The Pioneer Forest

Human interventions, such as mowing and farming or natural fire, can control this succession. While the Allis’s were living in Harrisburg for fifteen years, forest began to encroach on the open areas, primarily in the south, east, and west. In this area on the west, two different fast growth species began to fill in the woods edge and meadow. Where ground had been disturbed previously to remove soil for fill, scots pine and an occasional pitch pine filled in a significant swath. To the northwest, the forest filled in with tulip poplar and aspen, both fast growing “pioneer” trees seen in early re-forest. This dynamic forest area is already transitioning with growth of hardwood species including small birch and red and white oaks.