Research Notes

CFPA began a program of applied research and outreach in January 2005 to support the work of the Goodwin Collaborative. The Farnum Endowment, a CFPA fund established by the Farnum family to support research on growing trees in Connecticut, provides funding for this CFPA series.

The Goodwin Collaborative is comprised of UConn’s Forestry Extension Unit, DEP’s Forestry Division, CFPA, and the Kellogg Environmental Center. It is centered at the Goodwin Conservation Center in Hampton, CT and its work includes state-wide training and outreach. The Connecticut Chapter of the Society of American Foresters assists the Collaborative in hosting forums and other meetings. 

The first three reports examine price trends for major Connecticut timber species. The trends are important because they affect the productivity of timber growth and improvements in log quality with size and age. The fourth report integrates our general understanding of growth, quality, and price trends in the analysis of timber investments.

Subsequent reports will amplify these initial results and improve the ability of forest owners and their advisers to estimate returns in specific ownership and ecological categories. In particular, the reports will help forest owners manage for non-timber values using harvesting and timber growth to at least partially pay for their efforts.

Comments and suggestions on this series of reports should be directed to William Bentley – 

Dr. Bentley is a CFPA Associate and Principal of Salmon Brook Associates in North Granby CT. He is Professor Emeritus of Forest Policy and Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse, NY. His considerable experience includes forestry research, both domestic and international, and rural development in India and several other nations.