Project Grant 2205705

This National Science Foundation project grant of $655,059 supports research on the socio-environmental dynamics of timberlands in northern Maine under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050). The University of Georgia Research Foundation will lead efforts with subawards to the University of Maine, Harvard University, Appalachian State University, and the University of Kentucky Research Foundation.

The project will analyze the social and ecological consequences of transitions in timberland ownership models through integrated qualitative, remote sensing, and scenario modeling approaches. Researchers will work directly with Maine stakeholders to understand impacts over the past three decades and co-produce future landscape scenarios under different climate and policy scenarios. Spatial process models will be developed and used to inform collaborative evaluations. Insights aim to advance land system science and identify opportunities to shape more sustainable outcomes for these lands into the future. The research is scheduled to be completed by December 2026.