If you are a interested in visiting or conducting research in one of our research forests, please review the below document PRIOR to your arrival to better understand the protocols you will be expected fo follow.

Berkeley Forests COVID19 Research Forest Property Protocols.pdf

How can California's working forests be managed to sustainably provide essential ecosystem and climate benefits over the next century? 

This is just one of the questions being answered by research at Berkeley Forests. The Forests' four research forests are home to some of the world's foremost research on climate change, water, wildfire, wildlife, invasive species, silviculture, and more. We hope you will take some time to explore some of the research carried out at the Center forests in the information below.

Berkeley has long been involved in engaging California’s populations with its forests. We continue to produce a steady stream of graduates and knowledge that began with our first class of forestry graduates (1914), oldest permanent forest plots (1915), and longest running forestry summer camp (1917) in the Western United States. California’s forests provide protection for our major watersheds, renewable wood products, fish and wildlife habitat, scenic and recreational opportunities and a wide array of climate benefits. Ensuring that our working forests continue to provide essential ecosystem and climate benefits over the next century will be a major challenge. Active research is needed to better understand the interactions of the changing climate and changing social needs on the growth and yields of timber species; water supply and quality; greenhouse gas fluxes from all types of forest vegetation and soils; current and future risks from fires, air pollution, pests and diseases; and how all of these will affect rare plant and animal species.

Berkeley Forests welcomes the opportunity to work with new research partners and to host new research endeavors on their research forest properties.  If you are interested in conducting research on a Berkeley Forests' property, please complete a Berkeley Forests Research Proposal Request.  Proposal will be forwarded to the research forest manager and Berkeley Forests' co-directors for review and approval. It is recommend that prior to submission you contact the manager of the research forest property you wish to work on to review your project.  The Research Proposal Request form can also be used to request existing Berkeley Forests data from past research and data collection efforts.