Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is taking a powerful step in the fight against climate change with an innovative approach to forest stewardship that strengthens ecosystem health, boosts biodiversity, and prepares its forest for an uncertain future.
Thanks to the Connecticut Land Conservation Council’s (CLCC) Climate Smart Land Stewardship Grant Program, GMF has launched a forest management project based on a proven silvicultural technique called Pre-Commercial Thinning (PCT), a science-based method that removes competing trees in dense, young stands. In three 20-year-old forest stands, GMF foresters thinned trees, retaining those trees from species resilient to climate change and disease, while also selecting the most diverse cohort possible. These trees will make up GMF’s canopy for years to come.
By reducing competition for sunlight, nutrients, and water, PCT promotes vigorous growth of desirable species, creating conditions where wildlife and diverse plant communities can thrive, and encourages lush herbaceous growth and tree seedlings, thus fostering a healthier, more resilient ecosystem.
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| Before forest thinning |
This effort goes beyond improving forest health—it serves as a living classroom for the next generation of forest managers, continuing a legacy inspired by GMF Forester Emeritus Jody Bronson’s pioneering work.
With climate change driving more frequent severe storms, pest outbreaks, and other disturbances, GMF’s proactive strategy ensures that its forests are poised for rapid recovery and long-term vitality. “As New England faces intensifying climate pressures, resilient and diverse forests are more important than ever,” said Mike Zarfos, GMF’s Executive Director. “This kind of pre-commercial thinning builds diverse, adaptive ecosystems capable of withstanding unpredictable climate disruptions.”
Kate Regan-Loomis, GMF’s Natural Resource Manager, adds: “By investing in young forests now, we’re preparing them for a healthier and more balanced future. Thanks to CLCC's support, we're able to demonstrate what climate-smart forestry looks like on the ground.”
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| After Tree Thinning |
This climate-resilient project underscores GMF’s century-long commitment to innovation, sustainability, and science-based land management—ensuring that the forests of today will continue to provide ecological, economic, and recreational benefits for generations to come
Funding for this project was provided by the Climate Smart Farming: Agriculture and Forestry Grant awarded and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the Connecticut Land Conservation Council.
About Great Mountain Forest
Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is a leader in forest stewardship, one of the largest research, education, and recreation forests in southern New England. For more than a century, we have demonstrated how sustainable management can protect biodiversity and support ecosystems. By serving as a hub for education and research, we spread the benefits of sustainable management so that communities across New England derive educational, economic, and recreational and health benefits from their forests—now and well into the future. GMF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit encompassing 6,300 acres of contiguous forestland in Norfolk, Canaan, and Falls Village, Connecticut - a true jewel in the heart of NW Connecticut.
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