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Northern Research Station
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Scientists & Staff

[image:] Thomas Schuler Thomas Schuler

Title: Project Leader / Research Forester
Unit: Ecological and Economic Sustainability of the Appalachian Forest in an Era of Globalization
Address: NRS
P.O. Box 404
Parsons, WV 26287
Phone: 304-478-2000 x110
E-mail: Contact Thomas Schuler

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Education

  • Ph.D. 1998, Purdue University
  • M.S. 1987, Colorado State University
  • B.S.F. 1979, Purdue University

Civic & Professional Affiliations

Society of American Foresters, International Union of Forestry Research Organizations, Running Buffalo Clover Recovery Team, NRS Silviculture Working Group, National Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy - NE Regional Committee, 2012 Central Hardwood Conference - Planning Committee, 2012 Environmental Effects of Natural Gas Development Conference - Planning Committee

Current Research

  • Silviculture of Appalachian forests with an emphasis on long-term patterns in productivity, species composition, and diversity.
  • Fire ecology of Appalachian forests, including the use of fire as a silvicultural tool to maintain and restore oak forests.
  • Restoration and stand dynamics of central Appalachian montane spruce communities
  • Disturbance ecology and management of running buffalo clover to protect and recover this federally endangered species.

Why is This Important

Species composition of exploited forests are increasingly dominated by less desirable species and lower quality throughout the region. Even unmanaged forests and forest reserves are following the same pattern of compositional change. This has negative economic and ecological consequences for the entire central Appalachian region. To counteract this trend, it is important to understand how these forests developed in the past so forest managers can maintain compositional integrity and need structural characteristics using modern tools such as prescribed fire, herbicides, and the timing and extent of harvest operations. Guidelines for using these tools are a fundamental output of this research.

Future Research

  • Restoring, regenerating, and sustaining the mixed-oak forest type using a broad array of silvicultural practices appropriate to landowner capabilities, management objectives, and site characteristics.
  • Developing stand- and landscape-scale restoration guidelines for high-elevation conifer forests in the central and southern Appalachians. Defining priorities on landscape and regional scales based on likelihood of success with minimal input of resources and enhancement of habitat for endemic wildlife species of concern.
  • Recovering the federally endangered running buffalo clover through research and adaptive management to better understand RBC ecology and management needs.
  • Developing landscape-scale models to predict where standard and innovative silvicultural practices are most likely to achieve a broad array of management objectives, including high value commodity production, oak restoration, and high elevation spruce restoration, and habitat improvement, etc.

Featured Publications

Additional Online Publications

Last Modified: 02/15/2012