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Outlook for coastal plain forests: a subregional report from the Southern Forest Futures Project

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The U.S. Coastal Plain consists of seven sections: the Northern Atlantic, Eastern Atlantic, Peninsular Florida, Southern Gulf, Middle Gulf-East, Middle Gulf-West, and Western Gulf. It covers a large area, consists of a diverse array of habitats, and supports a diverse array of uses. This report presents forecasts from the Southern Forest Futures Project that are specific to the Coastal Plain, along with associated challenges to forest management in this subregion: warmer temperatures; increases in urban land use; population increases; more planted pine; increased harvesting for bioenergy; impacts to hydrology and water quality; increased impacts from invasive organisms; and longer, more intense wildfire seasons. Understanding these impacts and the tools available to address them will be key to effective management of the Coastal Plain forests.

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Keywords

Climate change, Coastal Plain, fire, forest management, invasives, Southern Forest Futures Project, water, wildlife

Citation

Klepzig, Kier; Shelfer, Richard; Choice, Zanethia. 2014. Outlook for coastal plain forests: a subregional report from the Southern Forest Futures Project. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-GTR-196. Asheville, NC: USDA-Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 68 p.
Citations
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/46308