The Delaware River Basin Study is part of the Collaborative Environmental Monitoring and Research Initiative (CEMRI). Now in its third year, the Northeastern Forest Inventory and Analysis Unit is providing monitoring support, as described by the Administration's Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR).

A planned report assessing environmental conditions is expected, which will highlight current research and needs for six objective areas:

1. Causes, consequences, and regional extent of calcium depletion in forest soils of the Appalachian Plateau

2. Forest biomass and production: augmenting and verifying FIA-based estimates of carbon stocks and fluxes, and relating to downstream water quality

3. Protocols for identification and monitoring of forests and waters vulnerable to nonnative invasive pests

4. Forest fragmentation and associated changes in ecosystem function and composition

5. Integration of findings on forest, soil, air, and water quality effects

6. Conservation education

For additional information, contact Rich Birdsey.