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The Forest Guild research program carries out the Guild's mission by synthesizing and conducting scientific research to support our science based advocacy, field meetings, Model Forests, and members' land stewardship. Science goes hand in hand with Guild member's place-based experience to guide the practice of ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry—excellent forestry. Guild research plays a key role as a moderating voice in forest debates because we strive to balance the ecological and economic concerns that are often in conflict. We develop informational resources that help people and communities engaged in forest stewardship. We also assist research scientists and organizations in incorporating the place-based experiential knowledge, perspectives, and needs of foresters and other natural resource professionals.
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Current research at the Guild includes: - Climate Change, Carbon, and Forests
The Guild research seeks to identify how forest can resist the impacts of climate change and mitigate its effects. Our report Climate Change, Carbon, and the Forests of the Northeast analyzed climate change impacts, carbon policy, and effects of forest management in the Northeast. Based on this analysis, the report provides practical strategies for use by forest managers to help sequester more carbon and improve forests' resilience to climate change. Read the full report here or the executive summary here.
In New Mexico, we helped convene a workshop on forest management and climate change , produced a workshop summary , and contributed to a white paper on climate change considerations in mixed conifer management.
- Woody Biomass from Forests
Through a grant from the Joint Fire Sciences Program we collected and analyzed case studies of biomass removal projects from across the country. Our report highlights strategies and techniques managers from across the country are using to successfully implement biomass projects. A new report released by the Forest Guild provides an assessment of current guidelines for biomass harvesting and provides recommendations for future guidelines. Guidelines are crucial for ensuring energy generated from forest biomass is harvested sustainably. The Guild has also contributed to the knowledge about community wood energry projects through two reports: A Market-Based Approach to Community Wood Energy: An Opportunity for Consulting Forester and Harnessing the Power of Local Wood Energy.
Ecological Forestry Initiative
The Ecological Forestry Initiative provides an online regional "field manual" for ecological forestry, with chapters dedicated to the overall philosophy, values, and practice. Regional guides include: Coastal Redwood, Longleaf Pine, Southwestern Aspen, New Hampshire's Northern Hardwood Forest and many more.
Our work on ecological forestry research also includes projects such as forest specific restoration prescriptions.
- Community Capacity to Protect Against Wildfire
The Guild and partners at Resource Innovations developed quantitative methods for assessing community capacity to protect against wildfire in a report . Our index of community capacity to protect against wildfire has been used in community wildfire protect plans in New Mexico and Oregon. This work is part of a larger effort to engage socially vulnerable populations in community wildfire protection plans.
- Working Forest Conservation Easements
The Guild has developed and is implementing of a rating system for working forest conservation easements.
The Forest Guild research program is lead by Dr. Zander Evans, research director, and welcomes collaboration and partnerships. |
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Forest Wisdom Issue 14
Forest Wisdom #14 (fall 2009) explores issues related to managing forests for wildlife and biodiversity. Articles range from restoring meadows to maintain rare butterfly habitats in the forests of western Oregon, to safely returning fire to highly fire-dependent forest ecosystems in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, to identifying forest management objectives for a small group of “focus species” whose habitat needs are representative of a wide range of other wildlife in the forests of Maine. Though focusing on a wide variety of wildlife, all of the articles share a common goal of restoring and maintaining forest ecosystem health in order to provide a natural habitat for native species.
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