Suburban sprawl is a steady threat to Connecticut’s forests. Residential and commercial developments carve chunks out of the forest that are unlikely to be filled in. The process creates fragmentation, many small isolated tracts of forest instead of a few large tracts.

Fragmentation has a negative impact on wildlife and plant life, diminishing their habitat.

Parcelization occurs when a single forest is divided amongst multiple owners, each with their own management plan.

“…continued declines and fragmentation of the forestland base may lead to the impairment of our forest ecosystems’ ability to protect water flow and quality, to provide healthy and diverse forest habitat, and to remain a viable economic resource that provides recreation, timber, and other forest products.”

Society of American Foresters

Forest Fragmentation in Cornwall, 2006
From University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research