Monitoring & Next Steps

Mohegan State Forest site tour
Managers and scientists visit the Mohegan State Forest during the ASCC Workshop. Photo Credit: Amanda Bunce, University of Connecticut

Monitoring:

Monitoring is an essential component of the ASCC study. Research partners from several institutions are working together to investigate the effectiveness of different silvicultural treatments aimed at creating adaptive ecosystems. Some of the monitoring items include:

  • Natural regeneration and planted seedling survival and growth, including browse protection and avoided trampling of seedlings
  • Soil moisture and microclimate conditions
  • Social considerations and acceptance of climate-adaptive management treatments for small-parcel woodland owners

Progress & Next Steps:

Project participants have been refining and implementing the adaptive management treatments determined during the October 2020 workshop for the Southern New England Exurban Affiliate site. Treatment areas have been delineated and mapped, and initial stand inventory data has been collected. Permanent plots have been measured across the replicates in CT and RI. Next steps for site managers and researchers include:

  • Implementing the additional study sites for landscape-scale replication in CT and RI
  • Ordering future-adapted seedlings for planting
  • Conducting focus groups to evaluate perceptions of the proposed treatments
  • Additional outreach and training with partners