Predicting the effects of woodcutting and moose browsing on forest development in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada

A study predicts that moose browsing, without hunting regulation, could significantly reduce forest growing stock by 12% to 32% over 160 years in Gros Morne National Park (GMNP), Newfoundland. Specifically, balsam fir and white birch populations are projected to decline sharply, while black spruce and grassland cover expand. In contrast, domestic woodcutting, even at current levels, is unlikely to impact forest growing stock or old-growth forests but may further threaten already low white birch populations. The research used long-term scenario analysis comparing GMNP-specific conditions—where hunting is prohibited—to neighbouring industrial forests with regulated moose populations. Four scenarios were tested, including combinations of timber harvesting and browsing, revealing that moose browsing poses a greater threat to forest composition than woodcutting.

Zhu, X., Bourque, C. P.-A., Taylor, S., Cox, R., & Wentzell, C. (2010). Predicting the effects of woodcutting and moose browsing on forest development in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada. The Forestry Chronicle, 86(2), 178–192. https://doi.org/10.5558/tfc86178-2