A U.S. Forest Service research farm near Rhinelander is hoping to join a national network of experimental forests.
The HarshawForestry Research Farm is a 500-acre parcel in the town of Cassian that’s used for research and development for the Forest Service’s Northern Research Station. Most recently, the land hosted a project called Aspen FACE that looked at how higher levels of carbon dioxide and ozone impact tree health.
Now the station hopes to officially designate the Harshaw Forestry Research Farm and another smaller parcel as an experimental forest.
Project Leader at the Station's Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies Deahn Donner-Wright says the change would encourage more partnerships and involve more scientists.
“By us doing an experimental forest designation, it gets the word out to other collaborators and partnerships, that we’re willing and able and would really like to bring you in to do research on our lands.”
Future projects could focus on topics like forest succession or silviculture techniques.
Donner-Wright says that means the land would be part of a nationwide network of about 80 experimental forests.
“Experimental forests and ranges – they provide a place for us to collect data and to work with collaborators, partners, universities other researchers, to develop more knowledge about environmental change – in both natural and managed ecosystems.”
Donner-Wright says the public would still be able to access the land for recreation.
The public is invited to two open housesnext Wednesday to learn more about the experimental forest designation.
The first is in from 9-11 am at the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest Supervisor’s Office.
The second is from 5-7 pm at the Northern Research Station’s Rhinelander Lab on Highway K.
