Current Research

Contemporary nontimber forest product (NTFP) uses, especially in the eastern United States and elsewhere in the industrialized world.

• Livelihood Diversity: Non-Timber Forest Products in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Research Interests

We are planning a comprehensive research program to support sustainable management of nontimber forest products (NTFPs). The program would participate innational and international efforts while keeping a primary focus in the NRSregion. Research would take place across the urban-rural gradient. The program wouldaddress the following five objectives:

Why This Research is Important

• Surveys suggest that approximately 20% of the U.S. population gathers NTFPs. This widespread, if poorly understood, activity creates direct connections between people and forests.
• NTFPs may present income opportunities for forest landowners.
• NTFPs, especially those that have become global commodities, present sustainability concerns.
• NTFPs present environmental justice opportunities and challenges.
• NTFPs present opportunities to explore a range of human-forest interactions and, as a result, the possibility of both empirical and theoretical advances in our understanding of these relationships.
• Recent legislation mandates that the USFS manage for NTFPs. We need sound scientific information to meet that legislative requirement.

Education

• Rutgers University, Ph.D. Geography 1998

Professional Organizations

• Association of American Geographers
• International Association for Society and Natural Resources
• Society for Economic Botany

Featured Publications & Products

• 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.
• Emery, Marla R.; Barron, Elizabeth S. 2010. Using local ecological knowledge to assess morel decline in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region.
• Greenlaw, Suzanne; Emery, Marla R.; Kimmerer, Robin W.; Bridgen, Michael. 2010. Understanding and integrating native knowledge to determine and identify high quality ash resources.
• Dyke, Alison; Emery, Marla R. 2010. NTFPs in Scotland: Changing attitudes to access rights in a reforesting land.
• Baumflek, Michelle J.; Emery, Marla R.; Ginger, Clare. 2010. Culturally and economically important nontimber forest products of northern Maine.

Publications

• 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.
• 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.
• Chamberlain, James L.; Emery, Marla R.; Patel-Weynand, Toral . 2018. Assessment of nontimber forest products in the United States under changing conditions.
• 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.
• Sachdeva, Sonya; Emery, Marla R.; Hurley, Patrick T. 2018. Depiction of Wild Food Foraging Practices in the Media: Impact of the Great Recession.
• 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..
• 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