Research

A principle of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is to support advances in sustainable forest management through forestry research, science and technology.

For nine years the NH SFI Implementation Committee has contributed to this principle through its sponsorship of a research intern at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Hubbard Brook is an area of land in the towns of Woodstock and Thornton in the White Mountains of New Hampshire that functions as an outdoor laboratory for ecological studies. Established in 1955 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this 7,800 northern hardwood experimental forest attracts scientist from all over the globe to conduct forest and environmental research.

The “bowl-like” configuration of Hubbard Brook watershed funnels surface and ground water across the landscape enabling this forest to be used for groundbreaking research in the areas of nutrient cycling and water quality. More recently, the forest’s elevation is enabling research into the impacts of climate change on forest health and forest composition/migration.

Annually, the NHSIC provides funding to support the hiring and lodging of an intern to assist the scientist with the gathering and compiling of research data. In 2019 the NHSIC sponsored intern, Tristan Keller from Plymouth NH assisted with data collection, installation of new snow scale and snow water equivalent devices, sealing and completing the new weir 6, painted boundary lines, blazed trails, worked in the sample archives, assisted in fish research on Mirror Lake, and concluded the summer giving a presentation to Congresswoman Annie Kuster.

Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest Mural

2021 was the tenth year the NH SFI Implementation Committee provided support to the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. This support advances a core principle of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and also supports advances in sustainable forest management through forestry research, science and technology.

Established in 1955 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest is a 7,800 acre tract of northern hardwoods in the towns of Woodstock and Thornton in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It is an outdoor laboratory for ecological studies that attracts scientist from all over the globe. The Hubbard Brook Experimental Forests services as an educational center, hosting various scientific meetings and forums. The 2021 NH SFI Implementation Committee support was also directed towards the educational aspects of the experimental forest with the creation of a mural depicting various plant and animal communities found on the forest.

The artist, Raisa Kochmaruk, describes herself as a “scientific illustrator who seeks to accurately reflect the natural forms that we study and cherish”. Raisa’s mural is situated in a common area within the research center building and will be an educational focal point of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest for many years. To learn more about Raisa, see images of the mural, learn about her work as a scientific illustrator, and what inspired the mural go to, https://mondielle.com/hubbard-brook-mural/