Key projected climate change impacts that the project team considered for the Second College Grant include:
- Increasing wind and ice events leading to crown and other forest damage
- Increasing moisture stress due to drought as well as above-average precipitation periods, leading to more damage from pests and diseases and potential reduced growth
- Loss of key species or functional groups critical for maintaining ecosystem services
Climate change will present challenges and opportunities for accomplishing the management objectives of the Second College Grant, including:
CHALLENGES
- Several dominant tree species in these stands, such as sugar maple, are projected to have reduced habitat suitability under future climate scenarios
- Dominant tree species face increased threats in the future from introduced insects and diseases
OPPORTUNITES
- Some tree species found nearby are expected to have increased habitat suitability, including red oak, red maple, white pine, and eastern hemlock
- Habitat suitability for yellow birch and red spruce is not expected to change substantially in northern New Hampshire