Evaluating forest adaptation strategies to address climate and disturbance impacts on temperate and sub-boreal forest ecosystems in the northeastern US and northern Lake States

Project Leader: 
Research Partners: 
Dr. Brian Palik (USFS Northern Research Station); Dr. John Bradford (USGS Southwest Biological Sciences Center); Dr. Andrew Finley (Michigan State University); Dr. Shawn Fraver (University of Maine); Dr. John Brissette (USFS Northern Research Station); Dr. Louis Iverson (USFS Northern Research Station); Dr. Michael Battaglia (USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station); Dr. Christopher Woodall (USFS Northern Research Station); Dr. Matthew Russell (University of Minnesota); Dr. Linda Nagel (Colorado State University); Dr. Christopher Swanston (Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science); Maria Janowiak (Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science); Dr. Rebecca Montgomery (University of Minnesota); Dr. David Lutz (Dartmouth College)
Project Fellows: 
Status: 
Ongoing
Science Themes: 
Climate impacts on land-use and land-cover change
Decision frameworks for evaluating risk and managing natural resources under climate change

This project uses a combination recently established, co-developed forest adaptation experiments and long-term data records from USFS Experimental Forests to evaluate the ecological outcomes of forest adaptation strategies designed to address the impacts of changing climate and disturbance regimes.  This work represents a broad partnership between scientists from the USFS Northern Research Station, USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, USGS, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, Universities of Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, and Dartmouth College to document the ability of adaptation strategies to sustain key wildlife populations, forest habitat conditions, and ecosystem processes in the face of global change. A core component of this work are the installations of the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) network in northern MN and northern NH, as well as modeling frameworks for simulating landscape and regional-level outcomes of adaptation strategies on forest conditions and associated ecosystem services and wildlife populations.

Tools and Products

Increasing Forest Resiliency for an Uncertain Future  

A guidance report for forest managers that will help develop ahead with proactive actions.
Publications: 
Presentations: 
  • D'Amato, A.W. 2019. Adaptive management of northeastern forests: building on the past to address future challenges. Department of Environmental Conservation Seminar Series, UMass, 2019 
  • D'Amato, A.W., C.W. Woodall, K. Evans, B.J. Palik, and L.N. Nagel. Operational evaluations of adaptive silviculture strategies for northern hardwood-dominated ecosystems: the New England Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change project. North American Forest Ecology Workshop, Flagstaff, AZ.D'Amato, A.W. Adaptive management of northeastern forests: building on the past to address future challenges. June 27, 2019
  • D'Amato, A.W., C.W. Woodall, K. Evans, B.J. Palik, and L.N. Nagel. 2019. Operational evaluations of adaptive silviculture strategies for northern hardwood-dominated ecosystems: the New England Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change project. June 25, 2019. 
  • North American Forest Ecology Workshop, Flagstaff, AZ. Foster, J.R., A.W. D'Amato, A. Kosiba, and P. Schabert. 2019. Persistence of mixedwoods in montane and ecotone environments under a changing climate. North American Forest Ecology Workshop, Flagstaff, AZ. June 23, 2019
  • Department of Environmental Conservation Seminar Series, University of Massachustts. April 19, 2019.
  • D'Amato, A.W. Adaptation basics for addressing changing forest conditions. Forest Connect Webinar Series, Cornell University. April 17, 2019.
  • D'Amato, A.W., and B.J. Palik. Integrating novel with natural dynamics in the design of silvicultural adaptation strategies. Congress of Quebec Foresters, Quebec City, Quebec. April 4, 2019.
  • Clark, P., and A.W. D'Amato.  Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change: Examining transitional strategies for adapting northern forests to global change.  New England Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting, Burlington, VT. March 28, 2019.
  • Clark, P., and A.W.  Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change: Examining strategies for adapting northern forests to global change. Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative Conference. Burlington, VT.  December 14, 2018.
  • D'Amato, A.W. Adaptive silvicultural strategies for northern hardwood forests: building on the past to address future challenges. International Union of Forest Research Organizations: Uneven-aged Working Group Meeting. Valdivia, Chile. November, 13, 2018
  • Clark, P., and A.W. D'Amato. Exploring forest adaptation strategies in Vermont. Green Mountain Division of Society of American Foresters Summer Meeting. Waterbury, VT.  September 14, 2018 
  • Bennet, K. and A.W. D'Amato. Northeast Silviculture Institute for Foresters: Northern Hardwoods Module. Bartlett Experimental Forest, Bartlett, New Hampshire. September 5-6, 2018
  • D'Amato, A.W., C.W. Woodall, K. Evans, B.J. Palik, and L.N. Nagel. Operational evaluations of adaptive silviculture strategies for northern hardwood-dominated ecosystems: the New England Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change project. North American Forest Ecology Workshop, Flagstaff, AZ. June 27, 2018
  • Bennet, K. and A.W. D'Amato. Northeast Silviculture Institute for Foresters: Pine-Oak Module.  University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire. May 15-16 2018
  • Heuss, M. and A.W. D'Amato. "Southern pine beetle impacts on Long Island and future forests".  Preparing for southern pine beetle in Massachusetts Workshop, Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellfleet, MA. February 13, 2018
  • Foster, J.R., A.W. D'Amato, M. Itter, M. Reinikainen, and M. Curzon. Landsat Time-series for the Masses:Predicting Wood Biomass Growth from Tree-rings Using Departures from Mean Phenology in Google Earth Engine.  American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. December 17, 2017.
  • Foster, J.R., and A.W. D’Amato. Forecasting migration rates of montane species under climate change with a spatially dynamic vegetation model.  Presentation. 11th North American Forest Ecology Workshop, Edmonton, Alberta. June 22, 2017. 
  • Palik, B.J., A.W. D’Amato, L. Nagel, and J. Mueller. Transitioning red pine forests to a warmer, drier future: assisting replacement of an iconic species.  Presentation. 11th North American Forest Ecology Workshop, Edmonton, Alberta. June 22, 2017.
  • D’Amato, A.W.  . Silviculture in the face of uncertainty: is the past still relevant? Invited Keynote Presentation.  11th North American Forest Ecology Workshop, Edmonton, Alberta. June 20, 2017.
  • D'Amato, A.W. Strategies for managing forests to increase drought tolerance. National Drought Meeting, San Antonio, TX. March 22, 2017. 
  • D'Amato, A.W. Strategies for managing forests to increase drought tolerance. New England Society of American Forests Winter Meeting, Bangor, ME, March 8, 2017. 
  • Curzon, M.T., A.W. D'Amato, J.R. Foster, B.J. Palik, S. Fraver, J.B. Bradford, A. Bottero, and K.E. Gleason. Forest structure and management influence trait-based growth in northern forests across the northeastern United States. 101st Ecological Society of America Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FL.  Foster, J.R., and A.W. August 7-12, 2016.
  • D'Amato.  2016. Forecasting potential climate change refugia to guide conservation of montane species.101st Ecological Society of America Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FL. August 7-12, 2016.
  • Bottero A., A.W. D’Amato, B.J. Palik, J.B. Bradford, S. Fraver.  Thinning reduces vulnerability of forest ecosystems to drought.  Italian Congress on Silviculture, Florence, Italy. September 15, 2015.
  • Palik, B.J., L. Nagel, A.W. D'Amato, and C. Kern. Adaptive sivilculture for climate chante in Pinus resinosa (red pine) forests. North American Forest Ecology Workshop, Veracruz, Mexico. June 18, 2015
  • D'Amato, A.W.  Something old, something new: sivilcultural strategies for addressing climate change. New England Society of American Foresters 95th Winter Meeting. Fairlee, VT. March 26, 2015.
  • Bottero, A.  2015. Long-term effects of repeated prescribed burning on tree growth and drought vulnerability in red pine forests in northern Minnesotaa.  Lake States Fire Consortium Webinar Series. February 19, 2015.  
  • Bottero, A., J.B. Bradford, A.W. D'Amato, S. Fraver, and B.J. Palik.  2014.  Forest thinning alters drought vulnerability in temperate North American forests.  Society of American Foresters National Convention, Salt Lake City, UT.  October 10, 2014.        
  • D'Amato, A.W. 2014. Climate-Informed Forest Management Forum and Field Day.  Grand Rapids and Chippewa National Forest, MN. May 8, 2014.   
  • Foster, J.R., D'Amato, A.W., Bradford, J.B.  2013. Sensitivity of tree, species and stand biomass growth to summer water deficits from tree-ring reconstructions in northern Minnesota. Presentation at 9th North American Forest Ecology Workshop, Bloomington, IN. June 17-20, 2013.
  • Foster, J.R., A.W. D’Amato, and J.B. Bradford.  2013. Characterizing the differential sensitivity of tree species and forest types to past weather variability using dendrochronological techniques. Presentation at 98th Annual Meeting Ecological Society of America. Minneapolis, MN. August 4-9, 2013.        
  • McKenzie, D.A., A.W. D’Amato, B.J. Palik, S. Fraver, J. B. Bradford, and J.C. Brissette. 2013. Long-term silviculture experiments impact stand-level weather sensitivity, resistance, and resilience. Presentation at 98th Annual Meeting Ecological Society of America. Minneapolis, MN. August 4-9, 2013.         
  • D’Amato, A.W.  2013. Adaptive silviculture and site level considerations for northern hardwoods.  2013.  Invited presentation at the 2013 Wisconsin Society of American Foresters State Conference, Minocqua, WI. September 17, 2013.                                  
  • Foster, J.R., A.W. D’Amato, and J.B. Bradford.  2012.  Long-term tree and stand biomass increment patterns derived from tree rings in multiple temperate and sub-boreal forest systems in northeastern Minnesota, USA. Seminar at 97th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Portland, OR.  August 9, 2012.
  • Bradford, J., A.W. D'Amato, G. Domke, J.R. Foster, N.R. Jensen, and E. Peters.  2012. Adaptation and mitigation strategies on the Superior National Forest in response to climate change: monitoring, assessing, and forecasting. Invited presentation at Superior National Forest Research Roundup, Duluth, MN. February 22, 2012.
  • D’Amato, A.W.  2012. Looking back to inform the future: retrospective assessments of forest adaptation and mitigation strategies.  Invited Webinar as part of Northeast Climate Science Center Colloquium, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.  February 15, 2012.
Engagement: 
  • D’Amato, A.W., A. Mahaffey, L. Pepper, A. Kosiba, N. Path, and P. van Loon. 2020. Ten recommendations for managing ash in the face of emerald ash borer and climate change. Forest Stewards Guild outreach pamphlet. (co-produced with Forest Steward Guild, Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation, and Vermont Land Trust).

  • D’Amato, A.W. Silviculture through the lens of forest adaptation. November 7. Climate Change Adaptation in New England Forested Watershed Management Workshop, Westboro, MA.           

  • Technical contributor (non-federal co-author) on NCA4 Forests chapter; Participant and presenter in "Ecological Drought in the Northeast United States" Northeast Climate Science Workshop (May 3-4, 2016); Presenter at "National Drought Meeting" organized by USFS Washington Office (San Antonio, TX, March 21-23, 2017);  Served as Instructor and workshop co-organizer for "Climate-informed management Workshop" sponsored by the with the Sustainable Forestry Education Cooperative, May 2013. Served as Instructor and workshop co-organizer for "Adaptive Forest Management Workshop" sponsored by the with the Sustainable Forestry Education Cooperative, November 2012; Served as Instructor and workshop co-organizer for "Adaptive Management in the Face of Climate Change Workshop" sponsored by the with the Sustainable Forestry Education Cooperative, March 2012.

  • CSC News: New Report: Vulnerability of Northeast Forests. February 12, 2018.
  • Anthony D'Amato Interview on Northeast Public Radio: Mild Winters In Our Near Future Will Threaten The Trees That Define Vermont Forests, February 12, 2018.
  • Anthony D'Amato Interview on Northeast Public Radio: UVM Forestry Professor Discusses New Study On Climate Change Impact On Northeast Forests, February 8, 2018.
  • D'Amato, A.W. 2016.  Exploring silvicultural strategies in Vermont's Changing Forest: Northern Hardwoods.  University of Vermont Extension Webinar January 21, 2016
  • Catanzaro, Paul F., D'Amato Anthony W., and Huff Emily Silver, (2016) Increasing Forest Resiliency for an Uncertain Future. Outreach Pamphlet. 32 pp
  • Meetings
  • Designing adaptive habitat management experiment with biologists and foresters on the Nulhegan Basin Division of the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, September 29.
  • G. Edge (Wisconsin DNR) and J. Hartman (Michigan DNR), challenges surrounding the application of assisted migration in Michigan and Wisconsin, August 20.
  • Designing adaptive habitat management experiment with biologists and foresters on the Nulhegan Basin Division of the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, August 27.
  •  Designing adaptive habitat management experiment, foresters from Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation at Okemo State Forest, August 10.
  • Co-production meeting with foresters, ecologists, and scientists from Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation, Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vermont Land Trust, Redstart Natural Resources, and Dartmouth College Woodlands, co-designing experimental adaptation treatments for new research site in Corinth, VT (July 23).
  • Co-production meeting with ecologists and foresters with the Nature Conservancy (New York) to finalize research goals and sampling designs for large adaptation planting on the Tug Hill Plateau, NY (July 24).
  • Co-production meeting with Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation staff on June 19 and June 22, 2020
  • Co-production meeting with USFWS from Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (Nulhegan Basin) on June 26, 2020
  • Webinar as part of Vermont Woodlands Association webinar series, “Climate Adaptation and Forest Management at the Catamount Community Forest”, May 5, 2020
  • Panel presentation at stakeholder adaptation workshop:
  • A.W. D’Amato. 2020. Silviculture of northern forests through the adaptation lens. Adaptation Planning and Practices for Water Supply Reservoir Forests in the Mid-Atlantic, Edgemere, MD,   January 30
  • Forest adaptation co-development working session with managers from NGOs, National Forests, and state agencies in NY, NH, VT, and ME at Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative Annual meeting in December. Collaborative opportunity stemming from this session associated with new series of co-developed forest adaptation experiments being established in northern New England and Maine.  Looking for collaborators interested in measuring wildlife responses as well as expanding network to engage tribal partners.
  • D’Amato, A.W., and K. Evans. January 16. Opportunities and constraints to assisted migration in northern forests. Forest Adaptation Webinar Series, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and Forest Stewards Guild. 
  • Climate-Informed Forest Management Forum and Field Day.  Grand Rapids and Chippewa National Forest, MN, May 7-8, 2014
  • Northeast Climate Science Center Outreach and Science Planning, Minneapolis, MN, January 17-18, 2013
  • Western LCCs within Northeast CSC, Madison, WI, May 23, 2012 change.  USFS Northern Research Station/NASA