great northern forests booklet
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The Orianne Society is dedicated to maintaining and restoring critical habitats within the Northwoods—to keep this region wild and to conserve the species that rely on the forest to persist. We focus on three main priorities to accomplish our mission: endangered freshwater turtles, Timber Rattlesnakes, and vernal pool breeding amphibians.
Conserving critical ecosystems for WILDLIFE within the NORTHWOODS.
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ENDANGERED FRESHWATER TURTLES
TIMBER RATTLESNAKES
VERNAL POOL BREEDING AMPHIBIANS
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The Great Northern Forests are one of the last wild places in the northeastern United States. Although the East has been extensively developed, there still remains a vast forest system where northern hardwoods meet boreal forests. This region is characterized by breath-taking views, vibrant autumn foliage and a diversity of charismatic wildlife.
There is a long history of human development within the Great Northern Forests. To this day it is a global supplier of wood for the lumber and paper industry. However, the region remains wild—but as the human population grows, we must ask ourselves, for how much longer?
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GREAT NORTHERN FORESTS
Endangered Freshwater Turtles & Wetlands
Like most declining species, freshwater turtles are threatened by LOSS and FRAGMENTATION of the HABITATS they need to survive. Many populations become isolated due to human-introduced features, such as roads that are often impossible for the species to navigate across. In addition, many of these animals are extremely charismatic and often collected for the PET TRADE, possibly contributing to their decline.
One of the most significant things we can do for freshwater turtle conservation in the Great Northern Forests is to protect and restore valuable habitats—primarily wetlands. Though wetland conservation is on a rising trend, early destruction or draining of wetlands has caused OVER 100 MILLION ACRES, or around 53 PERCENT, of wetlands to be lost in the United States from the 1600s to the 1980s.
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Wood Turtles, Spotted Turtles & Bog Turtles
Wetlands & Riparian Areas
Wood Turtles, Spotted Turtles & Bog Turtles
Wetlands & Riparian Areas
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CONSERVATIONSURVEY TO DETERMINE STATUS
OF POPULATIONS
DETERMINE CONSERVATION NEEDS AND IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION ACTIONS
MONITOR POPULATIONS TO DETERMINE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSERVATION ACTIONS
focal species objectives
CONSERVATIONIDENTIFY PRIORITY
CONSERVATION AREAS
RESTORE WETLAND AND RIPARIAN AREA HABITAT
CONSERVE HABITAT THROUGH ACQUISITION, EASEMENTS AND
PARTNERSHIPS
focal habitat objectives
Timber Rattlesnakes & Upland Forests
Timber Rattlesnakes are arguably one of the most heavily-persecuted and endangered vertebrates of the Great Northern Forests. For thousands of years, Timber Rattlesnakes have lived and hunted in the forests of the northeastern United States. They are one of the few remaining top predators surviving in the region and the greatest remaining icon for the wild places that still exist in eastern North America. However, every year Timber Rattlesnakes decline further as snakes are killed indiscriminately everywhere from backyards to roads, and their distribution continues to shrink. Timber Rattlesnakes have already gone EXTINCT in Maine and Rhode Island, and only one population remains in New Hampshire. Although they are protected in many northeastern states, their populations continue to decline. To prevent the disappearance of the last remaining iconic predator of our eastern forests, we need to act now.
The most significant things we can do to conserve the Timber Rattlesnake in the Great Northern Forests are PROTECT upland habitats where populations still exist; EDUCATE the public about the importance of this species, the need for conservation and ways they can help to conserve this species; and PROVIDE expertise for regional conservation planning efforts. Ph
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Timber Rattlesnakes
Upland Forests
Timber Rattlesnakes
Upland Forests
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CONSERVATIONIDENTIFY PRIORITY
CONSERVATION AREAS
CONSERVE HABITAT THROUGH ACQUISITION, EASEMENTS AND
PARTNERSHIPS
HABITAT RESTORATION THROUGH DAYLIGHTING AT SOME DEN
AND GESTATION SITES
focal habitat objectives
CONSERVATIONfocal species objectives
DETERMINE STATUS OF POPULATIONS NOT YET ASSESSED
DETERMINE PREVALENCE OF SNAKE FUNGAL DISEASE
CONDUCT EXTENSIVE EDUCATION OUTREACH ON IMPORTANCE OF
TIMBER RATTLESNAKES
Vernal Pool Breeding Amphibians
Vernal pools are extremely important for amphibians and are where adults go to breed and where their young develop. Vernal pools are temporary wetlands which are dry part of the year, causing them to be devoid of fish that would otherwise prey on these amphibians. Vernal pools are delicate ecosystems that are vulnerable to many threats, particularly development. Changes in the upland habitats surrounding vernal pools can have a significant impact on the amphibians that breed in vernal pools because individuals spend much of the year in these areas after the breeding season. These changes in upland areas and direct impacts to vernal pools have the potential to eliminate local amphibian populations.
Amphibian populations are declining worldwide due to a number of factors. The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently determined that nearly ONE-THIRD, or 32 PERCENT, of all amphibian species are threatened. Threats contributing to amphibian declines include HABITAT LOSS and FRAGMENTATION, CLIMATE CHANGE and an emerging disease called CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS which can be lethal, particularly to salamanders.
The most significant thing we can do to conserve vernal pool breeding amphibians is to CONSERVE and PROTECT vernal pools, including protecting the upland areas that surround these habitats.
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Wood Frogs, Spotted Salamanders & Jefferson Salamanders
Vernal Pools
Vernal Pools
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CONSERVATIONSURVEY TO DETERMINE STATUS
OF POPULATIONS
MONITOR POPULATIONS TO DETERMINE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSERVATION ACTIONS
focal species objectives
CONSERVATIONfocal habitat objectives
INVENTORY AND MONITORING
RESEARCH ON UPLAND HABITAT NEEDS
PROTECT UPLAND HABITATS SURROUNDING VERNAL POOLS
THROUGH ACQUISTION, EASEMENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS
WHAT?
YOUCAN HELP!
Learn more about ways to give at www.OrianneSociety.org/Take-Action
You can support our conservation efforts financially by making an ONLINE DONATION, becoming an Orianne MEMBER, giving the gift of STOCK or including us in your PLANNED GIVING.
@OrianneSociety
If you live in the Northeast, you can help us with our species and habitat SURVEYING and MONITORING efforts within the Great Northern Forests.
WORD OF MOUTH and SOCIAL MEDIA are crucial to our work—the more people that know about what we’re doing, the more we are able to do for conservation!
For more information about how YOU can help, please email us at [email protected].
TALK ABOUT US FOLLOW USLIKE, SHARE + RETWEET
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Conserving critical ecosystems for wildlife within the Northwoods.The Orianne Society
100 Phoenix Rd.Athens, GA 30605
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@OrianneSociety