Providing Clean Air and Water

An estimated 60 million Americans rely on drinking water that originated on the national forests and grasslands, and active management of forests and grasslands helps conserve and protect the Nation’s truly “green” water infrastructure.

Trees help reduce carbon dioxide and improve local and global environments by sequestering carbon in plant tissues during photosynthesis. Nationwide, trees are saving more than 850 human lives a year and preventing 670,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms by reducing airborne particulate pollution.

Northern Research Station scientists develop land management tools to protect forests and their production of clean water and air for our growing population as well as studying the processes by which these benefits occur.

Science Topics

• Estimating and monitoring carbon stocks and greenhouse gas fluxes
• Development of technology to enhance carbon sequestration in forests
• Economic utilization of forests for bioenergy
• Methods to conserve and enhance the production of clean water from forests
• Riparian forest health