New York Forests – An Endangered Species?

                                                          by Jerry Michael

The second-growth forests covering nearly two thirds of our state are facing many threats. Expected impacts from the Emerald Ash Borer and Hemlock Woolley Adelgid are well-understood and relatively near-term. The impacts from climate change are less well-understood,  but long term. However, the most serious and pervasive threat is the inability of our most desirable native tree species to successfully reproduce themselves. We will discuss the origin of the crisis a half-century ago, current scientific and regulatory approaches to solutions, and the consequences of inaction.

Jerry Michael has been a Master Forest Owner Volunteer with Cornell Cooperative Extension for 21 years. He serves on the Board for the New York Forest
Owners Association and the Waterman Conservation Education Center. He is
also a member of the Broome County Environmental Management Council. In
his spare time, he works at establishing a third-growth forest on his Whitney Point
woodlot.