Trees of Acadia: The Past, Present, and Future of Park Forests

The sharp spires of spruce and fir perched atop Otter Cliffs, streaks of pitch pines on the ledges of the Beehive, gnarled birches on Cadillac Mountain, and the jack pines at Schoodic Point, Acadia National Park would not be Acadia if not for the trees.

The most common ecosystem across the park, forests support a diversity of wildlife, protect lakes and streams, clean the air, and pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Acadia’s woods, protected for well over a century, are special. Thou...