The Nashwaak Watershed

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Our Changing Forest

October 15, 2021

Many woodlot owners are wondering how their forests will change over the next 50 years, with predictions of climate warming and changes to precipitation regimes.

 How will the tree species we have respond to such changes?

 Is there anything we can do to help our forests become more climate-resilient?

This fall, NWAI has been connecting with woodlot owners in the watershed to discuss forest management practices that support resilient and healthy forested ecosystems. 

There are many excellent resources available for landowners that have been produced by our partner organizations. One such resource is the engaging and informative video series, “Our Changing Forest,” produced by the NB Federation of Woodlot Owners and their partners (Community Forests International, UNB, and the NB Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development). 

This video series is the perfect first step to understanding how your forest might change and how you can help it to become more resilient. 

 

The video series is divided into three parts:

Part 1 of the video series covers the general changes to forest composition expected for this region:

White spruce and balsam fir are not predicted to do well in the face of the changing climate, whereas white pine and red oak are some of the emerging “superhero trees.” The more diverse a forest stand, the more likely it will have some species that will be resilient – complexity is correlated with the ability to adapt to changing conditions.

Part 2 details the predictions of how various species will fare with climate change:

The viewer is taken to three different stands of trees (a black spruce dominated site, mature mixedwood, and a balsam fir dominated stand), and is guided through an assessment of the risk of these stands due to climate change. In the latter two stands, we learn that if balsam fir is a prominent component of the overstory and understory, the stand is at a higher risk from climate change. Balsam fir is sensitive to extremes in weather, is susceptible to pests, and is vulnerable to wind events. If the regeneration in a forest stand is predominantly balsam fir, the stand may be stuck in a “successional loop” and may not move to a more resilient and diverse forest type naturally.

Part 3 of the series takes a deep dive into three stand types, with recommendations for management options to improve carbon storage and create resilience.

Balsam fir-dominated stands – a common situation in many New Brunswick forests. To break the cycle of balsam fir regeneration and improve resilience, the foresters recommend planting other species (like acorns from red oak trees) and gradually removing the balsam fir in the overstory to create an irregular, multi-aged stand. 

The second and third stand types covered include Mature mixedwood and Younger mixedwood stands. The recommendations here include leaving the more resilient species (e.g., red maple, red oak) and thinning the spruce and fir.

The video series encourages landowners to understand what species are present in their forests, and to consider the broad spectrum of management options available rather than the conventional recommendations of clearcutting and short-rotation softwood production. A focus on maximizing softwood timber supply could put forest owners in a vulnerable situation when the changing climate is considered. 

For a more detailed description of management interventions to adapt to climate change, landowners can consult the silvicultural prescriptions in this companion document: Climate Change Resilience and Carbon Storage: Silvicultural Prescriptions for the Acadian Forest Regio

Filed Under: News & Events

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@ASDWLimelight @ASDWLimelight @MusicAsdw Check it out

- 102 days ago

Mr. Woodcock's talented gr 12 FHS music class joined us at Marysville Flats this week! We talked climate change and floodplain restoration. We're excited to hear what they create from their Nashwaak River trip. Kudos to the NB Dept of Ed for supporting this awesome experience! https://t.co/6nGyCy7XBP

- 103 days ago

Thanks for supporting this outdoor learning opportunity. Come visit anytime. It was a pleasure to spend time talking about water, climate change and floodplain restoration. @ASD_West @ASDWLimelight @FHSkats @CityFredGov @CityFredRec #eaunbwater #mynashwaak https://t.co/ALhfzSS123

- 105 days ago

Thanks @mla_mike for leading crown land conservation! https://t.co/ObSdrLvBcq

- 107 days ago

@Andrew__Holland @mla_mike @Gov_NB @NCC_CNC Excellent work!

- 107 days ago

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

22 hours ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
A big thanks to everyone involved! On Tuesday a grateful Leo Hayes Envirothon Club received a Scott's Nursery gift card for their new pollinator garden project. The funds were raised at the recent Pollinator Gardening Workshop we hosted in partnership with Scott's and Nature NB. The group is so pleased with the donation and enthusiastically shared with us their many plans for a thriving native pollinator garden at the school. The space will benefit students and wildlife alike, incorporating native edibles and beautiful flowering plants to support local pollinators. These students are intelligent, considerate and inspiring and we can't wait to help out with the garden when they begin breaking ground. We foresee many fun collaborations in our future, stay tuned ! ##pollinatorgarden #youngleaders #community #MyNashwaak ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

4 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Want to learn how to manage your forest to benefit wildlife and species at risk? Join NWAI and instructors Gareth Davies and Julie Henderson (Maritime College of Forest Technology) to find out about best management practices for supporting wildlife habitat in actively managed forests. See eventbrite for details and to register: www.eventbrite.ca/e/managing-forests-for-wildlife-tickets-596772682157 The cost for this workshop is $20.00, which comes with a membership to the Nashwaak Watershed Association (members can attend for $10.00). Questions? Please contact Kate Turner - (506) 609-7000, forest@nashwaakwatershed.ca#forestcapitalofcanada #eauNBwater #forestmanagement #MyNashwaak ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

7 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Over the past few weeks, the NWAI has been gathering ice monitoring data for GNB’s River Watch Program. Since the first week of March, we have been monitoring conditions on the Nashwaak River twice weekly at 9 sites. This week, conditions varied along the river, with downstream sites remaining almost completely frozen over, while sites further upstream were around 90% open. Pictured above are our Stanley, Taymouth and Barker’s Point sites. As river ice continues to break-up, keep your eye on the helpful resources provided by GNB’s River Watch program and NB Emergency Measures Organization (NBEMO). #rivericemonitoring #riverwatch #nbflood ... See MoreSee Less

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Contact Us

Mail:
Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
P.O. Box 314, Station “A”
Fredericton, NB
E3B 4Y2

Office:
181 Westmorland Street
Fredericton, NB
E3B 3L6
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Phone: 506 447-9699
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