Managing for Healthy Diverse Forests

A new multimedia project from the Natural Resources Conservation Service highlights practices to promote golden-winged warbler and other species that depend on young forest habitats. Featured in the project are a couple of our Pennsylvania woodland owners.

Managing for Healthy, Diverse Forests

Natural Resources Conservation Service, Working Lands for Wildlife

Close your eyes and imagine you're in a forest. What does it look like?

You may be picturing a very old forest with big trees and an open forest floor that is easy to navigate.

But as you know, we have forests of all shapes and sizes. And that's a good thing. Healthy forests, just like healthy human populations, are sustained by a diversity of ages and types.

In many parts of the United States, forests are becoming largely homogeneous, or uniform, and in places like the Appalachian Mountains, young forest and mature, old growth forests are in short supply.

A lack of diverse forests has negative impacts on wildlife and the economy, as different age classes support higher biodiversity and provide a more sustainable source of income for forest landowners.

Landscape-level clearing of forests in the late 1800s and early 1900s created a landscape of even-aged forests. Nowadays, unsustainable logging, mineral extraction, development, fire suppression and invasive plants continue to threaten the diversity and health of Eastern forests.

Historically, fires, storms, floods and other disturbances altered forests, making room for new, younger to sprout.

To view the full multimedia site and read the rest of the story click here.