http://www.fs.fed.us/research/
New Hampshire
Forest Service Research and Development (FS R&D) delivers research to New Hampshire through the
Northern Research Station (NRS) and its field office in Durham, which employs 39 people. The research in
New Hampshire focuses on understanding and sustaining ecological structure and function at multiple
scales under changing environmental conditions. The research also increases our understanding of key
physiological responses of trees to environmental stresses such as climate change. Long-term research in
New Hampshire is conducted on two experimental forests: Bartlett and Hubbard Brook Experimental Forests.
New Hampshire Funding History
Durham: NRS-5 Forest Inventory and Analysis, NRS-6 Climate,
Fire and Carbon Cycle Science, NRS-7 Center for Research on
Ecosystem Change and NRS-16 Restoration and Conservation
of Urban and Rural Forests
Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC)
NEW HAMPSHIRE TOTAL
FY 2013
Enacted ($)
FY 2014
Enacted ($)
FY 2015
Budget ($)
$4,705,000
$4,738,000
$4,658,000
576,000
575,000
0
$5,281,000
$5,313,000
$4,658,000
share of the national amount of $6,914,000 for the
Joint Fire Science Program.
Softwood trees like those shown here stored 25 percent
more carbon than old-growth hardwoods in a recent
NRS study. Photo by U.S. Forest Service.
Northern Research Station Overview
Headquartered at Newtown Square, PA, NRS
develops and delivers leading-edge science and
technology that helps people ensure the longterm health and productivity of rural and urban
landscapes. NRS maintains 24 field locations and
24 experimental forests across 20 states in the
Midwest and Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Iowa,
Maine,
Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West
Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The FY 2015 President’s Budget is $50,495,000 of
which $15,718,000 is for annualized Forest
Inventory and Analysis (FIA). In addition,
$2,944,000 is provided for the National Fire Plan
Research. NRS will also receive a competitive
FY 2015 Program Changes
The President’s Budget includes a station
decrease of $4,126,000 from the FY 2014 Enacted
level. At this level, the NRS will continue to
provide cutting edge research in urban forestry
and forest disturbance processes as well as
develop practical tools to enhance forest
productivity and increase production of clean air
and water. The FIA program will continue to
monitor and inventory the nation’s forests to
better inform forest policy development and
provide valuable data to enhance accelerated
forest restoration. NRS will focus on the highest
priority research by eliminating the Northeastern
States Research Cooperative; research on
mycology, long term soil productivity, and riparian
research critical to water quality; and the invasive
species program in MI and CT.
FY 2013 Key Accomplishments
 Found that old growth softwood forests
measured in New Hampshire, Maine, and
Vermont contained 25 percent more carbon
than old-growth hardwoods, but old-growth
hardwood forests have about the same amount
of carbon as mature second-growth hardwood
sites. This research is important in managing
forests for carbon storage and mitigating
greenhouse gas emissions.
 Received a commendation from Gov. Margaret
Wood Hassan for Project SMART (Science and
Mathematics Achievement through Research
Training), which provides diverse students handson learning experiences with science.
 Contributed to designing a nationally consistent,
objective, and transparent way to monitor the
effectiveness of best management practices for
land disturbing activities on all National Forests
and Grasslands, and developed an interim
database to store the information.
Priority Research in New Hampshire
Forest Service R&D priority research areas build on
existing local and regional research to solve issues
important to the American people. Priority
research activities in New Hampshire include:
Forest Disturbance: As climate changes so will our
forests. We need to understand how to manage
our forests to adapt to climate change, including
providing opportunities for new and changing
species mixes, restoring forests and wetlands as
temperatures and rainfall change, controlling
invasive insects and diseases, and reducing
wildfire risk. New Hampshire forest managers can
access current tree and bird distribution maps
and habitat projections under different climate
change scenarios.
Urban Natural Resources Stewardship: With most
people living in urban areas, an emphasis on
science and technology transfer is paramount to
ensure the proper care of natural resources and
the delivery of ecosystem services in urban and
urbanizing landscapes. New Hampshire cities can
baseline data online on urban natural resource
composition and health.
Bioenergy and Biobased Products: America’s
forest resources contribute significantly to energy
security, environmental quality, and economic
opportunity. New Hampshire forest owners benefit
from land management decision-support tools for
assessing biomass inventory and distribution.
Watershed Management and Restoration: The
availability of clean water is becoming limited in
many parts of the U.S. It is important to
understand where water shortages will occur,
identify how future climate will affect rainfall and
snowfall, and find ways to reduce water pollution
and effectively manage and protect water
sources. Management guidelines for Bartlett and
Hubbard Brook Experimental Forests are being
updated to enhance New Hampshire’s water
quality.
Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA): The NRS FIA
program conducts an updated annual inventory
of New Hampshire’s forest resources in
cooperation with the State Forester and other
state organizations. FIA provides the sciencebased information needed by the nation’s
leaders to make sound forest policy decisions and
to better understand forest processes and
associated threats to ecosystem health.
Localized Needs Research in New Hampshire
Focusing on critical regional and local research
issues, NRS provides research results and tools and
technologies including:
Forest Carbon Management: NRS researchers
based
in
New
Hampshire
published
a
comprehensive handbook of methods and
measurements for landscape-scale monitoring of
carbon, vital information for evaluating how
forests can provide lower cost greenhouse gas
mitigation options and other benefits.
Urban Forest Stewardship: NRS researchers are
transforming the latest tree biology research into
publications and accompanying workshops for
landscape professionals that explain the biology
behind ”how-to” tree guides and successful
urban and community landscapes.
FOREST SERVICE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (FS R&D) is a world leader in innovative science for sustaining global forest resources for future
generations. Research findings and products benefit forest and rangeland managers, and everyone who uses goods or services from
forests. We operate five research stations that encompass all 50 states, the Forest Products Laboratory located in Madison, Wisconsin, and
the International Institute of Tropical Forestry located in Puerto Rico. Our researchers and support personnel are located at 67 field sites
throughout the United States. We also maintain 80 experimental forests and ranges across the Nation. Our unique ability to integrate
science and decision making and to work across boundaries between public, private, and tribal lands through strong partnerships
advances the Agency’s three core themes of restoration, communities, and fire.
The FS R&D program has two components: Priority Research Areas and Strategic Program Areas. The Priority Research Areas address
urgent needs in seven areas: Forest Disturbance, Forest Inventory and Analysis, Watershed Management and Restoration, Bioenergy and
Biobased Products, Urban Natural Resources Stewardship, Nanotechnology, and Localized Needs Research (region-specific needs). The
Strategic Program Areas (SPAs) are the long-term programs from which Priority Research Areas are funded. The seven SPAs are: Wildland
Fire and Fuels; Invasive Species; Recreation; Resource Management and Use; Water, Air, and Soil; Wildlife and Fish; and Inventory and
Monitoring.
The FY 2015 President’s Budget includes $275,315,000 for Forest and Rangeland Research, $19,795,000 for the FS R&D National Fire Plan, and
$6,914,000 for the Joint Fire Science Program.