NCRS - The Changing Midwest Assessment

In addition to describing change in the prevalence of large, medium, and small diameter stands on timberland, scientists at the North Central Research Station and collaborating universities are working to understand the ecological, economic, and social forces that drive change. Further, we are investigating the consequences of landscape change. For example, we are studying how the pattern and scale of landscape change affect water quality and the relative abundance of birds. Finally, we are developing a set of interactive, web-based tools that will allow users to visualize the spatial distribution of changes that are likely in the future given a range of alternative ecological, economic, and social scenarios..