The Northern region’s vast forests contain 170 million acres spread across 20 states. They vary considerably from East to West and from North to South.  Interspersed among these forests are two-fifths of the Nation’s inhabitants and some of its largest cities.  This confluence of people and trees creates tremendous stresses on our forest resources both in terms of consumptive demands and threats.

The Northern Research Station develops the knowledge and provides the tools necessary to inform forest policy and practices, delineate threats, and to help understand natural processes.  Sound policies and practices, and a firm understanding of natural processes are critical to balance the needs of communities and people.  The consequences of these policies, practices, and processes are directly or indirectly reflected upon the land on which we live, the water we drink, and the air that we breathe.

Our inventory and monitoring activities provide a hierarchy of information. This scalable system of inventory and monitoring activities allows us to establish baselines, track change, quantify threats, demonstrate effectiveness, prioritize research efforts, and understand our natural resources, and the policies, practices, and processes that impact them.

Science Topics

• Inventory
• Monitoring and Assessment
• Techniques