Promote drought and heat-tolerant species: Encourage species in northern and middle edge of range

Adaptation Strategies and Actions

Promote drought and heat-tolerant species: Encourage species in northern and middle edge of range

Adaptation type:

Land and forest stewardship or restoration

Species conservation and management

Strategy:

Promote drought and heat tolerant species.

Forests are likely to experience increased temperature and decreased moisture conditions as the climate changes. Therefore, it is important to promote species that are well adapted to these new conditions.

Action

Encourage species in northern and middle edge of range

White pine native range map. Photo credit: United States Geologic Survey

It is predicted that the climate will generally warm and the suitable habitat for tree species will move north. Promoting species in the middle and northern portions of their range will help ensure that species will be well adapted to future conditions. Explore species range maps in the USDA Tree Atlas to determine where your property sits in relation to the overall range of tree species found on it. Species such as balsam fir reach their southern extent in Massachusetts and therefore are projected to experience increasingly challenging climatic conditions for their growth and reproduction. In contrast, tulip poplar is at its northernmost extent in Massachusetts and the areas in which it might grow are expected to expand as the climate warms.