Climate Adaptation Management Resources

How can we manage forests under a changing climate?

Forests are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Not only do trees respond to changing temperature and precipitation patterns, but these changes will also impact other forest ecosystem processes, like insects and pathogens, nutrient and water cycling, and the frequency of disturbance events. Through management decisions, we can help bolster forest resilience to these impacts from climate change. The following resources are intended to guide you through the process of making informed management decisions that promote forest health, adaptability, and long-term resilience in the face of a changing climate.

Resources for Managing for Forest Resiliency:

For landowners and managers interested in understanding the threats of climate change and actions to take that support forest health and resilience, check out the Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Forests developed by Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and Increasing Forest Resiliency for and Uncertain Future

For landowners and managers interested in learning about forest vulnerability and adaptation case studies, check out the Climate Change and Adaptation: New England and New York Forests Story Map

Resources for Managing Ash:

For managing ash under the threats of climate change and emerald ash borer, check out 10 Steps For Managing Ash for Foresters (with citations) and 10 Steps For Managing Ash for Landowners.

Resources of Forest Supply Chain Impacts:

For information on the impacts of climate change on the forest products supply chain, check out Climate Adaptations in the Northeast's Forest Products Supply Chain: A Vulnerability Assessment for the Primary Forest Products Sector and the associated toolkit, Northeastern Forest Products Supply Chain Climate Adaptation Toolkit.

Other resources for climate change and forest resiliency: