• Alberto, Dina M.
  University of Maine School of Forest Resources
  

The protection of wildlife and tree species is one of the biggest challenges for wildlife experts and foresters all over the world. Wildlife experts along with forestlands owners and manager have done a lot in the State of Maine in order to establish reserve areas for species of flora and fauna. Since 1950 in Maine, some of these areas have been established as Deer V/intering Areas (DWA) (Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 2008). DWA are located in conifer stands and mixed forests, however deciduous forests can be a small part of DWA. This study was developed to analyze forest cover changes in Deer Wintering Areas in Maine for two time periods; 1991-2000 and 2000-2007. Using the Maine GAP Map (ME-GAP), and two Maine forest change maps (1991-2000,2000-2007) Forest cover changes in DWA for an area of 6.9 million hectares were analyzed. The forest cover class distribution in 2007 in DWA was 54% mixed forest, 30% conifer forest and 16% deciduous forest. The area harvested in DWA during the first time period (1991-2000) was 12% (1.33%/yr), and declined, to 7% (1.0%/yr) during the second time period (2000-2007).