Land Use History

Land Use History

No Caption Provided
Maturing forests dominate the present North Quabbin landscape. But the forests we see today are the product of centuries of human and natural landscape changes. Extreme weather events such as hurricanes and ice storms periodically devastate large areas of forest. Lightning ignited fires and plant pests and diseases can also affect large areas.

Humans too have created major disturbances, causing widespread effects on the landscape. Prior to major European settlement, fire was used by many Native American groups to improve habitat for berry crops and for deer and other animals that were hunted. Throughout the last 300 years settlers affected forests through intentional and accidental introduction of exotic plants, pests and disease and accidental fire. Settlers also introduced a completely new form of disturbance to the landscape–logging.

Like much of southern and central New England, the North Quabbin looked completely different 150 years ago. Over 75% of the region was cleared of forest in the first half of the 19th century to make way for pasture and cultivation.

In the mid-1800’s, farm abandonment led to widespread regeneration of forests. The resulting forest stands, dominated by old-field white pine, were cut in the early 20th century to support a booming boxboard industry.

Hardwood species such as birch, maple, and oak have expanded their presence in North Quabbin forests since white pine was cleared from the region. The devastating hurricane of 1938 and the major salvage operation that followed opened an even greater area for young forests to develop.

The middle part of the century remained relatively quiet for the timber industry. As the forest developed it was common practice to remove only the most valuable trees. Over the last 50 years, however, advances in harvesting knowledge and equipment, management planning, and state regulations have helped to encourage long-term planning and improve forestry practices.

Development in the North Quabbin during the last century was focused in the towns of Athol and Orange to support the growing manufacturing industry. Since the 1950’s the region’s population has declined. However, in the last decade, development pressure along the Route 2 corridor from Boston and Worcester to the east and I-91 from the west have led to a faster rate of subdivision and subsequent forest fragmentation with expanding road and home construction.

In recent decades data show modest decreases in forest and agricultural land and a significant increase in developed land. Between 1971 and 1999 approximately 5,000 acres of land were converted from forest to other land uses–a 1% decrease. For the same period approximately 3,000 acres were developed into housing, industrial or commercial uses, or transportation–a 30% increase.