Forest Change and Human Populations in New England

• Investigators: David Foster
• Contact: David Foster
• Start date: 1650-01-01
• End date: 1990-12-31
• Location: New England
• Latitude: +40.5 to +47.5
• Longitude: -74.3 to -66.9
• Elevation: 0 to 1900 meters
• Taxa:
• Keywords: forest dynamics, land use, population
• Release date: 2003
• EML version: knb-lter-hfr.13.2
• Revisions:
• Abstract:

  As part of retrospective studies of land-use across New England, we have compiled information on forest cover and human population for the New England states. Data were compiled by E. Gould and D.R. Foster. Excluding Maine, where the northern forest region was never settled and remained forested, the states share a common history of deforestation for agriculture followed by farm abandonment and natural reforestation. The extent to which these secondary forests differ in structure and function from permanently wooded areas or the forests of the pre-settlement period forms a major research emphasis of Harvard Forest studies. Population data are from the U.S. Census; forest cover data are from Baldwin (1942), and United States Forest Service (1958, 1965, 1973 and 1990).

• Methods:
• Use:

  This dataset is released to the public and may be freely downloaded. Please keep the designated Contact person informed of any plans to use the dataset. Consultation or collaboration with the original investigators is strongly encouraged. Publications and data products that make use of the dataset must include proper acknowledgement. For more information on LTER Network data access and use policies, please see: http://www.lternet.edu/data/netpolicy.html.

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