subalpine and high-elevation spruce-fir forest in the · subalpine forest natural community, though...

Subalpine and High-elevation Spruce-Fir Forest in the Delineation of areas above 2700 feet Evaluation of harvest history

Subalpine and High-elevation Spruce-Fir Forest in the

Northeast: An Assessment of Ecological Value and

Conservation PrioritiesDavid Publicover and Kenneth Kimball, Appalachian Mountain Club, Gorham, NH

Delineation of areas above 2700 feet

567 separate areas greater than one

acre in size totaling 475,600 acres.

22 areas larger than 5,000 acres

shown in dark red.

Evaluation of harvest history

Right: 3,677-acre area around Kibby Mountain in the northern Boundary Mountains of

Maine. Existing Kibby wind power project is visible in the southern part of the area.

Extensive recent (R) and older (O) harvesting is evident (outlined in yellow); additional

older harvesting may have taken place in other parts of the area but is not evident.

Introduction and Project Goals

High-elevation areas comprise a small

part of the Northern Forest but

David Publicover and Kenneth Kimball, Appalachian Mountain Club, Gorham, NH 22 areas larger than 5,000 acres

shown in dark red.

(3 additional areas in MA

totaling 1,865 acres not shown.)

older harvesting may have taken place in other parts of the area but is not evident.

Area contains a documented occurrence of the rare (S3) Fir - Heartleaved Birch

Subalpine Forest natural community, though the value of this occurrence is diminished

by past harvesting.

Below: 2,097-acre area around Tumbledown Mountain, about four miles northeast of part of the Northern Forest but

provide significant ecological value.

They represent the most natural part

of the landscape and provide critical

habitat for a number of wildlife

Below: 2,097-acre area around Tumbledown Mountain, about four miles northeast of

Kibby Mountain. Area contains little evidence of past harvesting (though some older

harvesting has most likely occurred). Fir – Heartleaved Birch Subalpine Forest has not

been documented but is likely to be present. Delineating potential undocumented

occurrences of this community is an important component of this on-going research. habitat for a number of wildlife

species of concern, including

Bicknell’s thrush, pine marten and

Canada lynx. Numerous state and

regional wildlife conservation plans

recommend the identification and

occurrences of this community is an important component of this on-going research.

This area may be a relatively high priority for future high-elevation conservation.

recommend the identification and

conservation of the most valuable

areas of high-elevation coniferous

forest. These areas also have

important adaptive value in the face important adaptive value in the face

of future climate change because of

their potential to serve as stable

refugia for coniferous forest species

as this habitat declines at lower

elevation (as occurred during the Subalpine forest, Dixville Peak, NH

elevation (as occurred during the

post-glacial Hypsithermal period of

9,000 to 5,000 YBP).

Of particular interest is subalpine forest, a subset of high-elevation coniferous

Subalpine forest, Dixville Peak, NH

stateOf particular interest is subalpine forest, a subset of high-elevation coniferous

forest. Dominated by balsam fir and heartleaved paper birch, it provides the

primary habitat for Bicknell’s thrush, the Northeast’s rarest songbird. While

alpine areas are well-documented and generally well-protected, and the extent

of broader high-elevation coniferous forest can be readily estimated from land

cover data, the extent and conservation status of true subalpine forest is less

state

Conservation status Base image: 2009 National Agriculture Imagery Program.cover data, the extent and conservation status of true subalpine forest is less

well known.

The goal of this project is to proactively assess the ecological value of the

numerous distinct areas of high-elevation spruce-fir forest across the Northern

Forest of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts in order to

Conservation status Base image: 2009 National Agriculture Imagery Program.

Preliminary results

• Areas above 2700’ make up just 1.4% of the three-

Maine’s Western High Mountains

Maine’s Western High Mountains region, stretching from Forest of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts in order to

better resolve the current conflicts between wind power development and the

protection and stewardship of these areas. The supporting objectives are to:

• assess the current condition of all distinct areas above 2700 feet in

• Areas above 2700’ make up just 1.4% of the three-

state region.

• While the overall level of conservation of these areas

is high (78% of the total area above 2700’), there

remain large areas that are unconserved, especially in

Maine’s Western High Mountains region, stretching from

Saddleback to Bigelow, is the region’s highest high-elevation

conservation priority. Its conservation values include: the largest

contiguous area of land above 2700’ in the Northeast outside of

the White Mountain National Forest, 9 of the 13 highest summits

in Maine, multiple documented occurrences of rare alpine and • assess the current condition of all distinct areas above 2700 feet in

elevation (with a focus on intact cores of spruce-fir habitat);

• assess the relative value of these areas both as current habitat and as

adaptive refugia in the face of future climate change;

• assess the relative risk of these areas to wind power development;

• assess the relative importance of these areas to an overall regional

remain large areas that are unconserved, especially in

Maine and northern New Hampshire. Less than half

of the high-elevation area in Maine is conserved.

• The largest areas are the most highly protected – the

ten areas over 10,000 acres in size (which in total

comprise 45% of the total area above 2700’) have

in Maine, multiple documented occurrences of rare alpine and

subalpine vegetation communities, extensive Bicknell’s thrush

habitat, multiple large roadless areas, and identification as a

priority Habitat Focus Area in Maine’s Comprehensive Wildlife

Conservation Strategy.

• assess the relative importance of these areas to an overall regional

conservation strategy and their value as potential mitigation sites for

development in other high-elevation areas;

• propose proactive strategies to policy makers on how to address the

conflicts between development and conservation of these areas.

ten areas over 10,000 acres in size (which in total

comprise 45% of the total area above 2700’) have

almost 92% of their area conserved, and eight are at

least 95% conserved. The two exceptions are both in

Maine – the Sugarloaf-Abraham-Crocker and

Kennebago Divide areas.

While the Bigelow Range is fully protected, only 22% of the

20,800-acre Sugarloaf/Abraham/ Crocker area, and only 49% of

the 5,800-acre Saddleback area, lie on conservation land.

Conservation activity in the region is on-going, but parts of the

area remain at risk. Extensive areas have been heavily conflicts between development and conservation of these areas.

Methodology

The project will utilize the following methodology:

1) Delineate discrete blocks of land above 2700 feet in Maine, New

Kennebago Divide areas.

• Areas between 1,000 and 10,000 acres in size make

up over 40% of the total extent of high-elevation land

but have a lower level of protection, as only two-

thirds of their area is conserved.

area remain at risk. Extensive areas have been heavily

harvested, a wind power project has been proposed for

Redington and Black Nubble mountains (but denied a permit),

and the ridges west of Saddleback Ski Area and east of Sugarloaf

Ski area are potential wind power development sites.

1) Delineate discrete blocks of land above 2700 feet in Maine, New

Hampshire, Vermont and New Hampshire using USGS 30-meter DEM data

(complete). (New York will be added pending additional funding).

2) Assess the current conservation status of each area.

3) Assess the value and condition of each area based on its size, elevation

thirds of their area is conserved.

• 22 areas across the three states have at least 1,000

acres of unconserved land, and four areas (all in

Maine) have at least 5,000 acres.

• Some of these areas have known significant resource

values (rare natural communities, large roadless 3) Assess the value and condition of each area based on its size, elevation

range, extent of past logging and remaining intact core block of spruce-fir

habitat (based on recent and historical satellite imagery and aerial

photography), known Natural Heritage Inventory element occurrences,

existing development, landscape context, recognition as a priority area in

values (rare natural communities, large roadless

areas , Wildlife Action Plan focus areas, etc.)

Next steps

The next steps in this research include:existing development, landscape context, recognition as a priority area in

state Wildlife Action Plans and other regional conservation assessments

and other relevant factors.

4) Delineate potential undocumented occurrences of rare subalpine forest

natural community based on aerial photography and field verification.

5) Assess the potential for wind power development based on published

The next steps in this research include:

• Completing assessment of harvesting history,

including examination of older aerial photography to

delineate earlier (<40 years ago) harvesting.

• Identify potential undocumented occurrences of 5) Assess the potential for wind power development based on published

wind resource data and topographic suitability.

6) Rank areas on a value/risk scale to identify areas of high ecological value at

high risk of development.

7) Identify potential conservation or mitigation strategies for these areas.

• Identify potential undocumented occurrences of

intact subalpine (fir-heartleaved birch) forest. We

will be working with Maine Natural Areas Program in

that state; MNAP will provide valuable field

verification of identified potential areas.7) Identify potential conservation or mitigation strategies for these areas. verification of identified potential areas.