Recent Headlines
ESF Forest Research Projects Receive Funding Through NSRC
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — July 15, 2025 —Three research projects led by scientists at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) have received funding as part of a $2.2 million investment from the Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC), supporting studies that address key challenges in the Northern Forest region, including forest health, community resilience, and public engagement.
Research goals for the program include sponsoring research to sustain the health of northern forest ecosystems and communities, developing new forest products, and improving forest biodiversity management.
The ESF projects are led by Dr. Eddie Bevilacqua, Department of Sustainable Resources Management; Dr. Deepak Kumar, Department of Chemical Engineering; and Dr. Stacy McNulty, ESF’s Adirondack Ecological Center.
“These research projects reflect ESF’s commitment to advancing forest health, sustainability, and community resilience in the Northern Forest region,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “We’re proud to see our faculty leading efforts that will inform better forest management and innovative uses of forest resources. This funding from NSRC is a vital investment in science that benefits both ecosystems and the people who depend on them.”
Bevilacqua’s project, “Investigating the Decoupling of Overstory and Understory Trees and Drivers of Forest Regeneration Dynamics in the Northern Forest,” addresses an important aspect of forest dynamics: the degree to which the regeneration of younger trees is connected to the older species composition across the Northern Forest. The research aims to better understand how forests are regenerating or struggling to regenerate. The award will also support a Ph.D. student as part of their graduate studies.
“We are looking for spatial and temporal patterns where the overstory/understory similarities are decoupling, that is, regions where species are not regenerating themselves and try to determine some of the drivers that are influencing these patterns,” Bevilacqua said.
“Eco-Friendly Packaging Innovations – Developing Biocomposites from Nanocellulose, Polyhydroxybutyrate, and Lignin Obtained from Forest Biomass,” led by Kumar with Co-PIs Drs. Chang Geun Yoo, Ankita Juneja, from the Department of Chemical Engineering, and Timothy Volk, from the Department of Sustainable Resources Management, focus on creating eco-friendly packaging materials from underutilized forest residues such as tops, branches, and other low-grade biomass from harvesting operations. Their goal is to develop biodegradable alternatives to plastic by combining natural materials found in forest biomass. This research offers a more sustainable option for packaging while helping reduce plastic waste.
“We are grateful to continue exploring ways to integrate forest-based feedstocks into circular, bio-based packaging solutions,” Kumar said. “This support enables us to address the growing plastic waste crisis while advancing innovation in sustainable materials development.”
“Power in the Patchwork? Enhancing Biodiversity and Resilience by Using Summertime Patch Cutting to Create Uneven-Aged Northern Forests,” led by McNulty with Co-PI Dr. Andrew Vander Yacht, Department of Sustainable Resources Management, will use data collected on the Huntington Wildlife Forest at ESF’s Newcomb campus. This will enable researchers to compare the effects of planned patch cuts on plant and animal diversity, forest health/disease resilience, and herbivory.
This research has the potential to benefit owners of smaller forests, where patch cutting is more feasible compared to traditional large-tract silviculture. This study will provide land managers and owners with options and explore harvest spacing and timing in the shifting climate of the Northern Forest.
“We have an excellent opportunity to understand forest management tradeoffs and will compare the growing-season patch-cut harvest approach to unmanaged old-growth stands, traditional large-area shelterwood harvests, and dormant-season harvests on Huntington Wildlife Forest, said McNulty. “This is a critical time for research on impacts of loss of winter, emergence of pathogens such as Beech Leaf Disease, deer overbrowsing, and other stressors influencing the Northern Forest.” The ESF Forest Properties department, US Forest Service, and non-profit organizations are key partners in the collaborative research.
“Central New York has always been a pioneer in scientific research and development, and I am thrilled that the NSRC will be able to continue their important work through the awarded grant programs. Through innovation and collaboration, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry will help advance resilience and biodiversity in our forests and ecosystems,” said New York Congressman John Mannion.
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.