The Appalachians, North America’s second-largest mountain system, extend from the Gaspé Peninsula of Québec down to Georgia in the southeastern United States. The northern region of the mountain chain is characterized by high levels of biological diversity due to its position in the transition zone between deciduous and boreal forest biomes.
Habitat degradation and loss caused by logging, residential development and associated road building continue to be the greatest threat to wildlife in the Northern Appalachian ecosystem. Resident meso-carnivores (mid-sized carnivores) — the new top predators following the demise of wolves and mountain lions in this region — are facing numerous challenges in the face of fragmentation of remaining habitat. In particular, Canada lynx and American marten, while relatively secure in most of Canada, are vulnerable to changing climate and forest conditions in the southern extensions of boreal habitat found here.