Newfoundland Highland forests


The Newfoundland Highland forests are an ecoregion located on Newfoundland, Canada. Part of the Taiga, the total area of the region is 4,031,999 acres.

Terrain

The terrain of this region is mostly between 300 and 700 meters above sea level. It is characterized by steep, rugged Palaeozoic and Precambrian rock, commonly bare or ridged.

Climate

The winters are snowy and cold, and the summers are cool. The region receives between 1,000 and 1,400 millimeters mean annual precipitation.
Mean annual temperature: 4°C
Mean summer temperature range: 11.5°C to 12°C
Mean winter temperature range: -3.5°C to -4°C.
TypeUnitsJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecPeriod
Min TempF°10.27.814.926.434.743.651.751.644.935.827.218.31991–2009
Mean TempF°17.115.422.433.843.452.960.359.751.941.632.423.31974–2009
Max TempF°24.924.130.940.952.462.669.76960.848.838.830.51994–2009
FrostDays3128.2313028.314.91.73.41127.930311901–2009
WetDays24.217.515.212.513.913.813.813.917.51920.423.71901–2009
Precipitationin5.33.63.32.72.93.63.84.14.24.9551901–2009

Flora and fauna

The region contains boreal forests with dwarf black spruce and balsam fir, dwarf kalmia, and various mosses. Various mixed evergreen and deciduous shrubs can be found in exposed areas.
The Arctic hare is found in this region. It is their southernmost limit to their range.
Other species include:
The region is threatened by an increase in harvest of wood for lumber and the pulp and paper industry. Higher elevations are mostly threatened by mining interests and granite quarrying. Further threats come from high all-terrain vehicle traffic, which affect some areas.
80 to 90 percent of the region is considered to be intact. Large areas of the region are protected. These are: