College of Forestry

About the OSU College of Forestry: For a century, the College of Forestry has been a world class center of teaching, learning and research. It offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs in sustaining ecosystems, managing forests and manufacturing wood products; conducts basic and applied research on the nature and use of forests; and operates more than 18,000 acres of college forests.

Yellowstone aspen showing signs of recovery following 1995 reintroduction of wolves to park

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Yellowstone National Park is celebrating an ecological milestone along with a key anniversary this summer, Oregon State University researchers report.

A paper in Forest Ecology and Management documents the first new generation of overstory aspen trees in Yellowstone’s northern range in 80 years, three decades after wolves were reintroduced to the nation’s oldest national park.

Study suggests natural areas may acquire too little nitrogen to repair climate

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new study indicates that forests, prairies and other natural areas around the globe acquire less nitrogen than previously estimated.

The findings have climate implications as plants need the element to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Published today in Nature, the data analysis of biological nitrogen fixation also shows a rise in agricultural nitrogen fixation that may be contributing to the degradation of land, air and water quality.

Research shows outdoor recreation not a luxury but a public health necessity

CORVALLIS, Ore. – New research strongly suggests policymakers should view outdoor recreation spaces not as luxuries but as essential public health infrastructure.

Led by scientists at Oregon State University, the study analyzed behavior and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and found that outdoor recreation’s mental health benefits were significant and measurable.

Warming climate making fine particulate matter from wildfires more deadly and expensive

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Scientists say human-caused climate change led to 15,000 additional deaths from wildfire air pollution in the continental United States during the 15-year period ending in 2020.

About 35% of the additional deaths attributed to climate change occurred in 2020, the year of the historic Labor Day fires in the Pacific Northwest as well as major blazes in California, Colorado and Arizona.

Updated wildfire hazard map provides landowners, policymakers with objective data to inform wildfire management strategies

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry today released final versions of statewide wildfire hazard and wildland-urban interface maps developed by Oregon State University scientists.

The maps can be viewed online on Oregon Explorer; they will be updated about every five years.

Reducing irrigation for livestock feed crops is needed to save Great Salt Lake, study argues

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Great Salt Lake has lost more than 15 billion cubic yards of water over the past three decades, is getting shallower at the rate of 4 inches a year, and an analysis of its water budget suggests reducing irrigation is necessary for saving it.

The study published today in Environmental Challenges shows that 62% of the river water bound for the lake is diverted for human uses, with agricultural activities responsible for nearly three-quarters of that percentage.