Shifts in forest composition in New England and northern New York will take at least several decades to occur in the absence of major disturbance.

Model projections that show future changes in habitat for many tree species do not account for migration constraints, longevity of current species, or differences among age classes. Because mature trees are expected to remain on the landscape, and recruitment of new species is expected to be limited, major shifts in species composition will not likely be observed by the middle of the century, except along ecoregional boundaries and in areas that undergo major stand-replacing disturbance events. However, climate change is may increase the intensity, scope, or frequency of some stand-replacing events such as windstorms, ice storms, and insect outbreaks, possibly promoting rapid shifts in species composition where these events occur.