- Molly Beattie Young Forester Leadership Award, 2006
New England Society of American Foresters award for leadership benefiting the practice of forestry.
- Early Career Scientist Award, 2005
U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station award.
- Multicultural Achievement Award, 2004
U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station and Northeastern Area, Civil Rights Committee award for efforts to support women in forestry.
Current Research
- Ecology and Silviculture of Mixed-Species Stands - Recent and ongoing projects include short- and long-term dynamics of multi-aged stands (with a focus on selection, diameter-limit, and other forms of partial cutting), rehabilitation of degraded stands, regeneration substrates and dynamics, stand and sub-stand structure, and relationships between forest management and understory vegetation, including nonnative invasive plants. Many of these projects are in collaboration with University of Maine faculty and graduate students. Much of my work is on the Penobscot Experimental Forest in Maine, but I also conduct research on the Dukes Experimental Forest in Michigan and in cooperation with a number of large landowners and Northern Forest managers. My research addresses the northern conifer (hemlock - spruce - fir) and northern hardwood (beech - birch - maple) forest types.
- Sustainability - I am a principal investigator in a cross-border study of northern white-cedar ecology and silviculture, in collaboration with the University of Maine, Laval University (Quebec), the Canadian Forest Service, and the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources. I also have been working with University of Maine and NRS colleagues on studies of soil-site-growth relationships, the long-term effects of harvesting on site productivity, the role of site in determining sub-stand-level variation in silvicultural outcomes, and residual stand and regeneration implications of mechanized partial harvesting.
- Pioneering Studies - In addition to my current studies on experimental forests, I have been investigating the history of Forest Service research in the northern conifer forest, including experiments on the now-closed Gale River, Finch-Pruyn, and Paul Smiths EFs. I am working with University of Maine cooperators and Forest Service colleagues to re-analyze, re-establish, and re-open these and other historical Forest Service studies where possible, and am in the process of archiving a number of long-term experimental forest datasets for online access.
Why is This Important
The forests of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada are structurally and compositionally complex, and recent trends in forest management have been toward silvicultural systems that maintain or increase complexity of structure and species. However, the dynamics of mixed-species and multi-aged stands are incompletely understood, and information about ecosystem response to management in both the short- and long-term is needed. I am using current studies, as well as archived data and intact plots from early Forest Service research, to address problems of contemporary forest management. Additionally, focus on potentially at-risk components of complex ecosystems and forests degraded by past mismanagement is important. Long-term sustainability of the northern white-cedar resource, for example, is a concern due to widespread problems with regeneration and recruitment and the advanced age of the managed resource in many regions. My research contributes both to effective forest management and long-term forest sustainability.
Future Research
In addition to ongoing studies, I would like to expand my research in the areas of ecology and silviculture of northern red oak - eastern white pine, focusing on the development of those species in mixture; northern hardwood silviculture; new approaches to creating and maintaining multi-aged stands; and silviculture of northern white-cedar.
Featured Publications
- Boulfroy, Emmanuelle; Forget, Eric; Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Larouche, Catherine; Lessard, Guy; Lussier, Jean-Martin; Pinto, Fred; Ruel, Jean-Claude; Weiskittel, Aaron. 2012. Silvicultural guide for northern white-cedar (eastern white cedar). Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-98. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 74 p.
- Olson, Elizabeth; Kenefic, Laura S.; Dibble, Alison C.; Brissette, John C. 2011. Nonnative invasive plants in the Penobscot Experimental Forest in Maine, USA: influence of site, silviculture, and land use history. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. 138(4): 453-464.
- Weiskittel, Aaron R.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Li, Rongxia; Brissette, John. 2011. Stand Structure and Composition 32 Years after Precommercial Thinning Treatments in a Mixed Northern Conifer Stand in Central Maine. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 28(2): 92-96.
- Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S. 2010. Historical early stem development of northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) in Maine. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 27(3): 92-96.
- Larouche, Catherine; Kenefic, Laura S.; Ruel, Jean-Claude. 2010. Northern white-cedar regeneration dynamics on the Penobscot Experimental Forest in Maine: 40-year results. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 27(1): 5-12.
Additional
Online Publications
- Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Seymour, Robert S.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2010. Production ecology of Thuja occidentalis. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 40(6): 1155-1164.
- Weaver, Jamie K.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S.; Brissette, John C. 2009. Decaying wood and tree regeneration in the Acadian Forest of Maine, USA. Forest Ecology and Management, Volume 257, Issue 7, 22 March 2009, Pages 1623-1628
- Hofmeyer, P.V.; Seymour, R.S.; Kenefic, L.S. 2009. Influence of soil site class on growth and decay of northern white-cedar and two associates in Maine. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 26(2): 68-75.
- Weiskittel, Aaron; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S.; Phillips, Leah M. 2009. Long-term effects of precommercial thinning on stem form, volume, and branch characteristics of red spruce and balsam fir crop trees. Silva Fennica. 43(3): 397-409.
- Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S. 2009. Northern white-cedar ecology and silviculture in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada: a synthesis of knowledge. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 26(1): 21-27.
- Baldwin, Elizabeth Dennis; Kenefic, Laura S.; LaPage, Will F. 2007. Alternative large-scale conservation visions for northern Maine: interviews with decision leaders in Maine. Maine Policy Review. 16(2): 78-91.
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D. 2007. Cavity trees, snags, and selection cutting: a northern hardwood case study. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 24(3): 192-196.
- Moores, Andrew R.; Seymour, Robert S.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2007. Height development of shade-tolerant conifer saplings in multiaged Acadian forest stands. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37: 2715-2723.
- Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S. 2007. Northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.): an annotated bibliography. University of Maine, Cooperative Forestry Research Unit. 30 p.
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D. 2006. Facilitating a Dialogue About Diameter-Limit Cutting. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D. eds. Proceedings of the conference on diameter-limit cutting in northeastern forests; 2005 May 23-24; Amherst, MA. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-342. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 1-2.
- Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S.; Brissette, John C. 2006. Growth comparison of northern white-cedar to balsam fir and red spruce by site class. In: Proceedings of the Eastern US-Canada forest science conference; 2006 October 19-21; Quebec, QC: 62-66.
- Brissette, John C.; Saunders, Michael R.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Sendak, Paul E. 2006. Long-term research on classical silvicultural approaches in the Acadian Forest: Penobscot Experimental Forest Part I. In: Proceedings, Society of American Foresters 2006 national convention; 2006 October 25-29; Pittsburgh, PA. Bethesda, MD: Society of American Foresters. [CD-ROM].
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C.; Sendak, Paul E. 2006. Overview of USDA Forest Service Research on Diameter-Limit Cutting in Northern Conifers. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D. eds. Proceedings of the conference on diameter-limit cutting in northeastern forests.; 2005 May 23-24; Amherst, MA. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-342. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Forest Service: 24-31.
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D., eds. 2006. Proceedings of the conference on diameter-limit cutting in northeastern forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-342. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 51 p.
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Sendak, Paul E.; Brissette, John C. 2006. Turning data into knowledge for over 50 years: USDA Forest Service research on the Penobscot Experimental Forest. In: Irland, Lloyd C.; Camp, Ann E.; Brissette, John C.; and Donohew, Zachary R., eds. Long-term Silvicultural & Ecological Studies: Results for Science and Management. New Haven, CT: Yale University: 26-33
- Baldwin, Elizabeth D.; Kenefic, Laura S.; LaPage, Wilbur; Daigle, John J. 2005. A Forest in Conflict: the Proposal for a 3.2 Million Acre National Park and Preserve in Maine's Working Forest. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 33
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. 2005. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 85 p.
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Sendak, Paul E.; Brissette, John C. 2005. Comparison of Fixed Diameter-Limit and Selection Cutting in Northern Conifers. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 22(2): 77-84.
- Kenefic, Laura; Nyland, Ralph. 2005. Diameter-limit Cutting and Silviculture in Northeastern Forests: a Primer for Landowners, Practitioners,and Policymakers. United States Deparment of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, August 2005, NA-TP-02-05
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Sendak, Paul E.; Brissette, John C. 2005. Digging Out the Data: USDA Forest Service Research on the Penobscot Experimental Forest. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 20
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Elias, Susan P.; Kimball, Alan J.; Witham, Jack W. 2005. Dynamics of Tree Growth and Composition Following Partial Cutting in an Oak ? Pine Forest in Maine. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 56
- Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S.; Brissette, John C. 2005. Ecology and Silviculture of Northern White-cedar. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 50
- Weaver, Jamie K.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Fernandez, Ivan J. 2005. Effect of Harvest Intensity on Soil Physical Properties and Site Productivity in Riparian Mixedwood Forests. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 82
- Waskiewicz, Justin D.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2005. Elementary Silviculture: Presenting Forest Science to Children Through the NSF?s Gk-12 Fellowship. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 81
- Sendak, Paul E.; Brissette, John C.; Frank (retired), Robert M.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2005. Forty Years of Partial Harvesting in Mixed Northern Conifers in Maine: Results from the Penobscot Experimental Forest. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 74
- Witham, Jack W.; Hunter, Malcolm L. Jr.; Kimball, Alan J.; White, Alan S.; Elias, Susan P.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2005. Long-term study of a pine ? oak forest ecosystem: Holt Research Forest. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 84
- Kenefic, Laura S.; White, Alan S.; Cutko, Andrew R.; Fraver, Shawn. 2005. Reference Stands for Silvicultural Research: A Maine Perspective. Journal of Forestry
- Hebert, Barbara; Gagnon, Rejean; LaRouche, Catherine; Ruel, Jean-Claude; Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C. 2005. Regeneration of Northern White-cedar Following Silvicultural Treatment: a Long-term Study. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 46
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C. 2005. Sapling Recruitment and Growth Dynamics in Multi-aged Northern Conifer Stands: a 20-year Study. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 55
- Ruel, Jean-Claude; Larouche, Catherine; Morisette, Sabrina; Lussier, Jean Martin; Kenefic, Laura S. 2005. Silviculture of Northern White-cedar in Mixedwood Forests. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 69
- Maguire, Michael P.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Wilson, Jeremy S.; Nyland, Ralph D. 2005. Simulating Rehabilitation Treatments in Northern Hardwood Stands Following Diameter-limit Cutting. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 60
- Reinmann, Andy B.; Kenefic, Laura S.; Fernandez, Ivan J.; Shortle, Walter C. 2005. Soil Characteristics 30-years Post-harvest on Maine Spruce Flats: Preliminary Results. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 66
- Hofmeyer, Philip V.; Kenefic, Laura; Brissette, John C. 2005. Stand-level Responses of Northern White-cedar to Silvicultural Treatments in Central Maine. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 49
- Witham, Jack W.; Kimball, Alan J.; Elias, Susan P.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2005. Tree Regeneration at Holt Research Forest: Impacts of Red Maple Removal and White-tailed Deer Browsing. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Changing Forests - Challenging Times: Proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 85th Winter Meeting; 2005 March 16-18; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-325. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 85
- Reinmann, Andy; Kenefic, Laura; Fernandez, Ivan; Shortle, Walter. 2004. Preliminary Results From a Retrospective Study of Harvest Intensity, Site Productivity, and Red Spruce Growth. In: Ward, Jeffrey S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Forestry across borders: proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 84th winter meeting; 2004 March 23-26; Quebec City, Canada. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-314. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 28-29
- Kenefic, Laura S.; White, Alan S.; Fraver, Shawn. 2004. Reference conditions for silvicultural field studies in Maine: limitations and opportunities. In: Proceedings, Society of American Foresters 2003 national convention; 2003 October 25-29; Buffalo, NY. Bethesda, MD: Society of American Foresters: 344-349.
- Maguire, Michael; Kenefic, Laura. 2004. Rehabilitation of Northern Hardwood Stands in Southern Maine Following Exploitative Harvests. In: Ward, Jeffrey S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Forestry across borders: proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 84th winter meeting; 2004 March 23-26; Quebec City, Canada. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-314. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 25
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Brissette, John C.; Sendak, Paul E. 2004. The Effects of Alternative Diameter-Limit Cutting Treatments: Some Findings from a Long-Term Northern Conifer Experiment. In: Ward, Jeffrey S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Forestry across borders: proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 84th winter meeting; 2004 March 23-26; Quebec City, Canada. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-314. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 22-24
- Moores, Andrew; Seymour, Robert; Kenefic, Laura. 2004. Understory Height Growth Dynamics in Uneven-Aged, Mixed-Species Northern Conifer Stands. In: Ward, Jeffrey S.; Twery, Mark J., eds. Forestry across borders: proceedings of the New England Society of American Foresters 84th winter meeting; 2004 March 23-26; Quebec City, Canada. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-314. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 12-14
- Seymour, Robert S.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2002. Influence of age on growth efficiency of Tsuga canadensis and Picea rubens trees in mixed-species, multiaged northern conifer stands. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 32: 2032-2042.
- Brissette, John C.; Kenefic, Laura S. 2000. Eastern hemlock response to even- and uneven-age management in the Acadian forest: results from the Penobscot Experimental Forest long-term silviculture study. In: McManus, Katherine A.; Shields, Kathleen S.; Souto, Dennis R., eds. Proceedings: Symposium on sustainable management of hemlock ecosystems in eastern North America. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-267. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station: 23-28.
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, Robert S. 2000. Growth patterns of Tsuga canadensis in managed uneven-aged northern conifer stands. In: McManus, Katherine A.; Shields, Kathleen S.; Souto, Dennis R., eds. Proceedings: Symposium on sustainable management of hemlock ecosystems in eastern North America. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-267. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 29-33.
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D. 2000. Habitat diversity in uneven-aged northern hardwood stands: a case study . Res. Pap. NE-714. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 4 p.
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Seymour, R.S. 1999. Leaf area prediction models for Tsuga canadensis in Maine. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 29: 1574-1582.
- Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, R.D. 1999. Sugar maple height-diameter and age-diameter relationships in an uneven-aged northern hardwood stand. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 16: 43-47.
- Seymour, Robert S.; Kenefic, Laura S. 1998. Balance and sustainability in multi-aged stands: a northern conifer case study. Journal of Forestry. 96(7): 12-16.
- Nowak, Chris; Stout, Susan; Stout, Susan; Brissette, John; Brissette, John; Kenefic, Laura; Kenefic, Laura; Miller, Gary; Miller, Gary; Leak, Bill; Leak, Bill; Yaussy, Dan; Schuler, Tom; Gottschalk, Kurt; Gottschalk, Kurt. 1997. Defining the role of silvicultural research in the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. In: Communicating the role of silviculture in managing the national forests: Proceedings of the National Silviculture Workshop. 1997 May 19-22; Warren, PA.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-238. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 115-122.
Last Modified:
02/15/2012