The Memory of Trees & Insights on the Ecology of Forests

How will forests in the northeastern U.S. respond to a hotter climate? The simple answer to this question is that it is not completely obvious. Through the use of the growth rings of trees, a synthesis of observations regarding tree mortality, and model experiments, Neil Pederson, senior ecologist at the Harvard Forest, will discuss what is known about the resiliency of trees, how climate has impacted trees and forests in the past, and how they might respond to future climatic change.

Neil Pederson studies climate-forest dynamics and disturbance ecology. Born and raised in Volney, NY, Neil earned his associate degree in Math at SUNY-Morrisville, his bachelor’s degree in Forest Biology at SUNY-ESF, his master’s degree in forestry at Auburn University, and his Ph.D. in forest ecology and climate at Columbia University. He has been a forester, professor, and research professor before starting at the Harvard Forest. Neil focuses on the ecology of temperate, mesic forests including the eastern US, Spain, east Asia, and the Colchic Temperate Rainforest in Turkey and the Republic of Georgia.

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Schedule of Events – All Events are Free & Open to the Public

1:00 to 1:30  — Business Meeting (Annual Report, Nominations for the Board of Trustees, RIWPS Annual Grant Awards, Volunteer Awards,  Preview: Volunteer Reward Recipients!

1:30 to 2:00 — Refreshments & Fellowship
If your last name begins with the letters N through Z, please bring refreshments to share.

2:00 to 3:30 — Talk by Neil Pederson