the care and preservation of this important canopy of pines for Key West.

A True Key West Destination

Today these particular Australian Pines stand as a refuge from harsh sun and wind while providing shelter and nourishment for a myriad of native and migratory birds, and other creatures.

These trees provide a natural canopy while still allowing a bit of the sun's light to shine through, filtered and nurturing. It's a special place close to the water that invites people to relax and enjoy as long as they please.

The park service advertises that "The beach is shaded by several acres of Australian pine trees so it is always a bit cooler than the rest of the island." We believe it should remain exactly this way.

For decades, the Australian Pine trees at Fort Zach have been cherished and enjoyed by all those who have walked amongst them and been shaded by their branches.

These gentle Pines are a beloved landmark that were here long before Key West became the famous tourist destination that it is now.

Green space is very limited on our island, yet the tall canopy that the pines provide has a feeling of spaciousness and is the closest thing we have to a wooded area.

As the existing pines continue to age, they are disappearing due to natural attrition and adverse weather. Save Our Pines is working to obtain a legislative exemption for the pines under the Florida state invasive species law.

The Florida invasive law instructs state agencies to remove exotic, invasive species from state lands. An exemption would allow controlled new growth and the planting of Australian pine saplings to replace losses due to weather and age, the only way to ensure the canopy for future generations.

The historical significance of Fort Zach’s Australian pines has been researched, documented and recorded and now needs to be formally recognized. The Australian pines have existed at Fort Zach since the 1800s. They have acted as treasured veterans, shielding the Fort from adverse weather events, anchoring the dredge fill—since its introduction in the 1960s—and effectively preventing erosion damage to the beach. These culturally significant trees should be honored, valued, and preserved to continue their function for the benefit of this National Historic Landmark and its visitors.

Click Here For A Historical Compilation →

2008 Video: Save Our Pines at Fort Zachary Taylor

This informative video about the Australian Pines in Key West was made prior to their receiving protection.