Overview:

Biodiversity may be defined as the variety of living things in an area. In 1973 as Congress was drafting the Endangered Species Act, their Report stated,

"The value of this genetic heritage is, quite literally, incalculable...Who knows, or can say, what potential cures for cancer or other scourges, present or future, may lie locked up in the structures of plants which may yet be undiscovered, much less analyzed?"

Analysis:

1. Extent of area by forest type relative to total forest area

Graph of Forest Types

Back to Top

--------------------------------------------

5. Forest Fragmentation
Freeman Tree Farm is fragmented in that there are a wide variety of tree species and stand ages, not so much by a lack of forest. There are 22 acres of electric and gas line right-of-ways that, while no tree growing may happen on them, represent a large amount of edge connecting forest and field/herbacous shrub. The management plan states;

"...this property, as a whole, is an important corridor on a landscape scale because it is positioned among farmland and active strip mines."

Fragmentation can be further defined by the many unique habitats present, such as mature northern and Allegheny hardwoods, boulders, water in the form of ponds and streams, thermal evergreen cover, shrub, etc. Fragmentation in this sense provides a wide variety of cover and food sources for wildlife species.

For more information on forest fragmentation, read "The Fragmented Forest" by Larry D. Harris.

Back to Top

--------------------------------------------

6. The number of forest dependent species
Forest dependent species range from large mammals such as whitetail deer and black bear, to songbirds and squirrels and insects.

For more information regarding wildlife habitat construction, visit the Internet Forestry Explorer's "Woodcock Trail" GIS. Using this online mapping tool, you can view photographs and descriptions of woodcock habitat management.

Back to Top

--------------------------------------------

7. The status (threatened, rare, vulnerable, endangered or extinct) of forest dependent species at risk of not maintaining viable breed populations, as determined by legislation or scientific assessment
No unique plant, animal, geologic, or other natural features as defined by the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory were found on the property.

Back to Top

--------------------------------------------

9. Population levels of representative species from diverse habitats monitored across their range
Wildlife habitat consideration is evident at every step in the management process. For each of the 17 management units, live and dead cavity trees are noted and protected. Mast producing trees are also recorded according to type, fecundity, and species. Seeps are protected and some will be developed according to the National Wild Turkey Federation guidelines. A bear den is located on one of the management units. Deer are plentiful to the point of nuisance in some areas, requiring seedling protection by tubes or electric fencing.

Back to Top

Indicators:

1. Extent of forest by type, relative to total forest area
2. Extent of area covered by different forest types and age classes or successional stages
3. Extent of area, by forest type, in protected area categories, as defined by icon or other classification systems
4. Extent of areas, by foresy type, in protected areas, defined by age class or successional stage
5. Fragmentation of forest types
6. Number of forest-dependent species
7. The status of forest-dependent species that are at risk of not maintaining viable breeding populations, as determined by legislative or scientific assessment
8. Number of forest-dependent species occupying a small portion of their former range
9. Population levels of representative species from diverse habitats, monitored across their range