Oak-Pine Northern Hardwood Forests of the Watershed Center

The Oak-Pine-Northern Hardwood Forest Formation is mainly Red and White Oak trees and occasionally White Pine and Chestnut Oak. The shrubs consist of Huckleberry and Low Sweet Blueberries.You may often see aromatic Sumac and Witch Hazel. Also you may see Grey Squirrel and turkeys within this ecosystem. The Oak-Pine-Northern Hardwood Forest Formation is found on rocky mountaintops or acidic bedrock at low elevations. The species of trees occur in warmer climates or areas where there is low soil moisture like south-facing rocky ridges. The Oak-Pine-Northern Hardwood Forest Formation is found in the Vermont valley, Taconic Mountains, and river valleys.

We are hoping you will use this guide to help monitor biodiversity in our ecosystem. Biodiversity is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. Biodiversity is very important for many reasons. One reason, biodiversity helps keep certain species alive. Another reason biodiversity is important is because, one species can live off another. For example, if there were a ecosystem with birds and worms it would have biodiversity. The worms could live off the dirt and rotting trees energy, while the bird could live off the worms energy. This field guide will help you collect data about the ecosystem’s biodiversity. And, in essence it will help our community monitor the ecosystem’s health. less ↑