Leaders in forestry research
A hallmark of our program is our strong emphasis on
research. Graduate and undergraduate students are mentored by practicing
professors, many of whom conduct research that is world-renowned.
To see how the School of Forestry conducts research in the international
community, explore our collaboration with Ghana and
our other international research projects.
Studying forestry at NAU gives you access to the Centennial Forest, which consists of over 40, 000 acres of forest, woodland and rangeland located within an easy drive of campus. The Centennial Forest is managed by the School of Forestry and serves as an authentic field laboratory for both undergraduates and graduate students.
This project addresses the impacts of two common forest disturbances, intense forest burning and fuel-reduction thinning, on ecosystem-level carbon sequestration, hydrology, and energy balance of ponderosa pine-dominated forests.
Interested in conservation or just interested in the way
ecosystems work? Explore research that focuses on how vertebrates respond to:
- landscape pattern
- vegetation structure
- fire
- silvicultural treatments
Wildfire, land-use patterns, climate patterns, and climate change all affect forest sustainability around the world. Our research focuses on the interactions in space and time between forest characteristics and disturbance factors in the U.S., Latin America, and the Mediterranean.
Forest Ecophysiology Lab
The current research of Tom Kolb and his collaborators focuses on understanding:
- Impacts and mechanisms of climate-change driven drought and insect attacks on trees and forests
- Impacts of forest disturbances and management on forest carbon, water, and energy balances (see Northern Arizona University Carbon Flux Research)
- Mechanisms that drive forest and woodland ecosystem functions
Google Scholar compilation of Kolb’s publications.
To be a global citizen, you need to think globally. Check
out how you can learn from the FORIG partnership with NAU, which aims to
increase sustainability in the forests of Ghana. The goal of the partnership is to increase
the social, economic, and environmental well-being of Ghana and its people.
Learn more about the Warm Fire. Principal Investigator: Andrea Thode, Ph.D.
Our goal is to better understand species interactions across a multiple taxa within forest communities and apply this understanding to protect natural resources. We take an interdisciplinary approach, using insights drawn from a diverse group of scientists, engineers, artists, specialized technicians, and students.
Applied forest research leads to sustainable, healthy forests by enabling more informed management decisions. Our goal is to conduct applied research that is readily usable by land managers by providing not only answers to current silviculture and forest health questions, but also guidelines and suggestions for applying research results to management. We also conduct research into topics lacking basic information needed to make informed management decisions.