Bear Run Nature Reserve, Fayette County, contains approximately 99 acres of planted conifer stands comprised of native eastern white pine, non-native Norway spruce, and non-native pines. Management goals for the reserve include converting these stands to native mixed-deciduous forest, conserving late-successional and mature forest, and controlling exotic invasive species. After considering various options for implementation, a process for gradual conversion was selected. In early 2019, small gaps were created within the conifer stands through a combination of cutting/dropping and girdling. During this session, our methodology and initial results will be presented.
