International Institute of Tropical Forestry

🌧️ IITF’s Research Weather Stations in the Luquillo Experimental Forest and in the Guayama Research Area recorded the following rainfall data (in inches) for #hurricanefiona Luquillo / @ElYunqueNF East Peak - 27.13" Bisley Watershed - 7.95" Guayama South - 17.87" North - 13.82"

Starting Jan 30th, Celebración de Aves Urbanas: Resultados de Censos de Aves Urbanas y Exhibición Fotográfica in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will highlight the longest and most detailed study of urban birds in the Caribbean by IITF Research Wildlife Biologist Wayne Arendt!

IITF is proud to have impactful scientists among our talented employees. Congratulations to Dr. Michael Keller, IITF research physical scientist, and recipient of the 2024 Waldo E. Smith Award! Read about Dr. Keller’s work and distinguished award here: fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/reco…

Big congratulations to JoAnn Santana and Maya Quiñones, part of U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Team receiving the prestigious 74th USDA Secretary Honor Awards for Combating Climate Change to Support America’s Working Lands, Natural Resources, and Communities!

Through great work over its 4-year span, the Natural Infrastructure for Caribbean Resilience (NICaR) program has left a lasting mark on Caribbean ecosystems. Read more about the NICaR and its accomplishments here: fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/deli…

IITF is proud to share the 2022-2023 Accomplishment Report! These two years were marked by great challenges, and even greater opportunities for growth. Explore the full report here: research.fs.usda.gov/iitf/understor…

This holiday season, we celebrate health and fellowship with the Wellness Program! Last Thursday we joined NRCS and UPR to celebrate the 2024 3k Wellness Race: ¡Se nos fue el pavo, agarra el lechón! Congratulations to all participants and winners!

Healthy soils = Happy forests! Today we celebrate the foundation of life beneath our feet: soils! Healthy soils act as a carbon sink to combat climate change. Here is Dr. González sharing her thoughts on the importance of soils. Happy World Soil Day! usda-fs.wistia.com/medias/4rmiycq…

This year, IITF Research Ecologist Dr. Kathleen McGinley helped mentor youth in Amazonian Perú with @forestservice International Programs' Jóvenes por la Amazonía. 🌳To program participants - your contributions bring positive change for forests and people in the Peruvian Amazon!

On September 23 to 28, IITF State, Private and Tribal Forestry Unit engaged with over 500 K-12 students in St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas to celebrate U.S. Virgin Islands’ #ArborDay alongside the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture @USVI_DA.

Take a look at some more photos of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in this presentation by photographer and International Cooperation program manager Gerald (Jerry) Bauer: research.fs.usda.gov/.../naked.../e…

7 years ago today, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico and severely impacted the island’s landscapes, including the Luquillo Experimental Forest. But the tropical forest is resilient to hurricanes, and it naturally recovered over time.

This week, IITF Director, Dr. Grizelle González, and Research Ecologist Dr. Tamara Heartsill Scalley participated in the NICaR closeout ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados.

This summer, the Institute hosted the first USDA E. Kika De La Garza fellow placed in a USDA Forest Service research facility. Dr. Iván Guzmán visited Puerto Rico to learn about green roofs in the tropics and find opportunities to collaborate. Read more: fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/deli…

It was an honor to host Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday at the Susúa State Forest! Read about the celebration that brought the community together to learn about wildfire prevention: stateforesters.org/2024/08/16/pue…

¡Ayudanos a prevenir los incendios forestales y celebra los 80 años de Smokey! El viernes 9 de agosto, nos unimos al @DRNAGPR y @Bomberos_de_PR en el Bosque Estatal de Susúa, Sabana Grande, para educar sobre la importancia de proteger a nuestros bosques de incendios forestales.

Congratulations to IITF Research Ecologist Dr. Omar Gutierrez for this collaboration with the National University of the Peruvian Amazon @unapiquitos. Dr. Gutierrez offered scientific writing training emphasized in publishing and disseminating research findings. 📝

APPLY BY JULY 15 The project approaches will include species distribution models and integration of spatially explicit environmental variables including climate, hurricane disturbance, and land-use, among other global and Caribbean region drivers. zintellect.com/Opportunity/De…

We are hiring! Help us address gaps in knowledge of Caribbean tree species with forest plots through this fellowship opportunity at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry Research and Development unit. Apply by July 19, 2024, 3:00 p.m. ET zintellect.com/.../USDA-USFS-…

🐝Día de las Abejas 2024🐝 Mañana, 18 de junio, en el Jardín de Polinizadores, Finca Alzamora en UPR Mayagüez, de 9am a 1pm, disfrute de exhibiciones y charlas por apicultores, estudiantes, personal del Servicio de Extensión Agrícola y más Registro: forms.office.com/r/40yGgfAZjb

🐝🌼Les extendemos una invitación a la 3ra Feria de Polinizadores en el Jardín Botánico Sur de Río Piedras el 22 de junio de 9am-4pm. ¡Pase a disfrutar de carpas educativas y exhibiciones para toda la familia! 🦋