Background
Temperate deciduous forest is the prevalent ecosystem type across
the National Capital Region Network(NCRN). These forests provide
the basic building blocks for much of the region's biodiversity.
The forests provide food and shelter for wildlife, they filter
impurities from the air and water, they keep us cool in the summer
and provide recreational and spiritual opportunities. Yet, the
forests of the NCRN face mounting threats. The most severe of
these include over browsing deer, invasion by alien plant species,
loss of tree species such as hemlocks and dogwoods due to pathogens,
and clearing for human development. Collectively these threats
have the potential to cause dramatic changes in the composition
(species of plants present), structure (arrangement of these plants)
and long-term dynamics (changes in composition and structure over
time) of forests. This typically leads to declines in native plant
and wildlife populations, loss of recreational opportunities and
may accelerate global climate change.
The national parks in the NCRN provide places to preserve natural
forests, to preserve or recreate historic conditions, to protect
watersheds, and to provide recreation. Park managers require long-term data to understand the condition and
changes in the forests and to determine if management practices
are achieving desired conditions. Forest health monitoring provides
this long-term data. Monitoring not only provides information
on current forest vegetation condition but also provides useful
information in the face of future unforeseen changes.
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