Funding will be used to contract a forester to mark stands and perform silvicultural treatments, and an arborist for invasive plant removal

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R9-Eastern Region awarded Peconic Land Trust Inc. $118,300 on August 24, 2026, under the Forest Health Protection program (CFDA 10.680) to conduct silvicultural treatments and invasive species removal at Silver Beech Preserve on Long Island, New York.

The recipient will contract a forester to mark stands and implement four silvicultural treatments across 40 acres of the preserve's 189-acre mature beech-dominated mixed forest: low thinning to remove poor-quality overstory beech while retaining high-quality trees and promoting understory growth; single tree and group selection to diversify age structure and support stand productivity; shelterwood and seed tree systems to facilitate regeneration of shade-tolerant and intolerant species; and an untreated control plot for baseline comparison. An arborist will remove understory invasives from treatment sites prior to silvicultural work. The preserve sits over a vital aquifer, and the demonstration forest will participate in a broader network of demonstration sites.

Performance runs through December 31, 2027. The assistance type is a project grant.

Silver beech preserve on long island encompasses 189 acres of mature beech-dominated mixed forest that sits over a vital aquifer. Four silvicultural treatments will implemented across 40 acres (10 acres per treatment). Low thinning will target removal of poor quality overstory beech focusing on retaining trees of high quality and promoting understory growth. Single tree/group selection will selectively remove trees to diversify age structure and support stand productivity. Shelterwood/seed tree system will facilitate regeneration of a new cohort of shade-tolerant and intolerant species to diversify species composition. The control will serve as the baseline for comparison. Understory invasives will be removed from treatment sites prior to silvicultural treatments. This demo forest will also be part of a broader network of demo sites.