Join us for the September RISING Webinar Series featuring Elliott Campbell, PhD. & Anthony Campbell, PhD.

Where: Join us on Zoom at https://bit.ly/RISING_Webinar

Who: 

Elliott Campbell, PhD. Director, Office for Science and Research, Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Anthony Campbell, PhD. Assistant Research Scientist, Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Topic: Are Ghost Forests Scary? - Ecosystem Service Trade-Offs in Salt Impacted Forests

Description: Forests experiencing degradation and die-off due to saltwater intrusion, or “ghost forests”, are prevalent on the Delmarva Peninsula and growing rapidly. The area of ghost forest in Maryland has doubled over 10 years, going from ~35,000 acres in 2014 to over 70,000 acres in 2024, with the majority of that area experiencing “severe” impact (>50% mortality). This change has resulted in a novel ecosystem where coastal forests are transitioning to wetlands, often dominated by Phragmites australis, an invasive species common throughout our region. We discuss how the ecosystem services these systems provide change during transition and potential management actions for maximizing ecological benefits.