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Dual objectives in forest management: can climate-adapted tree seedlings survive in forests managed for carbon sequestration?

Our goal is to provide guidance on how to grow climate-adapted tree species in the understory of improved forest management areas for carbon uptake. In 2022, climate-adapted forests consisting of seedlings from native and introduced southern species were planted within a forest harvested with a 60% basal area reduction. We are monitoring seedling survival and growth under a range of canopy openings and measuring harvest effects on the carbon life cycle.

Project Area

CCAR site at Stone Valley Experimental Forest
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 pines and hemlock. The study area is nine hectares, with three unharvested control areas and three harvested areas where basal area was reduced by 60%.

Management Goals

Researchers measure trees at the CCAR site in Stone Valley Experimental Forest..

Management will focus on maintaining a diverse forest, reducing overstory competition through thinning, and increasing residual tree growth and carbon uptake. Tree seedlings of native and novel species will be planted and monitored for survivorship and growth in the forest understory. Special wildlife habitat features such as snags and hickories will be preserved on site.  

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 with physiological and genetic adaptations to thrive under projected warmer and drier conditions.

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 seedlings, especially native species such as 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.

Opportunities

Light infiltration to forest understory will affect survival and growth of planted seedlings, with shade tolerant species suited to closed-canopy sites and shade intolerant species suited to canopy gaps.
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.

Adaptation Actions

Project participants used the Adaptation Workbook to develop several adaptation actions for this project, including:

Area/Topic
Approach
Tactics
Use herbicide or mechanical thinning to prevent the encroachment of woody competitors and invasive species, especially after disturbance.
Thin forests to remove crowded, damaged, or stressed trees in order to reduce competition for light, nutrients, and water.
Install fences to prevent herbivory.
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.
Favor or establish oak 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 post oak, southern red oak, and common persimmon, north of their current ranges on suitable sites based upon 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
Carbon mitigation

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