

The Project
The eastern forests that are iconic to the national park experience, including those of cultural and historical parks, are at risk. Environmental stressors, including high deer populations, invasive plants and insect pests, and diseases threaten to degrade the forested landscapes and scenic vistas cherished by millions of park visitors each year.
To address this growing challenge, the Resilient Forests Initiative (RFI) fosters collaboration between the National Park Service, Forest Stewards Guild, Nature Works, Redstart Forestry, Rock Creek Conservancy, and other partners to enhance the robustness and adaptability of park forests now and into the future.
The Goal
The RFI aims to reverse forest regeneration failures across eastern national parks through active management. Stewardship approaches include removing invasive plants, planting native trees, and protecting natural native regeneration and plantings from deer populations.

Why It Matters
Forests cover tens of thousands of acres in eastern national parks. A recent analysis, led by the NPS Inventory & Monitoring (I&M) Division, found that these park forests consistently contained complex structure and dynamics typical of older forests, making them ecologically and regionally significant. The same monitoring data identified concerning trends in diminishing tree regeneration due to the environmental stressors listed above. Using insights based on I&M data, as well as their ecological and cultural value and risk of forest loss, 39 national parks from Virginia to Maine were selected to participate in the Resilient Forests Initiative.
Managing Invasive Plants
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Responding to forest pests and invasives
Strategically targeting invasive plants helps protect parks' highest-priority natural resources.
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Triaging invasive plants
A winning strategy to combat invasive plants becomes a potent tool for restoring special places.
Managing Deer Impacts
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Keeping white-tailed deer in balance
As deer apply more pressure to native species, invasive species are poised to fill in the gaps.
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Case studies in deer management
What’s worked to support forest regeneration in eastern national parks, what hasn’t, and what’s next.
Resilient Forest Management
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Restoring forests in Appalachia
Many park forests don’t have enough tree regeneration to replace canopy trees as they fall or die.
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Enhancing forest complexity
Enhancing tree regeneration and forest complexity protects the future forest.
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A regional initiative
Forests in NPS Region 1 are complex and important, but need help for long-term success.

NPS
Resilient Forests Initiative Parks, by I&M Network
Mid Atlantic Network
Booker T Washington National Monument (BOWA)
Petersburg National Battlefield (PETE)
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (APCO)
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park (FRSP)
Richmond National Battlefield Park (RICH)
Gettysburg National Military Park (GETT)
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (HOFU)
Valley Forge National Historical Park (VAFO)
National Capital Region Network
Prince William Forest (PRWI)
Manassas National Battlefield (MANA)
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (CHOH)
George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP)
Rock Creek Park (ROCR)
National Capital Parks-East (NACE)
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (WOTR)
Monocacy National Battlefield (MONO)
Antietam National Battlefield (ANTI)
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (HAFE)
Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO)
Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network
Bluestone National Scenic River (BLUE)
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (NERI)
Gauley River National Recreation Area (GARI)
Flight 93 National Memorial (FLNI)
Friendship Hill National Historic Site (FRHI)
Fort Necessity National Battlefield (FONE)
Johnstown Flood National Memorial (JOFL)
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (ALPO)
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA)
Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network
Colonial National Historical Park (COLO)
George Washington Birthplace National Monument (GEWA)
Thomas Stone National Historic Site (THST)
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (SAHI)
Northeast Temperate Network
Morristown National Historical Park (MORR)
Weir Farm National Historical Park (WEFA)
Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites (ROVA)
Minute Man National Historical Park (MIMA)
Saratoga National Historical Park (SARA)
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (SAGA)
Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park (MABI)
Last updated: March 11, 2025