Adaptation After Helene

lauren on October 16, 2025

We have all learned a great deal about surviving and adapting. Going without running water for 30+ days made everyone stop and consider basic needs that had been taken for granted. As people were accounted for and safety assured, we began to adapt to the new normal for our careers and the natural environment. Since the storm, there continues to be a greater awareness and concern for forests and streams. There wasn’t necessarily a lack of awareness prior to Helene–but like other basic needs, we often take our natural resources for granted, thinking little about what it takes to maintain them. A year in, we have learned much in our continued search for solutions.

The amount of trees on the ground is astonishing. Daily commutes reveal the challenges facing landowners with downed trees in hard-to-access areas. This past spring put lipstick on the pig of jumbled timber, but leaf off will reveal what we already know: there is an unusual amount of timber on the ground that will impact forestry decisions for the next decade. So, what should we do about it?

ACCESS

You cannot assess damage or work in an area that you can’t get to. This includes old logging roads and trails that are normal vectors for non-native invasive species. Opening these areas will improve fire breaks and allow professionals to properly care for disturbed areas. Though thousands of acres will simply let nature heal over time, consideration should be given to the amount of fuel on the ground and the impacts on regeneration.

INVASIVES RESPONSE

New plants and trees will quickly take over this new growing space. Those best adapted for growing quickly will win, unless we play favorites. Invasive plants and trees provide little benefit for wildlife and can quickly reduce biodiversity. Many will need to be tolerated as there is just too much. However, we can focus on those most dangerous to forests, like Bittersweet, which can strangle and topple trees. If you have trees down, being aware of what else is there puts you on the proper path.

REGENERATION

What comes back? After the demise of the American Chestnut (25% of the canopy), species that were well represented took advantage of the new space. Similarly, what comes back now will depend on what is there now. Planning is needed to account for the difficulties regenerating oaks and the impact of having thousands of downed trees in productive forests. In areas of extreme disturbance and landslides, getting new plants established is paramount.

Each season will provide more data on future forest health. Our goal is to continue our assessment of the region’s forests and adapt to improve forest resilience. We anticipate the recovery of our forests from Helene to define the next ten years of EcoForesters’ work. Education is a core value of our mission, so sharing our findings with the public will continue. Please reach out to us if we can help you plan and adapt for your future forest.

UPCOMING FUNDING: NC DISASTER BLOCK GRANT FOR HELENE TIMBER LOSSES

A new program is being developed by the NC Forest Service that will help private landowners who experienced timber losses from Helene. Forest owners who had more than 25% of merchantable trees (defined as >12″ in diameter) damaged on at least 10 acres can receive partial compensation for lost timber value. In order to get funds approved, a forester must assess the property. More details about this program, including which landowners qualify, should be released by the end of the year. EcoForesters will continue to update landowners as more information becomes available.

Ten Years Down, One Year In: Helene Will Define Our Next Ten Years

lauren on October 3, 2025

This year has been filled with a wide range of emotions for EcoForesters staff. While we’re proud of our ten years in existence and the difference we’re making in the field of forestry, we are heartbroken on a weekly basis as our staff witnesses the damage still visible from Helene. We are reminded daily that our mission to restore and conserve forests is site-specific, and in some cases, it means asking people to be patient. If you have dealt with the destruction of your forest, the loss of or damage to your home, and countless unplanned expenses, being told to be patient can be hard to hear.

I am in my sixth year at EcoForesters. As a non-forester, I continue to learn from my colleagues that change happens incrementally and often undetected. The fruits of today’s decisions are often not realized until decades later. And the ability to capitalize on those decisions–for instance, through a timber harvest–can be wrecked in the blink of an eye (or storm). Many landowners who had the security of a future timber harvest that could help pay for college tuition, retirement, or an unexpected health expense are now realizing that opportunity is gone. This loss was paired with damage to their forest that must be accounted for, often at an expense. It was quite the turn of events for thousands of people.

We are also reminded daily that we don’t have all of the answers. Many problems will require funding to offset the costs of debris removal or wildfire mitigation. Figuring out how to restore and regenerate 800,000 acres of storm-damaged forest is a first for this region, but the solutions we’re discovering are already being put into action. Through the help of agencies, NGO partners, and tenacious landowners, we are providing helpful advice and action that reduces risk and takes another step toward future forest health.

With the reduction in agricultural and forestry agency budgets and staff, we will see a reduction in capacity from the people best suited to help. The unforeseen costs for landowners due to Helene are still being realized, meaning that important restoration and regeneration work will be neglected to pay for more immediate needs. A year after this storm of the century, one thing is clear: assistance in the form of professional expertise will be essential, and we will need creativity to help fund the work that must be done.

Despite the difficulties of the last year, we still have much to celebrate after a decade of EcoForesters. Our mission is needed, and our methods are working. We hope you will continue to stay interested and supportive of our work for the next ten years. Thank you for sticking with us!