(RALEIGH) -- The Longleaf Pine is the official tree of North Carolina, but what you may not know is that harvesting and other factors have greatly reduce the number of those trees. U.S. Agriculture Department Undersecretary for Natural Resources Harris Sherman said they are working with local groups to plant more of the trees.

"The Longleaf Pine has a remarkable ability to be insect resistant. There are some types of trees that simply cannot be resistant to beatle problems or other types of insects that prevalent in our area," said Sherman.

Land has also been set aside around Fort Bragg to help with tree development and an endangered woodpecker population which uses the tree for habitat. More than 500,000 Long leaf seedlings have been planted around the state.