6 months ago
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3
Posted On: April 22nd 2026, 11:26 pm
What exactly is Functional Forests? It's our newest forest restoration experiment, led by John Parker and Justin Nowakowski, with head technicians Jamie Pullen and Shelley Bennett. Watch to learn why SERC is planting 33,518 trees across 194 plots.
Each plot tests different combinations of tree species to discover how forests can best support both people and nature. For example, if a planter’s main goal is to grow timber, they might choose a single-species forest that serves only that purpose—offering few benefits to wildlife or other ecosystem services. Or, they could plant a carefully selected mix of tree species that maximizes wildlife habitat, discourages deer browsing, increases fire resistance AND produces timber. Through #FunctionalForests, planters can make choices that benefit everyone. #EarthDay
Click the image in our bio to learn more about the project.
Each plot tests different combinations of tree species to discover how forests can best support both people and nature. For example, if a planter’s main goal is to grow timber, they might choose a single-species forest that serves only that purpose—offering few benefits to wildlife or other ecosystem services. Or, they could plant a carefully selected mix of tree species that maximizes wildlife habitat, discourages deer browsing, increases fire resistance AND produces timber. Through #FunctionalForests, planters can make choices that benefit everyone. #EarthDay
Click the image in our bio to learn more about the project.
Comments (3)
6 months agosmithsonianenvironment
Video description: A female scientist wearing field clothes stands in a grassy field, describing a new forest planting project. She is followed by a male scientist in field clothes standing in the same field. Later, the video cuts to another female scientist standing on a balcony describing the Functional Forests and BiodiversiTREE project. While she is speaking, the video cuts to aerial footage of BiodiversiTREE and photos of caterpillars on leaves and holes with soil. The video ends with a clip of the male scientist standing in the grassy field talking about creating climate-smart forests.
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