Center for Tropical Forest Science-Arnold Arboretum (CTFS-AA) program
A Global Program for Long Term, Large-Scale Forest Research
The Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) is a global network of forest research plots committed to studying the ecosystem functions and diversity of tropical and temperate forests. The multi-institutional network comprises tropical research plots across Latin America, Africa, and Asia; and temperate plots in North America and China. CTFS monitors the growth and survival of some 4.5 million trees of over 8,500 species.
CTFS conducts long-term, large-scale research on forests around the world to:
- Increase scientific understanding of forest ecosystems,
- Inform sustainable forest management and natural-resource policy, and
- Build capacity in forest science.
CTFS coordinates plots in Southeast and South Asia through partnerships with host-country institutions and the Arnold Arboretum, collectively called the CTFS-AA Asia Program. Peter Ashton (Bullard Professor Emeritus and director of the Arboretum from 1979-1987) was instrumental in developing the Arboretum’s fruitful and active involvement with CTFS plots in Asia. The sites were chosen to represent the major biogeographic areas of the region. They span a gradient of climates, soil types, and natural disturbance regimes and are located in Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Taiwan, China, and Papua New Guinea. Plots outside of the Asia region are administered by STRI and are collectively referred to as CTFS, or as the Smithsonian Institute’s Global Earth Observatories, SIGEO.
Methodology
Common plot structure and scientific methodology unify the CTFS network. In each plot (typically 25 to 50 hectares), all free-standing trees with a diameter at breast height of at least 1 cm are tagged, measured, identified to species, and re-censused approximately every five years. Because each plot follows the same methodology, scientists can directly compare data collected from different forests around the world and detect patterns that would otherwise be impossible to recognize.
Climate Change
Tropical and temperate forests together contain an estimated 38% of terrestrial carbon, and scientists estimate that human activities have increased atmospheric CO2 by 15% since the 1970s. Fortunately, forests and their ability to store carbon may help mitigate the impacts of global climate change. Because of its unparalleled spatial and temporal scope, the CTFS network forms a remarkably powerful instrument for investigating and quantifying the value of forests in a changing climate. The global scope and ecological expertise of the network enables CTFS to measure global forests’ ability to store carbon and quantify the value of ecosystem services at local, regional, and global scales.
Training Scientists
CTFS is building professional capacity within the biological sciences and field of natural-resource management through research grants, fellowships, and training programs. Each year, CTFS-AA sponsors two field courses in Southeast Asia for Harvard and Asian students. The courses expose students to the spectacular biodiversity of the Asian tropics and introduce them to the complex ecological issues related to conservation and forest management. CTFS also offers postdoctoral fellowships and provides annual grants to researchers, from students to senior scientists, to conduct research on CTFS plots and analyze plot datasets. These programs are complemented by training workshops conducted throughout the year for network partners.
Click here for more information on grants and training.
Contact Us
For more information on CTFS-AA, please contact us:
CTFS-AA Asia Program
1300 Centre Street
Boston, MA 02131
- Stuart J. Davies, CTFS Director, sdavies@oeb.harvard.edu
- Liz Delaney, CTFS Program Manager, lizdelaneylobo@fas.harvard.edu
