Project Area
Stone Valley Experimental Forest is managed by Penn State in alignment with the University’s mission in teaching, research, and outreach. The forests are mixed deciduous, dominated by oaks, hickories, and maples, with small components of other hardwood species as well as pines and hemlock. Four plots are planted in naturally occurring canopy gaps in the forest due to windthrow, insect damage, and other climate stress leading to mortality and composition shift. Harvest of additional trees to a basal area of 70 ft2/acre was performed as a project in collaboration with forestry students at the university. Each plot has an area of ~0.06 acre.Rothrock State Forest is managed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) in Pennsylvania. Management goals include the conservation of native plant and animal species, provisioning of recreation opportunities, protection of water resources and sustainable harvesting of timber products. Two harvest sites, one on shale (~0.07 acres) and one on sandstone bedrock (~0.11 acres), were selected in collaboration with DCNR’s Climate Change Committee to serve as climate adapted forest planting sites.
Management Goals
At both project areas, species selection reflects the goal of maintaining diversity of nature oak (especially northern red, black, and white oaks), and maple (especially red and sugar maples) species. Novel and infrequent species, including southern red oak, shortleaf pine, loblolly pine (Stone Valley Experimental Forest only), and sweetgum will be planted and monitored for survivorship and growth potential. Effects of underlying geology on the survival and growth of native and introduced species will be explored at different scales. Increasing carbon sequestration through planting, as well as sustainable management, harvest, and education/recreation potential are goals aligned with the goals of our partners at Penn State University and DCNR.
Climate Change Impacts
For this project, the most important anticipated climate change impacts include:
Temperature increases (up to 5.9 °F by 2100) may result in increased mortality of cooler-climate species, such as trees in the northern hardwood group (maple, beech, birch).
New/increased populations of invasive insect pests, such as emerald ash borer, spongy moth, spotted lanternfly, and southern pine beetle pose a risk to native oaks, maples, and pines among other local species.
Potential increase in drought due to projected higher summer temperatures and consistent/lower summer precipitation may result in increased drought and fire potential.
Browsing pressure from deer as native population decline puts higher stress on remaining plants and populations.
Longer growing season may offer opportunities for current/introduced species adapted to future conditions to grow and accumulate more biomass each season.
Introduction of novel species from southern climates.
Challenges and Opportunities
Climate change will present challenges and opportunities for accomplishing the management objectives of this project, including:
Challenges
Rising temperatures and declining summer precipitation will put drought stress on planted native trees, particularly sugar maple.
Novel species projected to fare well in warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons may find current shorter seasons and cold winters challenging; mortality and slow growth of seedlings attempting to establish may slow the migration of these species.
Increase in severe weather, as well as mortality due to changing climate conditions may cause hazardous conditions such as downed trees on roads that would make public access more difficult.
Increase in warm, dry weather will may result in reduced amphibian habitat and food source for deer and other herbivores, making management for wildlife challenging.
Dense competing vegetation and rising stress from drought becomes relevant especially on open, unshaded harvest sites (Rothrock State Forest).
Opportunities
Planted individuals on shale and sandstone sites will be evaluated for their survivorship and growth - shale sites likely offer higher possibility for maple survival due to soils with higher clay content and water retention.
Hotter and drier summers expected in Central PA will more closely match the conditions under which novel species grow currently in their range further south, allowing increased survivorship and growth over time.
Establishment and maintenance of climate adapted forest planting sites and signage will provide opportunities for education, as well as public outreach opportunities and field trip opportunities for Penn State Students.
Hickory species are projected to thrive in the coming years, acting as habitat and a source of mast and snags from dead trees can also serve as habitats.
Removal of competing vegetation and careful maintenance in early days will allow establishment of forested plots that will provide shade and regulate soil temperatures, promoting future growth (Rothrock State Forest).
Adaptation Actions
Project participants used the Adaptation Workbook to develop several adaptation actions for this project, including:
Area/Topic
Approach
Tactics
1.4. Reduce competition for moisture, nutrients, and light.
2.3. Manage herbivory to promote regeneration of desired species.
2.3. Manage herbivory to promote regeneration of desired species.
Use herbicide or mechanical thinning to prevent the encroachment of woody competitors and invasive species, especially after disturbance.
Install fences to prevent herbivory.
Emulate aspects of disturbances through forest management techniques.
Plant species with diverse timing of phenological events to provide necessary resources over a longer time frame to forest-dependent wildlife species.
Coordinate with partners to manage an at-risk species or community on a variety of suitable sites.
9.1. Favor or restore native species that are expected to be adapted to future conditions.
9.3. Guide changes in species composition at early stages of stand development.
9.4. Protect future-adapted seedlings and saplings.
9.7. Introduce species that are expected to be adapted to future conditions.
9.3. Guide changes in species composition at early stages of stand development.
9.4. Protect future-adapted seedlings and saplings.
9.7. Introduce species that are expected to be adapted to future conditions.
Favor or establish oak, pine, or other more drought- and heat-tolerant species on sites expected to become warmer and drier.
Prevent and remove undesired species including invasive nonnative or aggressive native species, in order to reduce competition for moisture, nutrients, and light.
Use fencing to prevent browsing on species that are expected to be well adapted to future conditions.
Plant southern species, such as shortleaf pine, north of its current range on suitable sites based upon its projected range expansion.
Monitoring
Project participants identified several monitoring items that could help inform future management, including:
Survivorship (planted seedlings)
Growth (planted seedlings)
Species diversity (inventory plots throughout the forest)
Sustained yield of timber (economic modeling based on inventory calculations)
Populations of key wildlife species (wildlife surveys in collaboration with university surveyors)
Keywords
Assisted migration