One of the most important tasks of any forestry service is forest management—creating plans and acting on them to preserve native wildlife. By restoring ecosystems, protecting the health of the land as a whole, and removing hazards to the existing balance, foresters help the environment thrive. But there are some factors, such as climate change, which threaten entire ecosystems and can't be eliminated directly. Instead, Neeley Forestry Services in Camden, AR, seeks to incorporate climate change into their management plan.

Expected Changes

Some of the effects of climate change are already making themselves felt. More frequent storms and rising sea levels threaten forests across America with the destruction of native wildlife. If not managed proactively, one catastrophe can permanently alter a landscape. However, with careful planning, the land can recover—for instance, the Francis Marion National Forest suffered extraordinary destruction during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, losing the vast majority of its bottomland hardwood trees. After almost 30 years, through dedicated forest management, the tree population and the woodpeckers which depend on them have seen a large improvement. While an increase in storm activity is dangerous to our national landscapes, it’s possible to recover from the damage.

Planning Tools

One of Neeley Forestry Service's tools in planning is the Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO) web tool. This service helps users find location-specific climate studies which provide vital information about projected climate change, as well as showing what effects more variable weather has had on similar ecosystems. With this information, they can more easily plan their approach to conserving and protecting the local environment.

Moving Forward

Based on data from TACCIMO, Neeley Forestry Services has several steps to take moving forward. They'll monitor the land’s health, promote resilient ecosystems, and reduce existing stresses on the environment by working with local businesses and government agencies. They may also take specific steps such as creating new carbon sinks to keep the system in balance.

The environment faces serious challenges, but Neeley Forestry Services will be there to preserve healthy native wildlife. With careful forest management over time, they will protect the local ecosystem from climate change. If you have questions about the process, call them at (870) 836-5981 today, or visit them online.