Forest

Forest landowners are seeing increased pressure from threats like fire, insects, disease, extreme weather, and drought on their land and resources. The last decade has brought record droughts to North Carolina, increasing wildfires, expanding insect and plant invasions, and more intense hurricane and tornado events. However, there are forest management strategies that can be used to decrease the risk from these threats.

Forests are the most cost-effective tool to buffer North Carolina from the effects of climate change. Climate change will primarily bring unpredictable weather, with hotter hots and colder colds. Trees are one of the most effective ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Forests are a defining landscape feature across the footprint of the Northern Forests Climate Hub, which spans the Midwest and Northeast Regional Climate Hubs. Northern forests contain 42% of all US forests, 32% of US timberlands, and 41% of the US population, and are central to ecological, economic, and cultural values in the region. These ecosystems are already responding to changing conditions, and climate change is anticipated to have a pervasive influence on forests and wildlife over the coming decades.

Forests are a defining feature of the landscape in “the MassConn Woods” of northeastern Connecticut and south central Massachusetts. These forests, primarily in private family or individual ownership, will increasingly be affected by a changing climate.

There are solutions available to help you and your woods prepare for and cope with the unpredictable conditions that lie ahead. A woodland of healthy, diverse trees can better withstand stress, thereby better supporting the community of plants and animals that live in your woods.

Urban forests will experience local climate change impacts in the coming decades. A key first step to adapting to these changes is understanding the potential impacts and vulnerabilities of the urban forest. Urban forests play an important role in helping communities adapt to and mitigate climate change because they reduce the urban heat island effect, control storm water, and store carbon.

Forests and other ecosystems act as carbon sinks, and they sequester carbon dioxide through plant growth, removing it from the atmosphere. The Forest Service is a leader in developing tools for carbon assessment, management, and forest carbon cycle science.

The Climate Smart Land Network (CSLN) provides forest landowners and managers with direct access to the forest and climate experts at Manomet, and the opportunity to benefit from other forest landowners in the Network. Bulletin series on climate change issues in forest management for forest landowners.