Long-term research -- why do we do it?

Abstract

While jotting down some notes for this forword, I’m also thinking about how the day was spent in the upper elevations of the Bartlett Experimental Forest planning out a monitoring scheme for an early upper-slope harvest in an oak stand. The previous several weeks were spent in relocating cruise lines for some 450-500 permanent plots established in 1931-32. And it’s time to resurvey several compartments under management since the mid-50's. My associates are conducting small mammal surveys, underway for 20 years or so, in a variety of managed and unmanaged compartments. Annual breeding bird surveys, also conducted for a couple of decades, were just completed. Dedicated research folks across the nation, and beyond, are engaged in similar longterm research activities. The work is often arduous and by organizational/agency metrics - numbers of journal articles and plush grant support - sometimes unrewarding. Why do we do it?

Citation

Leak, Bill. 2013. Long-term research -- why do we do it?. In: Camp, Ann E.; Irland, Lloyd C.; Carroll, Charles J.W. Long-term silvicultural and ecological studies. Results for science and management: volume 2.GISF Res. Pap. 013. New Haven, CT: Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry: iii.