Forests

Forests are one of the most beneficial land use for protecting clean water. Every acre of forestland converted to another type of land use—such as agriculture or urban and suburban lands—allows more nutrients to flow into the Bay and its tributaries. Historic and current human-related influences have significantly changed the composition and critical ecosystem functions of the Chesapeake's forests.

Historic Pressures on Forests

When Europeans arrived to the Bay region in the 17th century, they found vast, diverse forests dominating 95 percent of the watershed. European settlement had dramatic and lasting effects on the watershed's forests, as well as water quality in the Bay and its tributaries. By the late 1800s, 40 to 50 percent of forestland had been harvested and/or repurposed for agriculture, fuel, timber and other uses.

Throughout the 20th century, “new” forests grew back on abandoned farmland and in heavily logged forests. However, our forests are now more homogeneous in age, size and species composition than before European settlement of the watershed.

Current Pressures on Forests

Development, parcelization, invasive species and other human influences continue to impact Chesapeake forests. Today, only 40 percent of watershed forests have enough habitat to support healthy populations of interior forest-dwelling species.

Development

Between 1982 and 1997, the Bay watershed lost over 750,000 acres of forestland to development—a rate of about 100 acres per day. This loss of forestland is a permanent loss of air and water filters, wildlife habitat and other significant functions that forests provide.

Our remaining forestland is also becoming increasingly fragmented. Roads, farms, housing subdivisions and other human uses divide 60 percent of the watershed's forests into disconnected fragments surrounded by other land uses. Fragmented forests are less resilient to major disturbances and more prone to negative influences like wildfires and invasive species.

Parcelization

Parcelization is the breakup of larger land ownerships into smaller parcels. Over the past 10 years, the number of family forest owners in the Bay watershed increased by nearly 25 percent, or 23,000 new family forestland owners per year. Nearly 70 percent of all family forest owners hold less than 10 acres.

Forest parcelization often corresponds with a decline in the percentage of forestland under sustainable management plans. This restricts access to residents and increases the risk of fragmentation and conversion to other uses.

Overabundant Deer

White-tailed deer have become one of the greatest threats to many of the Bay watershed's forests. As forests have become fragmented and surrounded by farms and suburban gardens, deer have more plentiful and nutritious food sources. Fragments also provide refuges for deer where hunting is prohibited.

Locally high deer populations:

• Eat large amounts of tree seedlings and young trees, keeping forests from regenerating.
• Selectively browse for food, which changes forest composition and depletes species diversity.

Invasive Plants, Insects and Diseases

Japanese barberry, Japanese honeysuckle, kudzu, Canada thistle, English ivy and other invasive plants have become permanent residents of Chesapeake forests. Invasive plants:

• Grow and reproduce rapidly, killing and out-competing other species in the process.
• Lower the quality of food and shelter for wildlife.
• Eliminate host plants of insects.
• Compete with native plants for pollinators.

Invasive pests and diseases have also altered forest conditions in the Bay watershed. Some, such as gypsy moths, emerald ash borers, chestnut blight, beech bark disease and Dutch elm disease, have had long-term, devastating impacts.