NERC Administration
This project involved the initial development and administration of the Northeastern Ecosystem Research Cooperative (NERC), a regional organization of scientists, policy makers, and land managers concerned with ecosystems of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. The NERC is a grass-roots effort for scientific collaboration, promoting regionally integrated research and communicating results useful for public policy and land management.
NSRC supported the administration of the group, development of the NERC website, preparation of a charter for the organization, preparation of a booklet describing ecosystem research sites in the region, and organization of the first stand-alone NERC meeting in 2002. The 2002 NERC Conference was held at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst on October 29-30, 2002 and about 80 scientists and other interested parties attended. In addition to a full slate of scientific presentations, NERC members also discussed and ratified the new charter, initiated new task groups, and elected officers for the fledgling organization.
The NERC has since grown to become the main hub of regional scientific collaboration on ecosystem science, and many important papers and excellent research proposals, including proposals to NSRC, have originated from the group. Scientists conduct field research at 24 long-term sites in the Northern Forest region and throughout the northeastern United States and eastern Canada.