Forest Ecology Research at Schoodic Institute
Maine’s forests are a fundamental component of the landscape, valued resource, and inspiration for residents and visitors alike. The woods of Acadia helped inspire visionary conservation efforts more than a century ago.
Continuing this conservation work and preserving forests and their diversity of plants and animals requires continuous and evolving research and management. The forests of Acadia, Downeast Maine, and the broader Northeast region, located in a transition zone between northern and southern climates, provide an ideal setting to document forest changes related to warming temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, habitat fragmentation, and invasive plants, pests, and diseases.
The Schoodic Institute Forest Ecology Program studies the establishment, growth, survival, and abundance of tree seedlings—the future forest—and actions forest managers can take in response.