200 Years and Still Adapting: Forest Management at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

200 YEARS AND STILL ADAPTING

Forest Management at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

The improvement of forest trees is the work of centuries. So much more the reason for beginning now.

-George Perkins Marsh

But though man cannot

at his pleasure

command the rain and

the sunshine, the wind

and frost and snow...it

is certain that climate

itself has in many

instances been

gradually changed and

ameliorated or

deteriorated by human

action..

Photo: Library of Congress

George Perkins Marsh,

Address Delivered before the Agricultural

Society of Rutland County, September 30, 1847

From Garza, E., P. Hines and D. Porter. 2009. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Energy Audit Results and Recommendations. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.

Develop an Adaptation Approach

• Conduct a Forest Vulnerability Assessment

• Consider the Potential Impact of Climate Change on Historically Significant Plantation Species

• Include Projected Forest Pest Impacts on Park Forests

Forest Vulnerability Assessment

Projected changes in habitat suitability for paper birch at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP.

Projected changes in habitat suitability for shagbark hickory at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP.

Projected changes in habitat suitability for eastern hemlock at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP.

Park-Wide

Potential adaptation actions:

Prevent the introduction and establishment of invasive plant species

Park stewardship. Photo courtesy Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP

Park-Wide



Maintain or improve the ability of forests to resist pests and pathogens, educate


Park-Wide



Maintain or improve the ability of forests to resist pests and pathogens, educate

Continue the maintenance of roads, trails, culverts and other structures


Northern Hardwood Forest

Management objectives:

• Promote greater age and structural diversity using predominately uneven-aged management techniques.

• Harvest at silvicultural maturity with some large diameter trees retained for wildlife and legacy.

The Mount Tom Forest.


Potential challenges from climate change include:

Forest is lacking young and small-sized trees

Beech thickets are common and may outcompete regeneration of other tree species

Herbivory from deer may reduce regeneration of climate-adapted or desirable species

Increased risk of ash loss from emerald ash borer

Ash tree. Photo courtesy Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP


Potential opportunities from climate change include:

Tree species diversity lowers risk

Mature hardwood stands provide a chance to transition forests

Many current species are expected to have suitable habitat in the future

Some native species may be adapted to future conditions, such as black birch, black cherry, and red oak

Species from southern Vermont may be adapted to future conditions, such as hickories, white oak, and sycamore



Increase early-detection and monitoring for insect pests





Increase native species that are expected to be better adapted to future conditions






Increase interpretation to help visitors understand reasons for larger harvest gap sizes






Increase interpretation to help visitors understand reasons for larger harvest gap sizes

Work with adjacent landowners to test out new ideas or practices


Historic Plantations

Management objectives:

• Maintain some plantations as legacies along the main carriage road corridors

• Recruit conifer regeneration in some plantation areas

• Transition some plantations to native forests after they reach biological maturity

Photo courtesy Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP


Potential challenges include:

Many plantations are very old and trees are beginning to decline—climate change creates additional stress

It’s uncertain how the European species will fare in the future

Additional effort may be needed to ensure adequate regeneration


Potential opportunities include:

Adaptation actions can be applied in mature forests

Stands can be regenerated now before the climate changes too dramatically

Plantations have enough time for one additional thinning—time to test new ideas and learn



Thin stands to improve vigor and reduce risks from drought





Establish desired plantation species over the next 20 years






Consider both local (heritage) planting stock as well as stock from heat- and drought-adapted populations






Consider both local (heritage) planting stock as well as stock from heat- and drought-adapted populations

Continue to ensure planted trees are not lost due to herbivory


Adaptive Management

An adaptive management plan was specified in the park’s forest management plan

We have started an adaptive management planning effort with Tony D’Amato at the University of Vermont

We will use the adaptive management planning to evaluate and further guide our climate adaptation work


Climate Change Resource CenterMarsh-Billings-Rockefeller

https://go.usa.gov/x5MZT

https://go.usa.gov/x5MZT

Environment

200 Years and Still Adapting: Forest Management at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park