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September 4, 2013

Field Trip for New England Foresters

NESAF field trip, August 2013

On August 24, twenty foresters representing every state in New England toured the Harvard Forest as part of the New England Society of American Foresters' silvicultural working group. Harvard Forest site coordinator and licensed forester Audrey Barker-Plotkin led the day-long tour.

The group got an in-depth look at a number of Harvard Forest's major long-term experiments, including the

September 3, 2013

Harvard Forest Study Named Among Most Influential

British Ecological Society - 100 Influential Papers

A list of 100 Influential Papers published by the British Ecological Society for its centennial celebration includes Harvard Forest director David Foster's 1992 study, "Land use history (1730-1990) and vegetation dynamics in central New-England USA" among the honorees.

The list was comprised by nomination: 100 ecologists were asked to name the paper that they

September 2, 2013

Harvard Forest Is Hiring

Harvard Forest megaplot crew

Harvard Forest seeks to hire a scientist-ecologist, a post-doctoral research associate, and two skilled outdoor laborers. Browse our open positions.

August 21, 2013

It's the Network: Decision-Making by Forest Landowners

Students interview landowners, 2012

A recent study led by Harvard Forest Policy Analyst David Kittredge reveals surprising trends in how private landowners--whose small holdings comprise the majority of forests in the eastern U.S.--make decisions about their land. 

The study shows that most landowners have an informal network of 7-10 people with whom they discuss general issues about their land. For major

August 5, 2013

New Study: Small Streams Transport Key Forest Nutrients

Bigelow Brook - upper pipe

Headwater streams--small tributaries in the outer reaches of a watershed--are the smallest parts of river networks. But collectively, they make up more than half the miles of flowing water in the U.S.  According to a new Harvard Forest study in the journal Ecosystems, headwater streams tell us volumes about the impacts of seasonal storms on forest ecosystems and

July 10, 2013

New Study: Changing Atmosphere Boosts Water Efficiency in Trees

Tower fish-eye view

A study published today in the journal Nature, led by Harvard faculty member Andrew Richardson and post-doctoral fellow Trevor Keenan, uses more than 20 years of data from Harvard Forest research towers to explain how rising CO2 levels help trees use water more efficiently.

As trees become more efficient at using water, the researchers explain,

July 5, 2013

Students Share Summer Research Experiences

Harvard Forest Summer Research Program students

Canopy robots, urban heat islands, invasive insects, and underground root photography: our 25 summer students are all blogging about their independent projects in our Summer Research Program, underway now.

One student reports, "Recently, my friends and I climbed Mt. Greylock (the tallest mountain in Massachusetts), and like that climb, this summer has certainly been a challenge. I have learned more

June 10, 2013

New Study: Whitebark Pine Seeds at Risk

Clark's Nutcracker

New insight on seed production patterns in whitebark pines raises new concern for the already-dwindling western trees and the animals that depend on them. The study, published today by HF senior ecologist Elizabeth Crone and post-doctoral fellow Josh Rapp in the Journal of Ecology, details how heavily the trees rely on abundant pollen to produce abundant

June 6, 2013

2013-2014 Charles Bullard Fellows Announced

2012-2013 Bullard Fellows

Harvard Forest is pleased to announce its Charles Bullard fellows for 2013-2014. The mission of the Charles Bullard fellowship program is to support advanced research and study by individuals who show promise of making an important contribution--either as scholars or administrators--to forestry and forest-related subjects, from biology to earth sciences, economics, politics, administration or law. Below is a list

May 28, 2013

Schoolyard Teacher Wins State Award

Lise LeTellier environmental education award

Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology teacher Lise LeTellier was honored this month at the Massachusetts State House with a first-place award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education.

Each year, LeTellier, a science teacher and head of the science department at Holyoke Catholic High School, leads 70+ students in hands-on Schoolyard Ecology studies in collaboration with the Harvard Forest. In a

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