The Forest Botanicals Region: A Treasure of Biodiversity
By Shannon E. Bell, Professor of Sociology, Virginia Tech
The central and southern Appalachian Mountains are among the most biodiverse places on Earth. This region is home to thousands of plant species, including trees, shrubs, flowering plants, grasses, sedges, ferns, and mosses. A great deal of this biodiversity can be found beneath the forest canopy, where many medicinal plants and forest foods grow.
Why is this region such a biodiversity hotspot?
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During the last ice age, which reached its peak about 20,000 years ago, much of North America was covered by ice. The ice sheet did not reach the central and southern Appalachian Mountains, however, so the flora and fauna of this region survived. Many northern species also moved south during this time period and remained after the ice sheet melted.
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The topography of the Appalachian Mountains creates many different microclimates within a relatively small geographic area. This allows species that thrive in southern climates and species that thrive in northern climates to all find homes in the central and southern Appalachian Mountains.
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Temperatures in the central and southern Appalachians are moderate with high annual rainfall levels. In fact, some higher-elevation portions of the central and southern Appalachian Mountains are considered to be temperate rainforests.
