MBL Falmouth Forum: “Restoring Old-Growth Characteristics to the Forests of New England” – Paul Catanzaro, Professor, State Extension Forester, and Co-Director of the Family Forest Research Center, UMASS Amherst

Old-growth forests, with their abundant deadwood, diverse canopy layers, and wide variation in tree ages, densities, and sizes, are strikingly different from our younger second-growth forests. These differences have profound implications for key forest functions, such as providing wildlife habitat and mitigating climate change. While we may never fully recreate true old-growth forests, we can use a combination of passive and active forest management to restore many of their defining characteristics. This presentation will explore the ecological distinctions between old-growth and second-growth forests and discuss practical strategies for restoring these characteristics while achieving broader forest conservation goals.

Paul Catanzaro is a Professor in the Forest Ecology and Conservation program within the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He also serves as the State Extension Forester and Co-Director of the Family Forest Research Center, a collaboration between the USDA Forest Service and UMass Amherst. Through his work, Catanzaro integrates research and extension to support informed forest stewardship decisions by family forest owners, helping to enhance the sustainability and conservation of forest ecosystems.