Located in Parsons and Princeton, West Virginia and Delaware, Ohio we work on problems relating to the sustainability of Appalachian forest ecosystems and related economies in a changing world. We develop tools and new knowledge to promote efficient, sustainable management of these forests in the following ways:
By providing guidelines for managing these forests to sustain the productivity and diversity of the soil, water, and forest resources
By providing critical information to support diverse forest-based industries and outcomes (e.g., hardwood lumber, tourism, wildlife habitat) that maintain or restore the integrity of forest ecosystem processes (e.g., biological productivity, maintenance of biological diversity).
Globalization and U.S. competitiveness will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of the hardwood industry, which in turn affects the management and health of these important forests. Research can provide information, analysis, tools, and other assistance to the wood-products industry, landowners, government policymakers, land managers, and citizens to help sustain healthy, productive, and viable forests and communities within the region.
In addition we manage the Fernow Experimental Forest for long-term silvicultural, hydrologic, and ecological research.
Research Focus
- Ecosystem Structure and Processes
- Ecosystem Responses to Disturbance
- Forest Products
- Markets & Globalization
Recent Publications
- Knight, Kathleen S.; Brown, John P.; Long, Robert P. 2013. Factors affecting the survival of ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees infested by emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). Biological Invasions. 15: 371-383.
- Luppold, William G.; Bumgardner, Matthew S. 2013. Factors influencing changes in U.S. hardwood log and lumber exports from 1990 to 2011. BioResources. BioResources. 8(2): 1615-1624.
- Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa; Strager, Michael; Rentch, James. 2012. Site characteristics of red spruce witness tree locations in the uplands of West Virginia, USA. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. 139(4): 391-405.
- Alderman, Delton. 2012. The economic situation and construction-sector developments in the UNECE region, 2011-2012. In: UNECE/FAO forest products annual market review 2011-2012. ECE/TIM/SP/30. New York and Geneva. United Nations Publications: 11, 18-23.
- Buehlmann, Urs; Bumgardner, Matthew; Sperber, Michael. 2012. Current status of the U.S. hardwood industry. In: 2nd biennial international conference on Processing Technologies for the Biobased Products Industries; 2012 November 6-7; St. Simons Island, GA. PTF BPI: 23-25. Extended abstract.
Last Modified: 09/07/2010