Forests for the Future

The goal of our Forests for the Future project is to implement conservation-minded forestry that will support future old growth forests, a forest type known to be critical for native wildlife and carbon sequestration. 

The Northern Appalachia-Arcadia region is home to the largest intact broad-leaf temperate forest in the world. One of North America’s ecological treasures, this forested landscape contains endemic wildlife and prized, culturally-significant plant species.

The Importance

The area covers five U.S. states, three Canadian provinces and ancestral lands of several indigenous tribes. Because of this cross-border connection, multi-national conservation is required and can serve as a model for collaborative forest conservation across the globe.

Situated at the northern end of the Eastern Wildway, wildlife-focused land protection and land management in this area are critical to meeting continental biodiversity and habitat protection goals. 

We are currently developing an ecological forestry model specific to the region’s native species and cultural practice.

1.Conducting spatial analysis of old forests in the region, including defining regional-specific methodology for how to identify old forests. 

2.Identifying areas for ecological forestry management implementation and conservation acquisition. 

3.Creating a symposium for ecologists, land owners, and land managers representing diverse stakeholder groups to discuss ecological forestry and identify barriers and opportunities for widespread adoption. 

4.Facilitating small group workshops on specific components of the ecological forestry model to develop workable solutions to outstanding hurdles to implementation.