Back Yard Science: Research on Residential Lands
| Authors: | Jenna Zukswert, Susannah B. Lerman, Dexter H. Locke, Nancy Falxa Sonti, Morgan Grove |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Miscellaneous Publication |
| Station: | Northern Research Station |
| Source: | Rooted in Research Science Bulletin 02, April 2026. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. |
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station provides sound science on the health and use of the Nation’s forests and grasslands and delivers scientific knowledge and innovative technologies to inform land management decisions. While much of this research happens in rural forests, residential lands are abundant and also the subject of studies because residential yards offer substantial, and often overlooked, opportunities to conserve and protect plants and wildlife in urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.
In the United States, yards make up more than four times the amount of land area protected in national forests and grasslands, national parks, and other public areas (Lerman et al. 2023). This Rooted in Research bulletin describes research on how yard maintenance influences plants, water availability and quality, soil nutrients, and wildlife in communities and highlights voluntary conservation actions investigated by Northern Research Station ecologists, foresters, and social scientists to support local environments.