The research project with Harvard Forest's Schoolyard Long-Term Ecological Research Program (LTER) engaged Irvington Middle School and High School students in active exploration, posing questions like "How does our forest change over time?" and "What are the impacts of tree species on climate through carbon sequestration?" Through year-long field research, students learned to measure Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), set up research plots, and analyze data using i-Tree and Harvard Forest's Schoolyard LTER Database.
This scientific inquiry revealed valuable insights into carbon sequestration, air quality, and water retention across tree species. Findings are shared with the community and village, informing resilient management practices. The project aims to develop an integrated curriculum involving diverse community members in managing and evaluating Irvington Woods Park, fostering environmental stewardship for future generations.
A link to the full report can be seen here 🌳📊 : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Etj1d5uVJHkDwtllmXuUXMaoO6NEiySs/view?usp=sharing
