George Perkins Marsh Institute

Students awarded $10K to document, ‘uplift voices’ of those impacted by climate change

Lu Ann Pacenka — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:15:06 +0000

$10M gift advances School of Climate, Environment, and Society

Lu Ann Pacenka — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:27:14 +0000

New maps show where tree restoration might help curb climate effects

Lu Ann Pacenka — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:42:26 +0000

Heroes of the Hadwen

Lu Ann Pacenka — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 17:25:50 +0000

Can we feed the world by going with the grains?

Lu Ann Pacenka — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 17:59:21 +0000

Examining the Impact of Urban Development on Trees

Lu Ann Pacenka — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:35:30 +0000

Over 17,000 trees were planted by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in Worcester in response to the Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation between 2010 and 2014. During 2015 and 2016, the ��Ƶ Human-Environment Regional Observatory (HERO) conducted an inventory of over 1500 of the trees planted in the Burncoat and Greendale neighborhoods. Marsh Institute Researchers John Rogan (Geography) and Deborah Martin (Geography) received funds from DCR for the project “Assessing the Survivorship, Condition, and Growth of Trees Planted 2010-2014 in Worcester, Massachusetts” which will engage HERO undergraduate fellows and graduate student mentors to revisit those cohorts of trees planted, and evaluate them for survivorship, condition, and growth.

For full project descriptions, see the Marsh Institute Research Projects web page.

Restoring the Blackstone River

Lu Ann Pacenka — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:17:44 +0000

Stephanie Covino, M.S. ’15 (r.), manager of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, and Caleigh McLaren ’22, M.S. ’23, restoration coordinator for the Collaborative, at the Slater Mill Dam.

The Blackstone River’s health and history are inextricably intertwined with its role as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Plans at all levels prioritize restoration in this heavily impacted watershed. In addition, advocates have worked for decades to create fish passage. However, without local capacity or training available, we lack practitioners to advance these complicated projects. Marsh Institute Research Scientist and Blackstone Watershed Collaborative Program Manager Stefanie Covino received funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the project “Collaboratively Restoring the Hardest Working River in America.” Two goals of the project include hosting a dam removal training workshop for ~150 participants and organizing a series of technical stakeholder working group meetings for tribes, federal agencies, dam owners, and others working to advance fish passage along the Blackstone River.

For full project descriptions, see the Marsh Institute Research Projects web page.

Characterizing Changes in Mangrove Habitat

Lu Ann Pacenka — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 17:28:06 +0000

As wild fisheries already face over-exploitation, aquaculture offers one solution to help meet growing demand while maintaining wild stocks and supporting healthy ocean ecosystems. However, in some cases, aquaculture can result habitat destruction and other environmental damages. Marsh Institute Researchers John Rogan (Geography) and Florencia Sangermano (Geography) received funds from Ecuador Camara Nacional de Acuacultura for the project “Multi-Temporal Analysis and Determination of Mangrove Cover in the Coastal Region of Ecuador.” The study will characterize the change in coastal mangrove habitat resulting from ongoing shrimp farming in Ecuador over a 23-year period and identify potential areas for mangrove conservation.

For full project descriptions, see the Marsh Institute Research Projects web page.

Modeling Fuel Treatments, Forest Fires, and Beetle Outbreaks

Lu Ann Pacenka — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 17:13:06 +0000

As climate change continues, forests are increasingly affected by multiple types of disturbances over short periods. Notably, outbreaks of bark beetles have been widespread and affect fire regimes in complex ways. Marsh Institute researcher Dominik Kulakowski (Geography) received funding from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for the project “How Do Bark Beetle Outbreaks, Tree Regeneration, and Climate Determine Fuel Treatment Longevity?” Using the montane forests of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range as a case study, this research will model interactions among fuel treatments, fires, and bark beetle outbreaks under climate change scenarios to improve understanding of this complex system.

For full project descriptions, see the Marsh Institute Research Projects web page.

Supporting Climate Change Adaptation

Lu Ann Pacenka — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 17:07:50 +0000

Led by Ed Carr (SSJ), a team of Marsh Institute researchers including Cynthia Caron (SSJ), Abby Frazier (Geography), Yelena Ogneva-Himmelberger (SSJ), and Morgan Ruelle (SSJ) received additional funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the ongoing project “USAID Climate Adaptation Support Activity (CASA).” Working with partners from Tetra Tech ARD, the overall goal of this long-term project is to provide technical assistance and other support related to climate risk, livelihoods, and food security. This phase of the long-term project focuses on the production of 39 updated country Climate Risk Profiles that will improve decision-making around climate adaptation needs and opportunities.

For full project descriptions, see the Marsh Institute Research Projects web page.