Current Research

The role of forests in providing food and sustaining cultures. Sustainable use of wild species in regional, national, and international contexts.

• Weaving together livelihood and culture in Maine, USA
• Assessment of nontimber forest products in the United States under changing conditions

Research Interests

Dr. Emery studies contemporary uses of wild plants and mushrooms in rural and urban settings in the United States, with particular emphasis on New Americans and First Americans (the latter in partnership with federally recognized tribes and Native peoples). In addition to identifying species being foraged today, this research examines the actual practices of contemporary foraging, the ecosystem services they provide, and their implications for forest management.

Dr. Emery is Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which brings together more than 80 scientists from around the world to provide policy makers with the state-of-the-knowledge on factors that support sustainable use of wild animals, mushrooms, and plants.

Why This Research is Important

National forests and other forest land managers need information about contemporary uses of wild plants and mushrooms that is currently lacking in order to: (a) manage foraging to meet the goal of caring for the land and serving people, and (b) honor the federal government’s Trust Responsibility to tribes and Native peoples.

National and international policy makers need access to the best available science and indigenous and local knowledge to address current trends in loss of biodiversity while realizing sustainable development goals.

Education

• Rutgers University, Ph.D. Geography 1998

Professional Experience

Professional Organizations

• Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Co-Chair (2018 - Current)
• International Society of Ethnobiology (2015 - Current)
• Association of American Geographers
• International Association for Society and Natural Resources

Awards & Recognition

Featured Publications & Products

• Chamberlain, James L.; Emery, Marla R.; Patel-Weynand, Toral . 2018. Assessment of nontimber forest products in the United States under changing conditions.
• Sachdeva, Sonya; Emery, Marla R.; Hurley, Patrick T. 2018. Depiction of Wild Food Foraging Practices in the Media: Impact of the Great Recession.
• Frey, Gabriel ; Emery, Marla R.; Greenlaw, Suzanne . 2019. Weaving together livelihood and culture in Maine, USA.
• Snyder, Stephanie A.; Kilgore, Michael A.; Emery, Marla R.; Schmitz, Marissa. 2018. A Profile of Lake States Maple Syrup Producers and Their Attitudes and Responses to Economic, Social, Ecological and Climate Challenges.
• Weiss, Gerhard ; Emery, Marla ; Corradini, Guilia ; Živojinović, Ivana . 2020. New Values of Non-Wood Forest Products.

Publications

• Anderson, Sarah M.; Heath, Linda S.; Emery, Marla R.; Hicke, Jeffrey A.; Littell, Jeremy S.; Lucier, Alan ; Masek, Jeffrey G.; Peterson, David L.; Pouyat, Richard ; Potter, Kevin M.; Robertson, Guy ; Sperry, Jinelle . 2021. Developing a set of indicators to identify, monitor, and track impacts and change in forests of the United States.
• Baumflek, Michelle ; Kassam, Karim-Aly ; Ginger, Clare ; Emery, Marla R. 2021. Incorporating Biocultural Approaches in Forest Management: Insights from a Case Study of Indigenous Plant Stewardship in Maine, USA and New Brunswick, Canada.
• Marsh, Anne S.; Hayes, Deborah C.; Klein, Patrice N.; Zimmerman, Nicole ; Dalsimer, Aliso ; Burkett, Douglas A.; Huebner, Cynthia D.; Rabaglia, Robert ; Meyerson, Laura A.; Harper-Lore, Bonnie L.; Davidson, Jamie L.; Emery, Marla R.; Warziniack, Travis ; Flitcroft, Rebecca ; Kerns, Becky K.; Lopez, Vanessa M. 2021. Sectoral Impacts of Invasive Species in the United States and Approaches to Management.
• Schelhas, John ; Alexander, Janice ; Brunson, Mark ; Cabe, Tommy ; Crall, Alycia ; Dockry, Michael J.; Emery, Marla R.; Frankel, Susan J.; Hapner, Nina ; Hickman, Caleb R.; Jordan, Rebecca ; LaVoie, Michael J.; Ma, Zhao ; Starinchak, Joe ; Vukomanovic, Jelena . 2021. Social and Cultural Dynamics of Non-native Invasive Species.
• Johnson, Cassandra; Emery, Marla. 2020. Black Folks Do Forage : Examining Wild Food Gathering in Southeast Atlanta Communities.
• Snyder, Stephanie A.; Kilgore, Michael A.; Emery, Marla R.; Schmitz, Marissa . 2019. Maple Syrup Producers of the Lake States, USA: Attitudes Towards and Adaptation to Social, Ecological, and Climate Conditions.
• Weiss, Gerhard ; Emery, Marla R.; Miina, Jari ; Kurttila, Mikko ; Corradini, Giulia ; Huber, Patrick ; Vacik, Harald . 2019. Value creation and innovation with non-wood forest products in a family forestry context.
• Emery, Marla R. 2019. Voices from Maple Nation: Indigenous women's climate summit.
• Chamberlain, James L.; Ticktin, Tamara ; Emery, Marla R.; Patel-Weynand, Toral . 2018. Chapter 1 Introduction to assessment of non-timber forest products in the United States under changing conditions.
• Lake, Frank K.; Emery, Marla R.; Baumflek, Michelle J.; Friday, Kathleen S.; Kamelamela, Katie ; Kruger, Linda ; Grewe, Nicole ; Gilbert, Jonathan ; Reo, Nicholas J. 2018. Chapter 4 - Cultural dimensions of nontimber products.
• Emery, Marla R.; Toral Patel-Weynand, ; James Chamberlain., . 2018. Chapter 8: Conclusions: Nontimber forest products in an era of changing climate.
• Chamberlain, James L.; Emery, Marla R.; Patel-Weynand, Toral . 2018. Chapter 9 - Appendix -Regional Summaries.
• Frey, Gregory E.; Blatner, Keith A.; Jacobson, Michael G.; Starbuck Downes, C. Meghan; Sills, Erin O.; Mercer, D. Evan; Alexander, Susan J.; Chamberlain, James L.; Gold, Michael A.; Godsey, Larry D.; Emery, Marla R.; Coffin, Alisa W.; Barlow, Rebecca J.; Lohr, Luanne . 2018. Economics of nontimber forest products..
• Hurley, Patrick T.; Emery, Marla R. 2018. Locating provisioning ecosystem services in urban forests: Forageable woody species in New York City, USA.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Iverson, Louis; Thompson, Frank R.; Dijak, William D.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew P.; Prasad, Anantha; Fraser, Jacob S.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler-Leopold, Patricia; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Burbank, Diane; Campbell, John; Cogbill, Charles; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Emery, Marla R.; Fisichelli, Nicholas; Foster, Jane; Hushaw, Jennifer; Kenefic, Laura; Mahaffey, Amanda; Morelli, Toni Lyn; Reo, Nicholas J.; Schaberg, Paul G.; Simmons, K. Rogers; Weiskittel, Aaron; Wilmot, Sandy; Hollinger, David; Lane, Erin; Rustad, Lindsey; Templer, Pamela H. 2018. New England and northern New York forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the New England Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Watson, Kelly ; Christian, Colmore S.; Emery, Marla R.; Hurley, Patrick T.; McLain, Rebecca J.; Wilmsen, Carl . 2018. Social dimensions of nontimber forest products.
• Poland, Therese M.; Emery, Marla R.; Ciaramitaro, Tina; Pigeon, Ed; Pigeon, Angie. 2017. Emerald ash borer, black ash, and Native American basketmaking.
• Synk, Colleen M.; Kim, Brent F.; Davis, Charles A.; Harding, James; Rogers, Virginia; Hurley, Patrick T.; Emery, Marla R.; Nachman, Keeve E. 2017. Gathering Baltimore's bounty: Characterizing behaviors, motivations, and barriers of foragers in an urban ecosystem.
• Shackleton, Charlie; Hurley, Patrick; Dahlberg, Annika; Emery, Marla; Nagendra, Harini. 2017. Urban foraging: a ubiquitous human practice overlooked by urban planners, policy, and research.
• Bussey, John; Davenport, Mae A.; Emery, Marla R.; Carroll, Clint. 2016. "A Lot of It Comes from the Heart": The Nature and Integration of Ecological Knowledge in Tribal and Nontribal Forest Management.
• Lascurain, Maite; Lopez-Binnquist, Citlalli; Emery, Marla R. 2016. Culture and environment in the Sierra de Misantla, Veracruz, Mexico: the case of Oecopetalum mexicanum.
• Emery, Marla R.; Hurley, Patrick T. 2016. Ethnobiology in the city: Embracing the urban ecological moment.
• Song, Nianfu; Shifley, Stephen R.; Bowker, Michael; Emery, Marla R.; Aguilar, Francisco X.; Skog, Kenneth E. 2016. Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socioeconomic benefits to meet the needs of societies.
• Kurtz, Cassandra M.; Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark H.; Gormanson, Dale D.; Hatfield, Mark A.; Sowers, Paul A.; Dockry, Michael J.; Emery, Marla R.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Walters, Brian F.; Domke, Grant M.; Gilbert, Jonathan; Wrobel, Alexandra. 2015. Forest resources within the Lake States ceded territories 1980 - 2013.
• Heath, Linda S.; Anderson, Sarah M.; Emery, Marla R.; Hicke, Jeffrey A.; Littell, Jeremy; Lucier, Alan; Masek, Jeffrey G.; Peterson, David L.; Pouyat, Richard; Potter, Kevin M.; Robertson, Guy; Sperry, Jinelle; Bytnerowicz, Andrzej; Jovan, Sarah; Mockrin, Miranda H.; Musselman, Robert; Schulz, Bethany K.; Smith, Robert J.; Stewart, Susan I. 2015. Indicators of climate impacts for forests: recommendations for the US National Climate Assessment indicators system.
• Moser, W. Keith; Hansen, Mark H.; Gormanson, Dale; Gilbert, Jonathan; Wrobel, Alexandra; Emery, Marla R.; Dockry, Michael J. 2015. Paper birch (Wiigwaas) of the Lake States, 1980-2010.
• Poland, Therese M.; Ciaramitaro, Tina M.; Emery, Marla R.; Crook, Damon J.; Pigeon, Ed; Pigeon, Angie. 2015. Submergence of black ash logs to control emerald ash borer and preserve wood for American Indian basketmaking.
• Hurley, Patrick T.; Emery, Marla R.; McLain, Rebecca; Poe, Melissa; Grabbatin, Brian; Goetcheus, Cari L. 2015. Whose urban forest The political ecology of foraging urban nontimber forest products.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; Iverson, Louis R.; Mladenoff, David J.; Peters, Emily; Wythers, Kirk R.; Xi, Weimin; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Parker, Linda R.; Amman, Amy J.; Bogaczyk, Brian; Handler, Christine; Lesch, Ellen; Reich, Peter B.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Khanal, Sami; Liu, Feng; Bal, Tara; Bronson, Dustin; Burton, Andrew; Ferris, Jim; Fosgitt, Jon; Hagan, Shawn; Johnston, Erin; Kane, Evan; Matula, Colleen; O'Connor, Ryan; Higgins, Dale; St. Pierre, Matt; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Fehringer, David; Hoving, Christopher L.; Johnson, Gary; Neitzel, David; Notaro, Michael; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis for northern Wisconsin and western Upper Michigan: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• McLain, Rebecca J.; Hurley, Patrick T.; Emery, Marla R.; Poe, Melissa R. 2014. Gathering "wild" food in the city: rethinking the role of foraging in urban ecosystem planning and management.
• Handler, Stephen; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Iverson, Louis; Peters, Emily; Scheller, Robert M.; Wythers, Kirk R.; Brandt, Leslie; Butler, Patricia; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Eagle, Amy Clark; Cohen, Joshua G.; Corner, Rich; Reich, Peter B.; Baker, Tim; Chhin, Sophan; Clark, Eric; Fehringer, David; Fosgitt, Jon; Gries, James; Hall, Christine; Hall, Kimberly R.; Heyd, Robert; Hoving, Christopher L.; Ibáñez, Ines; Kuhr, Don; Matthews, Stephen; Muladore, Jennifer; Nadelhoffer, Knute; Neumann, David; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Sands, Matt; Swaty, Randy; Wonch, Leiloni; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Johnson, Gary; Johnson, Lucinda; Neitzel, David; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Michigan forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Handler, Stephen; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Iverson, Louis; Peters, Emily; Scheller, Robert M.; Wythers, Kirk R.; Brandt, Leslie; Butler, Patricia; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Barrett, Kelly; Kolka, Randy; McQuiston, Casey; Palik, Brian; Reich, Peter B.; Turner, Clarence; White, Mark; Adams, Cheryl; D'Amato, Anthony; Hagell, Suzanne; Johnson, Patricia; Johnson, Rosemary; Larson, Mike; Matthews, Stephen; Montgomery, Rebecca; Olson, Steve; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Rajala, Jack; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Fehringer, David; Hoving, Christopher L.; Johnson, Gary; Johnson, Lucinda; Neitzel, David; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Minnesota forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Emery, Marla R.; Ginger, Clare. 2014. Special Forest Products on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests: a research-based approach to management.
• Emery, Marla R.; Wrobel, Alexandra; Hansen, Mark H.; Dockry, Michael; Moser, W. Keith; Stark, Kekek Jason; Gilbert, Jonathan H. 2014. Using traditional ecological knowledge as a basis for targeted forest inventory: paper birch (Betula papyrifera) in the US Great Lakes Region.
• Poe, Melissa R.; McClain, Rebecca J.; Emery, Marla; Hurley, Patrick. 2013. Urban forest justice and the rights to wild foods, medicines, and materials in the city.
• Ginger, Clare; Emery, Marla R.; Baumflek, Michelle J.; Punam, David E. 2012. Access to natural resources on private property: factors beyond right of entry.
• McLain, R.J.; MacFarland, K.; Brody, L.; Hebert, J.; Hurley, P.; Poe, M.; Buttolph, L.P.; Gabriel, N.; Dzuna, M.; Emery, M.R.; Charnley, S. 2012. Gathering in the city: an annotated bibliography and review of the literature about human-plant interactions in urban ecosystems.
• Barron, Elizabeth S.; Emery, Marla R. 2012. Implications of variation in social-ecological systems for the development of U.S. fungal management policy.
• McLain, Rebecca; Poe, Melissa; Hurley, Patrick T.; Lecompte-Mastenbrook, Joyce; Emery, Marla R. 2012. Producing edible landscapes in Seattle's urban forest.
• Diamond, Allaire K.; Emery, Marla R. 2011. Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra Marsh.): Local ecological knowledge of site characteristics and morphology associated with basket-grade specimens in New England (USA).
• Skog, Ken; Howard, James; Alexander, Susan; Cordell, Ken; Emery, Marla; Mercer, Evan; Mou, Shela; Magis, Kristen; McDonough, Maureen. 2011. Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socioeconomic benefits to meet the needs of societies. Criterion 6..
• Alexander, Susan J.; Oswalt, Sonja N.; Emery, Marla R. 2011. Nontimber forest products in the United States: Montreal Process indicators as measures of current conditions and sustainability.
• Baumflek, Michelle J.; Emery, Marla R.; Ginger, Clare. 2010. Culturally and economically important nontimber forest products of northern Maine.
• Dyke, Alison; Emery, Marla R. 2010. NTFPs in Scotland: Changing attitudes to access rights in a reforesting land.
• Greenlaw, Suzanne; Emery, Marla R.; Kimmerer, Robin W.; Bridgen, Michael. 2010. Understanding and integrating native knowledge to determine and identify high quality ash resources.
• Emery, Marla R.; Barron, Elizabeth S. 2010. Using local ecological knowledge to assess morel decline in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region.
• Barron, Elizabeth S.; Emery, Marla R. 2009. Protecting resources: Assessing visitor harvesting of wild morel mushrooms in two national capital region parks.
• Robbins, Paul; Emery, Marla; Rice, Jennifer L. 2008. Gathering in Thoreau's backyard: nontimber forest product harvesting as practice.
• McCandless, Susannah R.; Emery, Marla R. 2008. Partial power, partial knowledge: accounting for the dis-integration of a Costa Rican cooperative.
• Emery, Marla R.; Ginger, Clare; Chamberlain, Jim. 2007. Migrants, markets, and the transformation of natural resources management: galax harvesting in Western North Carolina.
• Emery, Marla; Martin, Suzanne; Dyke, Alison; Dyke, Alison. 2006. Wild Harvests from Scottish Woodlands Social, cultural and economic values of contemporary non-timber forest products.
• Emery, Marla R.; Pierce, Alan R. 2005. Interrupting the telos: locating subsistence in contemporary US forests.
• Pierce, Alan R.; Emery, Marla R. 2005. The use of forests in times of crisis: ecological literacy as a safety net.
• Martin, Suzanne; Emery, Marla; Dyke, Alison. 2005. Wild harvests from Scottish woodlands: an exploration of the health and well-being of non-timber forest products collection and use.
• Emery, Marla R.; Pierce, Alan R.; Schroeder, Robert. 2004. Criterion 6, indicator 47 area and percent of forest land used for subsistence purposes.
• Sallee, Rod; Owen, Wayne; Kenna, Karen; Kauffman, Gary; Emery, Marla; Johnson, Tony; Araman, Phil; Stratton, Dan; Sheffield, Ray; Rudis, Vic; Loeb, Susan; White, David; Chamberlain, Jim. 2004. Special Forest Products: A Southern Strategy for Research & Technology Transfer.
• Emery, Marla R.; Ginger, Clare; Newman, Siri; Giammusso, Michael R.B. 2003. Special forest products in context: gatherers and gathering in the Eastern United States.
• Emery, Marla R. 2003. Wild plants and all our other relations: the ethics of using, developing, and managing nontimber forest products.
• Emery, Marla R. 2002. Historical overview of nontimber forest product uses in the Northeastern United States.
• Emery, Marla R. 2002. Space outside the market: implications of NTFP certification for subsistence use (US).
• Barnett, Charles; Butler, Brett; Dolan, Paul; Dupree, Thomas; Emery, Marla; Lister, Andrew; Lister, Tonya; Ricard, Paul; Sparks, Catherine; Wharton, Eric; Widmann, Richard. 2002. The Forests of Rhode Island.
• Emery, Marla; O'Halek, Shandra L. 2001. Brief overview of historical non-timber forest product use in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest.
• Emery, Marla; O'Halek, Shandra L. 2001. Brief overview of historical non-timber forest product use in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest.
• Emery, Marla R.; Emery, Marla R. 2001. Gatherers, practices, and livelihodd roles of non-timber forest products.
• McLain, Rebecca J.; Emery, Marla R. 2001. Introduction.
• Emery, Marla R. 2001. Non-timber forest products and livelihoods in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
• Emery, Marla R.; Zasada, John. 2001. Silviculture and nontimber forest products: extending the benefits of forest management.
• Doble, Siri; Emery, Marla. 2001. The role of non timber forest products: a case study of gatherers in the eastern United States.
• Emery, Marla R. 2001. Who knows Local non-timber forest product knowledge and stewardship practices in northern Michigan.
• Emery, Marla R. 1999. Social values of specialty forest products to rural communities.
• Birdsey, Richard A.; Hom, John L.; Emery, Marla. 1996. The northern global change research program.
• Emery, Marla; Paananen, Donna M. 1995. Humans, forests, and global environmental change: planning a social science research agenda.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
NRS-2014-091	Forest Service Research on Morel Mushrooms Featured in Natural Inquirer The Natural Inquirer's monograph series for middle school students and educators showcased a Forest Service researcher's work on local knowledge ...	2014
NRS-2015-108	Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into Natural Resource Inventories and Management of Paper Birch Trees The “Paper Birch in the Great Lakes” project is a collaborative effort to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge into research and nat ...	2015
NRS-2011-03	Reducing Negative Cultural Impacts of Emerald Ash Borer: Saving Black Ash Wood for Native American Basketmakers Black ash has great cultural and economic importance in the northeastern United States, especially for Native Americans. The widespread destruc ...	2011