Led predominantly by the Thompson Lab, Harvard Forest research informs climate policies related to land cover change, carbon storage, future scenarios, and more. Research efforts are informed by local, regional, state, tribal, and nonprofit partners.
Informing state emissions goals & actions
Through Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Energy and Environmental affairs, Harvard Forest’s Thompson Lab has collaborated with the Baker and Healey-Driscoll administrations to lead land sector analyses as part of the Commonwealth’s legislatively-mandated commitment to net-zero emissions. Serving the goals of the Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act, the Thompson Lab led research on the original Land Sector Report: A Technical Report of the Massachusetts 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap Study, published by the Commonwealth in 2020.
In 2023, Thompson served on Massachusetts’ Climate Forestry Committee to develop the Report of the Climate Forestry Committee: Recommendations for Climate-Oriented Forest Management Guidelines. Work with the Healey-Driscoll administration is ongoing.
Ecologically sound energy siting
In response to increasing deforestation to site photovoltaic energy, the Thompson Lab collaborated with MassAudubon to publish Growing Solar, Protecting Nature, a research-driven story map that outlines scenarios in which the Commonwealth can build the solar energy it needs while protecting open space.
Gaining attention throughout the northeast, the Thompson Lab continues to be a national thought leader on ecologically-sound siting decisions for alternative energy.
The impacts of climate & global change
With support from his lab, Jonathan Thompson is an author of the Forest chapter of the Sixth National Climate Assessment, an initiative within the federal government to enhance the nation’s ability to prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to global environmental changes. Although funding is paused as of 2025, this work serves the congressionally-enacted Global Change Research Act of 1990.
Supporting international climate efforts
Numerous Senior Ecologists and Fellows at Harvard Forest participate in global initiatives to better understand and support policymaking to combat climate change. Senior Scientist Jackie Matthes serves as one of five members on the European-wide Integrated Carbon Observation System‘s Science Advisory Board, coordinating long-term data collection and open availability to support policymaking across Europe.