Monocacy’s forests are an integral part of the park’s ecosystem. They create essential habitat for wildlife, they act as a buffer zone for delicate streams, and the native plant species that make up the forests add to the natural landscape. The different forest communities are classified as mixed oak forests, beech-maple forests, edge-type forests, and riparian zone forests. Check out this map to see where the different forest communities are located around the park!
Historic Trees
Certain species of trees can live to be hundreds of years old. Many oaks, for example, have been dated at more than 500 years old, so it's not surprising that some trees alive today were present at the time of the Civil War, more than 150 years ago. These are called "Witness Trees" because they were present during the pivotal events that happened at these historic sites. Through the completion of historic tree surveys, "Witness Trees" or trees that the park believes to have been present at the time of the battle, are located, marked and their data recorded.
Park resource management staff record the tree species, the diameter and height of the tree, and take note of general appearance and health. GPS (Global Positioning System) technology is also being used to mark the trees' exact locations within the park allowing park staff to periodically visit the trees to assess their condition.
