This forest type is typically dominated by red and white spruce and balsam fir. Hardwood species, such as yellow birch and red maple, may also be present. Spruce-fir forests are at the southern edge of their range in Massachusetts and are considered highly vulnerable to climate change.  Species found in this forest community are adapted to cold and moist environments and projected increases in temperature are expected to eliminate suitable habitat conditions for this community type in Massachusetts.

Projected Suitable Habitat for Common Tree Species:
Projected change in suitable habitat in the year 2100 based on Tree Atlas projections for a given Ecological Subsection.  Values in parentheses indicate whether suitable habitat for species will increase (+), decrease (-), or stay the same (0) under projected climate change.  The first value corresponds to a lower emissions (PCMB1) scenario whereas the second value is based on a high emissions scenario (GFDLA1FI).  Management efforts should target species that are not expected to decline under either scenario.

Central and Coastal Massachusetts

• red spruce (-,-)
• balsam fir (-,-)
• paper birch (-,-)
• yellow birch (0,-)

Berskhires and North Quabbin

• red spruce (-,-)
• balsam fir (-,-)
• paper birch (-,-)
• yellow birch (0,-)

For more information on the likely impacts of climate change on specific species, visit the U.S.D.A. Forest Service's Climate Change Tree Atlas.