Forest Ecology and Health

Program Overview

The ability to evaluate, measure and moderate or remediate the impacts of climate change on forests and forest ecosystem services is directly related to our ability to accurately measure, quantify and summarize forest resource data. The development of new inventory systems that combine qualitative and quantitative data acquired by remote sensing platforms and field data collections and integrated using landscape scale models is at the heart of our research to better understand how forest ecosystems have been imparied and how we can restore function to these systems.

Program Goals

1. Characterize the current condition of Minnesota’s working lands
2. Identify the abiotic and biotic factors responsible for changes in Minnesota’s native plant communities
3. Model these changes, extrapolate potential consequences, and identify solutions to adapt to these changes, moderate their impacts, or restore forest ecosystem function

Capabilities and Expertise

• Analyze remotely sensed and field collected data, create datasets for model inputs, model data and develop and implement tests to ensure model accuracy.
• Model forest and non-forest landscape change through time and identify potential impacts of anthropogenic caused changes in ecosystems and landscapes.
• Develop data analysis and visualizations that translate and communicate findings to land managers, decision makers and the general public.