Matt Drury, Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) Associate Director of Science and Stewardship, explains how invasive plants contribute to the forest’s deterioration: “Non-native invasive species can support a couple of insects, but native plants can support hundreds. For example, oaks can support 800 different insect species, while some invasive trees might support only two or three. When invasive species begin to dominate a habitat, that disruption in the food web silences the forest—fewer insects mean fewer birds. It’s a quiet, heartbreaking loss.” There’s also increased fire danger as the dead, down trees begin to dry out and become fuel for wildfires. As more people recreate and live near wild areas, severe fires pose a significant threat to the communities, health, and local economies. High-elevation areas, which are crucial for certain species of birds and other wildlife in sharp decline, were especially hard hit by the storm. The loss of trees and understory plants has left these habitats less suitable for species that depend on diverse and intact forests for food and shelter. The hurricane’s devastation has led to significant habitat loss, particularly for species that rely on mature, undisturbed forests. Birds like the Blackburnian Warbler and the Scarlet Tanager depend on intact canopies, and the loss of mature trees due to the storm and subsequent invasive plant growth threatens their nesting sites. “Without the intact canopy, there’s no home for birds like the Ovenbird or other species that rely on mature forests,” Drury explains.
Sign directing visitors to Jefferson Rock, the Appalachian Trail Visitor Center, or to the Loudoun Heights Trail. All of these stops are along the AT.
who thru-hiked the Trail in 2021.
As I sit comfortably in our house a few miles from the trail, I wonder how those in the southern part of the A.T. are faring. One of my friends who retired from FEMA, was called back to work to assist those impacted in Asheville, North Carolina. Homes and businesses that were devastated during Helene continue clean up and still struggle to find suitable refuge. So, how is the trail doing? The best place to access up-to-date information about the A.T. is by visiting https://appalachiantrail.org. When it was time to turn attention to the A.T., it was evident that there was more to the recovery than the clearing and repairing of the treadway and Trail infrastructure of downed trees and washed-out trails would take weeks, months, and even years. One thing I never imagined was the ecological impacts. These include the spread of invasive non-native species. The winds and rains uprooted and damaged many native plants and caused disruption and displacement of soils. Invasive species, whose seeds may have been lying dormant. are fast-spreading plants and may out-complete native species.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s impact, the Appalachian Trail in Virginia—a state boasting
A view of Sunfish Pond New Jersey Photo credit Richard and MaryEllen Cramer
APPALACHIAN NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 | 8
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