Forest Change and Human Populations in New England

Data

• hf013-01: forest area
• hf013-02: human population

Overview

• Lead: David Foster
• Investigators:
• 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:
• Research topic: historical, regional
• Study type: historical
• LTER core area: disturbance
• Keywords: forest dynamics, land use, population
• Release date: 2003
• EML version: knb-lter-hfr.13.9
• Revisions: data updated 2009-05-20
• Related links:
• 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.

• Citation:

  Foster D. 2003. Forest Change and Human Populations in New England. Harvard Forest Data Archive: HF013.

Detailed Metadata

hf013-01: forest area

1. Year: year (YYYY)
2. Source: source
   • 1: Baldwin, H. I. 1942. Forestry in New England. National Resources Planning Board Publication 70, Boston, Massachusetts
   • 2: U.S. Forest Service Reappraisal Project figures
   • 3: USFS. 1958. Timber resources for America’s future. USFS USDA Forest Resource Report no. 14
   • 4: USFS. 1965. Timber trends in the United States. USFS USDA Forest Resource Report No. 17
   • 5: USFS. 1973. The outlook for timber in the United States. USFS USDA Forest Resource Report No. 20
   • 6: USFS. 1990. New England’s forests. USFS USDA Northeastern Forest Experiment Station NE-INF-91-90
   • 7: USFS Northeastern Research Station FIA Website, March 2003. www.fs.fed.us/ne/fia/states.main.html. Date listed as 1998; actual FIA inventory for each state: CT, 1998; MA, 1998; ME, 1995; NH, 1997; RI, 1998; VT, 1997
   • 8: USFS Northern Research Station FIA Website, November 2008. http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/fia/
3. CT: forest area in thousands of acres for Connecticut (acre )
4. MA: forest area in thousands of acres for Massachusetts (acre )
5. ME: forest area in thousands of acres for Maine (acre )
6. NH: forest area in thousands of acres for New Hampshire (acre )
7. RI: forest area in thousands of acres for Rhode Island (acre )
8. VT: forest area in thousands of acres for Vermont (acre )
9. NE: forest area in thousands of acres for New England (acre )

hf013-02: human population

1. Year: year Every 10 years for 1770-2000 and every 20 years for 1630-1750 (YYYY)
2. CT: human population in Connecticut (number )
3. MA: human population in Massachusetts (number )
4. ME: human population in Maine (number )
5. NH: human population in New Hampshire (number )
6. RI: human population in Rhode Island (number )
7. VT: human population in Vermont (number )