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American Forest Foundation

Climate Change Challenge: direct effects on species

Grant Award: $249,425; Year Awarded: 2015

The Emerald Forest, located in the highlands of south central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut has been identified as an important corridor for species flow and climate resilience by The Nature Conservancy. Climate change is projected to severely stress the tree species that currently dominate the landscape, while at the same time creating favorable conditions for the expansion of other species that are at the northern end of their range (such as oak). Simultaneously, climate change will lead to an increase in extreme precipitation events, which poses significant challenges for the region’s water management systems. To address these impacts of climate change and support the resilience of the forest landscape, the partnership will implement climate-informed forest management and upgrade water infrastructure at the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary.