Land Use History of Three Spruce-Fir Forest Sites in Southern Appalachia

Abstract

SPruce-fir forests, characterized by the presence of red spruce (Picea rubra Sarg.), Fraser fir (Abies fraser; [Pursh] Poir.), and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt .), are found on high elevation peaks and ranges in the southern Appalachian Mountains,' Both the patterns of forest cover on the landscape and conditions within the spruce-fir forests have been influenced to varying degrees by past land use. At the northern end of the southern Appalachian spruce-fir range , Whitetop Mountain in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area includes a stand of spruce adjacent to a large grassy area (called a "bald" ), which was used by livestock herders as early as 1828. In the Black Mountains tourism and exploration were important