Forest Service proposes large-scale red spruce restoration project in southern & central Appalachia

ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY) — National forests in four states, including West Virginia, are working together to restore red spruce-fir forests on high-elevation sites across central and southern Appalachia.

This new project by U.S. Forest Service is a culmination of multiple groups efforts, including the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI) and the Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (SASRI) to expand upon existing forest’s efforts and pursue red spruce restoration at a regional scale.

Historically, West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest had a large portion of the red spruce ecosystem which was diminished by an estimated 90% during heavy logging in 1880-1920. The Mon is still exploring how much acreage would be included in this project for restoration efforts.

In West Virginia, red spruce can be found at lower elevations but more commonly occurs above 3,000 feet, while in the Southern Appalachians red spruce is restricted to isolated “sky islands” above 4,500 ft. According to U.S. Forest Service officials, red spruce forests are the second most endangered ecosystem in the world. During a public meeting on Aug. 21, U.S. Forest Service officials said that the effort is about more than just planting new trees.

Yes, planting new trees is important, but the ultimate goal is to put the forest on track to return to its historic state.

A group of advising stakeholders known as the Red Spruce Technical Advisory Board released recommendations for the project, saying, “an ecosystem restoration approach that restores overall watershed functions is the desired outcome, not just restoration of the plant species.”

Why Should West Virginians Care?

Red spruce ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots, but the remaining red spruce forests currently face threats from insects, a changing climate and genetic isolation. Many rare species like the Cheat Mountain salamander, a Threatened species endemic to the Allegheny Mountains, rely on healthy spruce forests for survival. Spruce forest soils can store large amounts of carbon and absorb and hold water, which can prevent flash flooding and keep stream temperatures cool, supporting aquatic life such as the Eastern brook trout.

West Virginia and the rest of the central and southern Appalachian Mountains are predicted to be a major wildlife migration hub and high-elevation climate corridor in the future. The efforts of this project can connect existing pockets of spruce and support migration for species that rely on this ecosystem type.

During Wednesday’s public meeting, Monongahela National Forest Partnership Coordinator, Kristopher Hennig, said that spruce forest restoration is “one of our best bets to build forest and climate resiliency.”

Where Is the Project Happening?

Although the bulk of the land that could be suitable for the project is in the Monongahela National Forest, it is a joint effort with the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia and West Virginia, and the National Forests in North Carolina.

For the Monongahela National Forest specifically, areas that could potentially be restored are marked in dark green on the following map. This does not mean that all of the marked areas will see restoration efforts. Large chunks of possible restoration land are marked near the Cranberry Wilderness, Cheat Mountain and Spruce Knob.

Maps of possible restoration areas in other southern Appalachia national forests are available here .

What’s Being Done?

The main goal of the combined project is to “look across administrative boundaries,” but each forest involved will have a slightly different means of restoring its red spruce-fir forests. Some of the ways the Forest Service will promote forest restoration include planting new red spruce in open fields and on legacy mine lands; underplanting in hardwood forests to help jump-start red spruce growth in those areas; cutting or removing trees in hardwood forests that are competing with red spruce; and helping promote structural complexity in existing spruce forests by adding things like downed debris and multi-level canopy structure.

Different restoration processes will be used in different areas based on prioritization tools and landscape data. For the Monongahela National Forest, CASRI partners recommend prioritizing hand crews on ecologically sensitive sites with thick organic soils, steep slopes, and shallow groundwater and in locations without existing road and skid trail access.

What’s the Process?

The early planning portion of the project has been ongoing for nearly a year, but none of the restoration efforts will be implemented until at least fall 2025. Currently, the project is in the scoping phase, during which the Forest Service will take public comments. After that, an Environmental Assessment for the project will be completed that will help inform decisions on how and where the restoration effort will be focused.

“The Monongahela National Forest is excited to participate in this regional spruce restoration effort. Working with partners, we hope to restore many thousands of acres of spruce habitat, to benefit West Virginians and visitors to our State for many generations to come,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Robert West.

Project information and other resources are available on the U.S. Forest Service’s website here . The Forest Service encourages the public to provide comments during the scoping period, which ends Sept. 5.

This is far from the first effort to restore red spruce forests in West Virginia and across Appalachia. More than 1.5 million red spruce and other associated native trees have been planted in Central Appalachia in the last 20 years, but this is the largest proposed project among forests aimed at restoring red spruce at a regional scale.

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