Mid-Atlantic

Forests are a prominent feature of the landscape across the Mid-Atlantic region. Stretching from the Atlantic coast to the peaks of the Appalachian Mountains, the Mid-Atlantic project area covers about 60 million acres and is approximately 50 percent forested. 

Regional forests and natural ecosystems provide numerous cultural, economic, and environmental benefits, and are facing increasing threats from a changing climate. Warmer and more variable conditions are already having an impact on the region’s forests, increasing damage from extreme precipitation events and insect pests. Future changes could dramatically alter the landscape that characterizes the region. 

Vulnerability Assessment

We developed a vulnerability assessment for this region that describes climate change risks and opportunities for forests under a range of future climate scenarios. Two global climate models, three forest impact models, hundreds of scientific papers, and forest manager expertise were combined to assess the effects of climate change on forest ecosystems. More than 30 scientists and forest managers contributed to the assessment.

Download the assessment

Featured Resources

Climate Change Projections for Tree Species

The region's forests will be affected by a changing climate during this century, but individual tree species will respond uniquely to climate change, depending on their particular silvics and ecological tolerances. These handouts summarize general climate change projections for tree species across the region based on future projections. The general trends derived from these models can be combined with local knowledge and management experience to judge risk on a particular site (see map).

Results for the Mid-Atlantic region

Results for Pennsylvania

Work with us

The vulnerability assessment provides critical information about how climate change is expected to affect this region and serves as a starting point for other Framework activities.

Contact Patricia Leopold for more information