Sprol

Most people associate New England with vast, thick, beautiful forests. But less than 150 years ago, much of the New England countryside had been laid waste by settlers in need of lumber for homes and businesses, and open fields for agriculture and livestock.

The settling of New England by immigrating Europeans took place mostly in the eighteenth century. As people began making their way to America, the Colonial government gave large pieces of land to groups of people known as ‘proprietors’. Often made up of 6-10 families (sometimes more), these groups had a select number of years to develop the land. “Developing” meant clearing the forest to create open spaces for crops and livestock, and cutting down trees for houses, fences, and businesses.

The peak of the deforestation occurred between 1830 and 1880. It is estimated that, with the exception of northern Maine and the more mountainous regions, nearly 80% of forested regions in New England had been cleared during this time.

Consequently, New England saw a shift in wildlife as well. Where wolves, turkeys, beavers, moose, and cougars once roamed, there was an influx of open-land species like skunks, meadowlarks, rabbits, and foxes.

As settlers moved farther west, many of the New England farms were abandoned, allowing the forests time to re-populate. The tree most common in the first phase of re-population was the white pine, which dominated most of the re-growth in New England. As the white pine stands began to mature, the opening of the Panama Canal and establishing of the railroad created a simultaneous demand for solid shipping containers. Portable sawmills depleted what little re-growth had occurred, and the 1938 hurricane depleted it even further.

In 1897, a group of men formed the Massachusetts Forests and Parks Association, intending to address some of New England’s environmental concerns. Though its primary focus was wildlife conservation, one member – Harry Reynolds – was mainly concerned about New England’s forests. He communicated with several government officials, both state and federal, pushing for measures to protect the land. Responding to a need for forest management, Mr. Reynolds and some of his colleagues formed the New England Forestry Foundation in 1944.

The NEFF set clear guidelines on tree harvesting, and began working with both landowners and lumber companies to enforce the guidelines. Though they met with some resistance in the beginning, by 1946 the Foundation was working with 20 properties that each averaged about 150 acres. By June of 2005, the NEFF managed over 20,000 acres of New England’s forests.

The NEFF’s forest management is multi-faceted. They start by analyzing the current condition of a stand or plot of land. Often, the previous manager has begun a “treatment”, or forest management system, of his own. NEFF’s forest manager must determine whether it is best to continue with the current treatment, or start fresh. The first step is usually one of three harvesting methods: Intermediate Thinning, Regeneration, and Allowable Harvests. After that, the forest is monitored and maintained, which is far more complex than it sounds!

In 1907, just a few years before Mr. Reynolds began making his pleas for forest conservation, a Harvard professor by the name of Richard T Fisher founded Harvard Forest. As its founder and first Director, he began working with his students to develop a comprehensive reforestation plan. What made Mr. Fisher’s plan different was that it took into consideration things like land-use history, human activity, and natural disturbances like hurricanes and thunderstorms. He initiated a series of studies, out of which came the concept of “ecological forestry”. It has revolutionized New England forest management. In the process, he also developed a set of world-renowned dioramas depicting the New England landscape and all its dramatic changes.

Efforts like these have paid off. Between 1885 and 1925, forest cover more than doubled, and exceeded 70% by 1952. It has steadily increased ever since. Over time, New England has learned how to effectively combine natural and managed re-growth to create forests that are much more diverse and ecologically sound.

While most people celebrate the return of the forests, some consider the loss of grassland and agricultural habitats tragic. They believe the “natural” forests in New England are less natural than the ones that were converted to farmland when the area was first settled, and to some extent, they’re right. The forests are not left to grow as they would naturally.

Instead, they are carefully managed by people who have spent considerable time learning the about the history, and the ecological impact, of New England’s changing landscape. By doing so, they are able to build heartier, more robust forests. Trees are still harvested, but they are harvested carefully. With consideration for how each tree, and its absence, will affect the ecology. New England’s forests may not be 100% natural, but they are being built to last.

Sources: “Legacies of the agricultural past..”, Jesse Bellemare, Glenn Motzkin and David R. Foster; D. R. Foster. Thoreau’s Country: Journey Through a Transformed Landscape. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1999; New England Forestry Foundation; Harvard Forest