Reestablishing the Vibrant and Majestic Eastern Forest

Reestablishing the Vibrant and Majestic Eastern Forest

Prior to European settlement, the Piedmont area of southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware was approximately 90% forested. Today, as a result of human disturbance, the region is a patchwork of agricultural, commercial, industrial, residential and open spaces. Very few, if any, old-growth forests remain. Our woodlands mostly contain secondary and tertiary-growth between 25 and 150 years old.

Inherently, woodlands host a wealth of diverse natural resources. Stands of mature oak and hickory provide superior food and habitat for native woodland fauna such as turkeys, flying squirrels and chipmunks. Riparian woodlands of river birch, silver maple and sycamore serve as corridors through which wildlife such as the Cerulean warbler travel between larger patches of their habitat. Wooded wetlands and swamps support the breeding cycles of many mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds.

Increasing scientific evidence indicates that our disturbance of land threatens the survival of woodlands and the flora and fauna they support. The fragmentation of forests has resulted, for example, in the loss of habitat for bird species such as the wonderful pileated woodpecker and the worm-eating warbler. The explosion of the white-tail deer population- and its impact on the herbaceous and woody plant species of the forest floor- is a direct result of an increasing amount of edge habitat caused by woodland fragmentation and the loss of natural predators. The proliferation of invasive plants such as multi-flora rose and Oriental bittersweet and the introduction of tree diseases such as the woolly adelgid and Dutch elm disease can be attributed to human influence on woodlands. One of the most dominant woodland tree species, the American chestnut, and one of the most numerous bird species, the passenger pigeon, are no longer functioning parts of ecosystems in the eastern United States.

The Brandywine Conservancy includes forest protection and management language in its conservation easements, especially with regard to properties that contain significant woodlands or have the potential for regrowth of woodlands. A result of over 30 years of easement writing by the Conservancy and other land trusts, this language takes into account the most up-to-date knowledge in the fields of forestry, forest ecology and silviculture.

To some landowners, woodlands are valuable, income-producing resources, similar to croplands, albeit on a less frequent harvest schedule. In areas designated as protected woodlands, our current easement language regulates timber harvests by requiring forestry management plans. Such plans, prepared by certified foresters and approved by the Conservancy, are tailored to protect and sustain forests. These plans include restrictions that preserve wildlife habitat, biodiversity and the quality of soil and water. Properly written and administered, forestry management plans also maximize timber value while protecting natural resources.

If we take the time and care to develop thoughtful plans for their use and regeneration, woodlands will continue to provide environmental benefits, offer recreational space and serve as financial resources. Woodlands suffering from years of abuse will require stewardship in order to ensure their future prosperity. To a certain extent, the historic network of mature, interconnected woodlands can be re-established. We must protect what we currently have and restore what has been lost to gain a semblance of our previously vibrant and majestic Eastern forest.

For more information on how to assess the health of your woodlands or if you are contemplating timber harvesting or forest management on your eased property, please contact the Brandywine Conservancy's Environmental Management Center at 610-388-8340. Staff members will gladly help interpret the woodland protection language in your easement, provide guidance on issues such as stream-side reforestation and upland woodland protection, and direct you to many other sources of information available on forests.

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