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October 10, 2014

New Insights on Changing Hemlock Forests

Hemlock sapling photo by David Foster

Three recent studies co-authored by Harvard Forest ecologist David Orwig detail the impacts of the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) on forests, carbon, and the New England economy.

In a paper published in Southeastern Naturalist, researchers estimated the financial loss caused by the decline of hemlock trees in a 2,800-square-mile area across 9 counties in central Connecticut and

September 30, 2014

New SPE Study: Power Plant Standards and Public Health

Carbon Co-Benefits study

On June 2, 2014, the EPA released the nation’s first-ever carbon pollution standards for existing power plants. Released today is part 2 of a 3-part study, in which Science Policy Exchange researchers analyze the impact of different policy options for power plant carbon standards on clean air and public health. 

"Health Co-Benefits of Carbon Pollution Standards for

September 3, 2014

Tracking Climate and Wildfire in the Klamath Region

Klamath fire

Thanks to a new grant from the National Science Foundation, over the next 4 years, HF senior ecologist Jonathan Thompson will study future changes to the increasingly wildfire-prone Klamath region of Oregon and California. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Thompson's research team will evaluate the potential for the 25-million-acre Klamath region to shift, through climate change and

September 2, 2014

Bullard Spotlight: Michael Knoblauch and Nutrient Transport in Trees

Phloem magnified - copyright American Society of Plant Biologists

Michael Knoblauch, a plant cell biologist from Washington State University, chose to come to the Harvard Forest as a Bullard Fellow because we had everything he needed to study nutrient transport in trees: "Mature trees of various species, scaffolding and a bucket truck, well-equipped labs, a quiet environment, accommodations - and," Knoblauch adds, "great people."

Knoblauch studies the

September 2, 2014

Long-Term Insights on Soil Carbon

Harvard Forest DIRT plot

Unraveling the complex functions of the soil ecosystem has been a research focus at the Harvard Forest for over 20 years. Results from our Detritus Input Removal Treatment (DIRT) experiment were highlighted this month by the Soil Science Society of America.

Soils are a globally important reservoir of carbon, containing three times more carbon than the

August 18, 2014

Summer Research Program Earns Diversity Award

Harvard Forest Summer Research Program 2014

The Organization of Biological Field Stations, representing more than 250 research centers around the globe, has granted the Harvard Forest its 2014 Human Diversity Award. The award highlights our Summer Research Program, now in its 25th year of training undergraduates from around the country in ecology and conservation. The award notes the program's strengths in:

  • Inclusive outreach methods
August 5, 2014

Bullard Spotlight: Betsy Colburn on New England Water and Agriculture

Cows grazing in an open pasture

Each month, we feature research by one of Harvard Forest's Charles Bullard Fellows. This September, aquatic ecologist and local small farmer Betsy Colburn will begin a fellowship that seeks to address the long-standing challenge of merging agriculture and watershed health: "How can we facilitate a dramatic expansion of New England agriculture that will provide good financial returns to

June 19, 2014

New Manual to Aid Landowners in Land Monitoring

W&W Stewardship Science manual 2014

A new citizen science program via the Wildlands and Woodlands initiative allows anyone with access to forested land to follow a step-by-step manual to track changes in forest dynamics over time. The new Stewardship Science manual, developed by our partners at Highstead, contains instructions to set up long-term monitoring plots, including how much

June 19, 2014

Celebrating 10 Years of Hands-On Science with Local Classrooms

Schoolyard Ecology students at work

This summer, the Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology Program will celebrate 10 years of science education in 70 schools across New England. Each year, our program brings more than 3,500 students outside to collect and analyze field data in schools' backyards.

Our 10th annual Summer Institute for Teachers will be held on August 21. All teachers of grades 4-12

June 6, 2014

Study: Forests Are Storing More Carbon with Earlier Springs

Harvard Forest EMS tower

New research in Nature Climate Change, based on over 20 years of ground and air measurements at the Harvard Forest, gives new insight into the crucial climate benefits that eastern forests provide. As warming has brought earlier springs and later autumns to our region over the past 20 years, forest trees have been able to store as much

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