The composition of the Allegheny National Forest has been changed drastically over time. The native forest is made up of less than 1% black cherry trees in the overstory. But black cherry is extremely valuable commercially – therefore the US Forest Service has manipulated forest composition to disfavor native tree species such as Eastern Hemlock and American Beech in favor of black cherry.

By 1995, through the aggressive application of clearcutting, herbicides, nitrogen based fertilizers, and deer fencing the US Forest Service had manipulated the forest such that 28% of the overstory and more than 50% of the understory was made of black cherry trees. Today those figures are likely significantly worse.

In order to facilitate this manipulation, the US Forest Service invented a forest type called “Allegheny Hardwoods”. This is no natural forest type – it is solely defined as stands of trees where more than 50% of the makeup is black cherry.

Unfortunately, not only are these practices aggressive – they are reckless. Now black cherry trees are declining at an aggressive rate. Meaning they have been creating a mono-culture of black cherry for much of the forest and now those trees are dying. This is bad for the many Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive (TES) species that call the Allegheny National Forest home.

Wrapping Up with Key Insights

Our National Forests should be managed for conservation and recreation – not tree farming black cherry. We can do better and must do better if we want to have a diverse forest for future generations to enjoy.