North Central Research Station

Earl C. Leatherberry

I am a Research Social Scientist working in the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. My research has two prime objectives:

1. I plan and conduct research to determine the extent, condition, trends, use, and sustainability of forest resources on statewide and regional scales.
2. I plan and conduct research to determine forest landowner's motives, attitudes, timber harvest activities, knowledge related to forest resources management, and use of forest lands on regional and national scales.

My research that focuses on forest resources provides information that is used by:

• forest industries to make decisions regarding the location or expansion of primary and secondary processing facilities
• academicians and other researchers in establishing base-line conditions, historical records, and potential conditions
• governmental agencies in a wide array of uses ranging from placement of staff, use in forest practices decisions, and development of policy and management plans
• conservationists to identify resource situations that are ecologically significant.

My research that focuses on forestland owners provides information that is used to:

• increase awareness among managers and planners about the range of perspectives landowners have about forest land ownership and management
• access the potential availability of timber from private lands
• develop communication strategies with forestland owners
• identify the need for public funded incentives to increase private forestry management

What I'm Working on Now

I am the lead FIA analyst for Wisconsin and Michigan, and I am responsible for analyzing, interpreting, and reporting FIA data for those states. I also identify forest related resource trends, and interpret their meaning in relation to present and possible future conditions.

I am a co-principal investigator for Forest Service National Woodland Owner Survey. The National Woodland owner survey is a comprehensive nationwide survey that requires the development of an instrument that elicits appropriate and relevant information from a representative sample of the nation's woodland owners. Some of my other responsibilities include compiling, analyzing, and reporting the finding of the survey.

What I've Done

I have developed/applied innovative analysis techniques to describe the ecological relations, management, and utilization of forest species including eastern red cedar sugar maple; white pine; and aspen. I have applied concise analytical and interpretive skills to examine and describe the forest resources from a regional perspective, a state perspective, and a local perspective. I have served as the lead FIA analyst for South Dakota, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Michigan during the past three years. Ecological, social and economic conditions are extremely variable between those states. Successful completion of these research assignments requires extensive interdisciplinary knowledge of ecology, sociology, and economics that must be applied across a range of environments.

I have adapted social science theories and research approaches in studying and reporting on forestland owner's motives, practices, and knowledge. Most recently, I have conduct forestland owner studies in Michigan and Wisconsin.