2013 CTFS-SIGEO Workshop

The 2013 NSF-funded CTFS-SIGEO Workshop was held last month at the Smithsonian Institution's Conservational Biology Institute at Front Royal, VA. It was the third of five annual research workshops over the period 2011 to 2015 focused on "Diversity and Forest Change: Characterizing functional, phylogenetic and genetic contributions to diversity gradients and dynamics in tree communities". The program is co-supported by the Dimensions of Biodiversity Program of the US National Science Foundation (DEB-1046113) and the National Science Foundation of China.

Over 55 scientists from 20 countries worked in small groups to address specific research topics. The focus was on both individual plot analyses and cross-plot comparisons, and included studies of forest carbon dynamics, spatial patterns in species diversity, and forest growth and mortality. The workshop culminated in the presentation of over 40 different research projects on the final day of the workshop. Manuscripts derived from the work are now being prepared.

The gathering of many partners from across the CTFS-SIGEO network also provided an important opportunity to advance current and future collaborations on the science of the world’s forests. While in Virginia, scientists also enjoyed a tour and hike in the forests of the Shenandoah National Park, and a visit to the SCBI 25-hectare plot.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.