Harnessing Conserved Land for Science and Adaptive Management

1. Harnessing Conserved Land for Science and Adaptive Management David A. Orwig (monitoring component)

2. Overview of Stewardship Science: Importance of science monitoring effort Emerging network of groups in NE Protocol for long-term forest change Case studies of 2 groups Additional resources to assist with effort

3. New England has ~ 33 million acres of forest Varied management approaches- how will they change over time?!

4. W and W framework of actively managed woodlands and wildland reserves provides major scientific and educational opportunities promotes sound stewardship Documenting current forest structure & long-term dynamics of diverse forests Evaluating the consequences of diverse management compared to reserves C storage/annual uptake invasive species control timber production We initiated a wide-ranging forest monitoring program to be used by and attract participation from a diverse array of landowners, organizations, and researchers so that they can provide the rigorous long-term data needed

5. Emerging W & W Stewardship Science network 8 pilot sites, diverse partners: collaborations between private citizens, towns, land trusts, conservation organizations, foundations, universities, and state governments. The sites represent a wide range of sizes and forest types located in remote wildlands to rural and suburban woodland locations. Varied objectives All used W & W science protocol Over 450 plots established!

6. Tracking forest change- how to get started Develop well-defined objectives, clearly articulated goals (e.g., contrast the dynamics of harvested and unharvested areas; serve as reference site to track changes over time) Consider appropriate sampling strategy (intensity, plot location) usually proportional to size of study area (e.g., 1 plot per 50 – 100 acres) based on time, availability of personnel; objectives We propose a stratified-random sample, plots are randomly located based on one or more key factors: forest type, forest age, management type etc.) Should be representative of forest of interest Advantage: system tailored to individual organizations

7. Stewardship Science Sampling Protocol Based on a series of permanent plots (20 x 20 m in size); designed to be: Consistent: among sites and across time Applicable: across range of forest types Inexpensive: low cost, allows repeat sampling 5-10 yrs Useful: measurements of key forest characteristics Expandable: allows for more in-depth analyses with interest and expertise

8. Protocol methods For each plot, record site information (elevation, slope, aspect) photograph plot and take notes on plot features (gps location) Sampling attributes (within 20 x 20 m plots) measure all standing trees >2.5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh 1.37 m) by species and dbh; record as live or dead, crown position Tally all saplings (> 1.37 m tall and < 2.5 cm dbh) by species; Tally all seedlings within a 5 x 5 m subplot List all vascular plants within entire plot; rough estimate of cover Recommend : inventory of coarse woody debris (details on web site) re-sampling every 5 years submit data to interactive web site

9. Case study #1: South Petersham Conservation Partnership Worcester Co, MA Harvard University, The Trustees of Reservations, and Massachusetts Audubon Society • Harvard Forest (est. 1907) has a 3500 acre field laboratory and classroom • used for a variety of scientific and educational studies, conservation, • and recreation across ownerships in Petersham and central MA. • Established monitoring system that incorporates reserves and managed lands • Major objectives: • 1) Document long-term re-wilding of the landscape • Create a network of sites to examine mechanisms, driving factors, and • ecosystem characteristics (e.g., nutrient cycling ) • Measure forest dynamics associated with major environmental changes • and ecological processes • Evaluate long-term changes in vegetation associated with forest management • (selective harvesting and conversions of tree plantations to native species)

10. Quabbin Reservoir DFG DCRW South Petersham Conservation Partnership- ~ 4000 acres embedded in landscape of protected land with various owners

11. South Petersham Conservation Partnership (con’t) Approach Plots located in a stratified design to sample variation in vegetation, Land-use history, soils, and future management. Three groups interested in forming a reserve, with minimal management, allowing natural processes to dominate Data can be compared with adjacent managed land

12. Case study #2: Highstead Fairfield County, CT Small, private conservation organization With commuting distance of NYC 135 acres of protected woodlands, extensive meadows and pond In landscape with other conservation orgs (The Redding Land Trust, Town of Redding, The Nature Conservancy, State of CT, private Individuals; 30% town land protected)

13. Highstead (con’t.) Highstead staff initiated long-term sampling effort to: Establish baseline sampling Evaluate modern vegetation variation in relation to env. conditions, soils Measure the intensity and impact of deer browse, invasive exotic plants

14. Approach: Selected a systematic grid for plots to cover all forest areas 100 plots established and permanently marked 110 plots established on 12 adjacent ownerships with goal of resampling every 10 years.

15. Highstead regional role of promoting Stewardship Science Recently held a W & W Stewardship Science workshop Highstead ecologist, Ed Faison, regional representative Discussed protocol, aided participants in plot establishment and sampling Citizen Science can be a benefit to Conservation efforts

16. W & W Stewardship Science Web site: http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/wwscience/ Serve as valuable reference for Initiating plots- step by step methods and manual; example data sheets Data submitted from groups across New England; emerging open-access database Highlight the growing network of users In NE advancing scientific, educational and management objectives W & W Stewardship Science paper Forthcoming!

17. Conclusions W and W vision creates valuable scientific and educational opportunities Using a simple, inexpensive protocol, diverse organizations are making important forest measurements characterizing their lands, initiating long-term monitoring Through interactive website, plot-based data entered, analyzed, and archived Will form robust, regional data set that will yield invaluable insights into how Landscapes continue to “rewild” and are shaped by a changing environment Interested groups can get started with their own plots, contact a regional rep (scienceinfo@wildlandsandwoodlands.org)

18. Acknowledgements Co-authors of Science document and manual: David Foster, Brian Hall, Ed Faison, Emily Silver Jonathan Thompson Clarisse Hart, Glenn Motzkin, Emery Boose, Julie Pallant, Matt Kelty, Rick Van de Poll NSF LTER program Harvard Forest REU program Brandeis University Highstead Partners: Blue Hills Foundation, Northeast Wilderness Trust, Forest Society of Maine, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Massachusetts Audubon Society, The Trustees of Reservations, Polly Hill Arboretum, MA and CT Chapters of The Nature Conservancy, Town of Weston, MA and Town of Redding, CT