Apply Remote Sensing Methods to Map Tree Species and Tree Health for Species of Management Concern in ACAD and KAWW
Miller-Rushing A, Wheeler J, Walker K. Apply Remote Sensing Methods to Map Tree Species and Tree Health for Species of Management Concern in ACAD and KAWW. 2022-2026. National Park Service
Research has identified forests in ACAD and KAWW as among the healthiest forests in the Northeast, and a source of biodiversity for surrounding areas. Pathogens, stress, and herbivory are accelerating the rates of change in forest composition in Maine. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA) and other insect pests have recently expanded to Maine and are expected to cause large scale mortality. An outbreak of red pine scale recently killed nearly all of the red pine in ACAD, and this year HWA was detected in forests within 0.5 miles of ACAD. A slow response to new outbreaks could lead to irreversible loss of species and damage to otherwise healthy forests. Among the species threatened by these insect pests and other threats are plants traditionally used by Wabanaki tribes in ACAD and KAWW. These species include ash, which is threatened by EAB. Loss of ash to EAB (and losses of other culturally significant tree species) will lead to major and irreversible losses of critical cultural resources. This project will map select species of trees and tree health for all forested lands in ACAD and KAWW using existing ground, airborne, and satellite imagery.
- Type
- Project
- Authors
- Miller-Rushing, Abraham; Wheeler, Jesse; Walker, Kiah
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ACAD , KAWW
- Keywords
- Acadia National Park, canopy health, forest health, forest pest, invasive insect, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, remote sensing, species distribution
Products
- Apply Remote Sensing Methods to Map Tree Species and Tree Health for Species of Management Concern in ACAD and KAWW Dataset
- Forest Resource Mapping Products for Acadia National Park and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
- New Maps of Forest Tree Species Occurrence and Health Support Park Planning and Management