{"id":17374,"date":"2022-06-09T21:06:17","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T21:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/?page_id=17374"},"modified":"2023-01-30T10:44:22","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T15:44:22","slug":"young-and-old-growth-forests","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/young-and-old-growth-forests\/","title":{"rendered":"Sparta Mountain WMA &#8211; Young &amp; Old Growth Forests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<nav style=\"color: #f89425; font-size:16.5px;font-style:normal;font-weight:700;\" class=\"has-text-color is-responsive items-justified-center wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Sparta\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.5\" width=\"16\" height=\"1.5\" \/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"15\" width=\"16\" height=\"1.5\" \/><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container\"  id=\"modal-1\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\"\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\"\n\t\t\t id=\"modal-1-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"color: #f89425; font-size:16.5px;font-style:normal;font-weight:700;\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__container has-text-color is-responsive items-justified-center wp-block-navigation\"><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Home<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/harvest-methods\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Harvest Methods<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/wildlife-habitats\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Wildlife Habitats<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/young-and-old-growth-forests\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Young &amp; Old Growth Forests<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/minimize-impact\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Minimize Impact<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/careful-planning\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Careful Planning<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/successes\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Successes<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-size: 16.5px;\" class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/news-events\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">News &amp; Events<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/public.govdelivery.com\/accounts\/NJDEP\/subscriber\/new?topic_id=NJDEP_24\" style=\"background-color:#f89425\">Subscribe to Newsletter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/updates-upcoming-activities\/\" style=\"background-color:#f89425\">Updates and Upcoming Activities<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/stewardship-plan\/\" style=\"background-color:#f89425\">Stewardship Plan<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/sparta-mt-fsp-public-info-session-20170509.pdf\" style=\"background-color:#f89425\">Information Session Presentation &#8211; May 9, 2017<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Here at Sparta Mountain WMA, we&#8217;re creating young forests and fostering the growth of old forests. Just as our human society needs senior citizens and pre-schoolers, our woods need young trees that will one day grow to be old trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we continue to carry out our management work in the property\u2019s 3,461 acres per the 2021 Addendum to the 2017 Forest Stewardship Plan, we will leave 96% of the forest as it is and manage 3%. On that 3%,&nbsp; we will manage for young and open-canopy forest habitats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignright is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9IZ5ZOpj0cI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fostering Old Growth Forests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2017 Forest Stewardship Plan set a goal for old growth forests to account for 9% of the forest in Sparta Mountain WMA. We managed 17 acres to create conditions similar to old growth and climax forests, but per the 2021 Addendum will we not be managing any more acreages for old-growth conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creating Young Forests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We will create no more than 208 acres of young forest by reducing most of the overstory trees at a site. The management each year will account for less than one half percent of the more than 3,400 acres of Sparta Mountain WMA.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How we create young forests and foster old growth forests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to create young forests, we mimic natural events such as forest fires and storms. The management might look a bit messy at first, but once the sunlight reaches the forest floor, tiny trees and plants begin to sprout and turn into the shrubby habitat loved by so many birds, small mammals, and insects such as butterflies. In addition, forests that are diverse in age are less susceptible to forest pests, diseases and wind and fire damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can&#8217;t We Just Let Nature Take Its Course?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the early 20th century here at Sparta Mountain, much of the area was logged, which created an even-age forest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the seeing the negative effects of this type of logging, people who loved the environment thought that it was best not to intervene with the forest, let nature take its course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, when trees mature in a forest are all the same age, as they are after large-scale logging, the trees become vulnerable to disease and insect damage. The forests n Sparta Mountain WMA have had oak and hickory trees dominating the forests for the past 10,000 years. These forests were perpetuated by disturbances fires, hurricanes, and droughts that opened the canopy. An even-aged forest also has fewer habitats for a <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/sparta\/stewardship-plan\/\">diversity of wildlife<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An even-aged mature forest, like much of forests of Sparta WMA, needs more habitat diversity. So foresters find the balance by keeping the mature forest while fostering old growth forests and creating new young forests. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here at Sparta Mountain WMA, we&#8217;re creating young forests and fostering the growth of old forests. Just as our human society needs senior citizens and pre-schoolers, our woods need young trees that will one day grow to be old trees. As we continue to carry out our management work in the property\u2019s 3,461 acres per [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":16875,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17374","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17374"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17374\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}