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Northern Research Station


Why the Trees Outside Forests Count

March 10, 2020 Kate MacFarland, State and Private Forestry, USDA Forest Service

Windbreaks and other agroforestry practices provide a wide range of agricultural production and conservation benefits, helping farmers and furthering the goals of U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Perdue’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda. Windbreaks are designed to increase crop yields, reduce...

Forestry

After a Blight, the Trees that Survived Need Your Help

February 25, 2020 Carolyn Pike, State and Private Forestry, USDA Forest Service

Humans adores trees. But humans also migrate and trade, habits that led to the accidental introduction of insects and diseases that harm trees and alter the landscape. Examples are easy to find and may be outside your front door: American elms that once dotted streets across America succumbed to...

Forestry

Trees can do the Dirty Work of Waste Cleanup

August 30, 2019 Diane Banegas, Research and Development, USDA Forest Service

When it comes to ridding the earth of pollution leaking from dumps, closed landfills, and other waste sites, specific types of trees are quietly and efficiently absorbing the toxins.

Forestry

What it Takes to Bring Back the Near Mythical American Chestnut Trees

April 29, 2019 Jane Hodgins, Public Affairs Specialist, Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service

Sometimes reaching a height of more than 100 feet tall with trunk diameters often well over 10 feet, the American chestnut was the giant of the eastern U.S. forests. There were once billions of them and their range stretched from Georgia and Alabama to Michigan, but the majestic tree was gone before...

Forestry

Did You Know Fall Color Begins in the Spring?

September 21, 2018 Robert Westover, Office of Communication and Kevin T. Smith, Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service

Every year the USDA Forest Service hosts a Fall Colors webpage full of useful information about where and when to see fall colors in your part of the country. And, every year, we think of some new angle to encourage folks to visit the webpage and to have fun exploring it with family and friends.

Forestry

Want to Help Bees? Take a Break from Lawn Mowing

June 20, 2018 Susannah Lerman, Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service

Across the globe, native bee species are having trouble. Populations of bees have experienced severe declines that are largely attributed to the loss of habitat. If you have a lawn, you may be able to reverse this trend: All you have to do is be a little lazy and, depending on your neighborhood...

Forestry

The Revolutionary Role of Wood in our Future

January 05, 2018 David N. Bengston, Research and Development, USDA Forest Service

Some people are just way ahead of their time. In the mid-20 th century, when most people thought of wood as an archaic and low-tech material, Egon Glesinger foresaw the revolutionary role it would play in our future, described in his book The Coming Age of Wood.

Forestry

Brown Bat Found in Washington State Infected with Familiar Strain of Fungus

October 05, 2016 Jane Hodgins, U.S. Forest Service

When a little brown bat discovered near North Bend, Washington, in March tested positive for White-nose Syndrome or WNS, scientists had a lot of questions. The bat was found nearly 1,300 miles from the nearest confirmed case of WNS in eastern North America, so the most pressing question was about...

Forestry

New and Improved Tools Help Adapt Forests to Changing Conditions

October 05, 2016 Maria Janowiak and Chris Swanston, U.S. Forest Service

Changes in climate and extreme weather are already increasing challenges for forest ecosystems across the world. Many impacts are expected to remain into the future. This means forest managers, conservationists and woodland owners continually need to address climate change to ensure forests can...

Forestry

Native American Students Mentored by Forest Service Scientists

April 05, 2016 Diane Banegas, U.S. Forest Service

The U.S. Forest Service is working with The Wildlife Society to give Native American students a chance to work as research assistants for Forest Service scientists. Forest Service Research and Development funding provides stipends for living expenses for college juniors, seniors and graduate...

Forestry
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