RE: creating a sanctuary
A mixture of pines, young hardwood trees (would have to be cut every so often to keep them growing up), brush, and warm season grasses would be about perfect. You want to keep the pines properly spaced so that the bottom branches do not fall off and you can occassionaly cut them or 1/2 cut them so they fall over but don't die. It is work even once it is planted to maintain it.