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| Atlantic white-cedar Initiative |
Distribution
Atlantic white-cedar grow in freshwater wetlands
along the coasts of southern Maine to northern
Florida. White-cedar stands commonly occur in
swamps, flood plains, stream headwaters, tidal
wetland borders, drainage ways and bogs. Atlantic white-cedar typically
forms pure stands with thousands of trees per
acre, nearly all the same age. Young cedar seedlings,
intolerant of shade, require strong sunlight to
grow. Stands will develop only after an area has
been cleared and sufficient seed source exists.
In
New Jersey, Atlantic white-cedar forests are located principally
in the Pinelands region in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May,
Monmouth and Ocean counties. Atlantic white-cedar forests were once widely
distributed across the state, with major stands in the Pine
Barrens, the Hackensack Meadowlands and Sandy Hook. Lack of
proper management, loss of wetland habitat, theft and illegal
harvesting, wildfire, deer browsing, a rise in sea level and
other natural factors have contributed to its steady decline. |
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Benefits
New Jersey's Atlantic
white-cedar population is steadily declining from its historical
average of approximately 115,000 acres to its current area
of fewer than 30,000 acres. White-cedar swamps
provide essential storage areas for rainwater and water runoff.
They help maintain productivity of wetland communities, provide
essential habitat for wildlife and plant life, including threatened
and endangered species, and add to the diversity and beauty
of New Jersey's forest resource. Without conservation and
restoration efforts,
the Atlantic white-cedar population will continue to decline,
eventually causing the loss of pure stands of this increasingly
rare tree species.
Within the NJ Pinelands, cedar
swamps provide habitat for 19 species of mammals.
According to studies conducted by the NJ Pinelands
Commission, 14 herpetologic species with declining
populations live in the cedar wetlands habitat,
including the Pine Barrens tree frog, bog turtle,
timber rattlesnake, northern pine snake, and several
species of salamander. Unique plant species growing
in Pine Barren cedar bogs include the rare curly
grass fern, several species of orchids, milkworts,
sedges and cotton grasses, and the federally endangered
swamp pink.
Decline
In a study of Atlantic white-cedar stands
in Bass River State Forest, it was determined that the average
age of an Atlantic white-cedar stand is 40 to 60 years old.
Depending on habitat conditions, as cedar stands get older
they tend to break down and begin to convert to hardwood forest.
The study revealed that currently there are no young cedar
stands growing in Bass River State Forest. Deer browsing has
had a negative impact statewide on cedar regeneration.
About 15,000 acres of Atlantic white-cedar
stands in the state have begun to convert to hardwood forest,
with the dominant species being red maple. If conservation
and restoration
efforts are not begun soon, the costly regeneration of
these stands will become more difficult and require increasingly
greater funding in the future.
Disturbances such as flooding,
storms, ice damage, indiscriminate harvesting,
deer browsing on young stands, beaver damage,
cranberry bog expansion, and development continue
to adversely affect the Atlantic white-cedar population.
AWC Steering Committee
The NJ Forest Service Atlantic White-cedar
Steering Committee comprises representatives of the NJ
Forest Service, Rutgers University, Stockton State College,
New Jersey Pinelands Commission, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife,
and the NJ Forestry Association, as well as private resource
management consultants.
The Atlantic white-cedar Steering Committee began the Atlantic White-Cedar Initiative
(AWCI).
Goals and objectives of the AWCI include:
- Facilitate communication and encourage
cooperation among agencies, researchers, private landowners
and the public;
- Explore and demonstrate approaches
for restoration and sustainability, and increasing the acreage of Atlantic
white-cedar;
- Providing a management model for the Atlantic
white-cedar resource;
- Increasing Atlantic white-cedar seedling
or rooted cuttings production;
- Developed Best
Management Practices for Atlantic white-cedar
Regulations
Since 1978, the Division of Coastal Resources
has protected white-cedar stands from disturbance as part
of its permit review process. Development near Atlantic white-cedar
stands and the harvesting of cedar also are regulated under
the New Jersey Pinelands Commission's Comprehensive Management
Plan. In addition, the NJ Forest Service reviews all forest
management or harvesting plan submitted to the Pinelands Commission
and Land Use Regulation for permitting applications.
Outlook for the Future
The Atlantic White-cedar
Steering Committee developed Best
Management Practices to
provide guidance and assurance that cedar will
be maintained and sustained into the future. Better technology, including the use of an electronic
mapping system and an ecological classification
system, helps the New Jersey Forest Service
identify the current cedar resource and potential
regeneration areas. Electric fencing also has been effective in controlling
deer browsing, which is a severe deterrent to
regeneration. |
