Paul Catanzaro
Professor & State Extension Forester
Co-Director Family Forest Research Center
Primary Interests
70% of Massachusetts’ forests are family forests. As extension faculty, my work integrates research and outreach to family forest owners. The goal of this integrated approach is to learn about family forest owners in order to better inform their decisions. A main focus of my work is to help landowners decide the future of their land through conservation-based estate planning. I am also interested in the application of ecological forestry across multi-owner landscapes to restore and sustain forests.
Courses Taught
I teach in the Forest Ecology and Conservation concentration accredited through the Society of American Foresters (SAF). My courses are heavily influenced by my extension experience, professional relationships, and applied research.
Current courses:
- Forest Resources Management (NRC 540)
Past courses:
- Land Protection Tools and Techniques (NRC 574)
- Forest Ecology and Conservation (NRC 270)
- Silviculture (NRC 526)
- Forest Measurements (NRC 534)
- Timber Harvesting (NRC 521)
- Natural Resources Inventory of Local Lands (NRC 586)
Research Publications
Caputo, J., B.J. Butler, M. Markowski-Lindsay, and P. Catanzaro. 2023. A Survival Analysis of Family Forest Owners in the USA: Estimating Life Expectancy and 5-Year Survivorship. Small-scale Forestry. 22: 713-731. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-023-09551-1.
D’Amato, A. W., Orwig, D. A., Siegert, N. W., Mahaffey, A., Benedict, L., Everett, T., Daigle, J., Johnson, L., Catanzaro, P. & Cusack, C. 2023. Towards Tree Species Preservation: Protecting Ash Amidst the Emerald Ash Borer Invasion in the Northeast. Journal of Forestry, 121(5-6), 480-487.
Lukacic, O., P. Catanzaro, E. Huff, and K Hamunen. 2023. Women on the Land: Perspectives on women-owned forest land in the Eastern United States. Society and Natural Resources. Pp. 1-18. DOI 10.1080/08941920.2022.2161682.
Markowski-Lindsay, M., P. Catanzaro, A. Robillard, B.J. Butler, D.A. Orwig, A.W. D’Amato, J.R. Thompson, D.M. Laflower, M.G. MacLean, M. Itter. 2023. Forester and logger response to emerald ash borer in Massachusetts and Vermont: A secondary disturbance. Journal of Forestry. 121(4): 319-332. https://doi.org/10.1093/jofore/fvad019.
Murray, H., Catanzaro, P., Markowski-Lindsay, M., Butler, B. J., & Eichman, H. 2022. Reply to Comment on Economic contributions from conserved forests: Four case studies of the USDA Forest Service Forest Legacy Program. Forest Science. 68(2): 127. https://doi.org/10.1093/forsci/fxac002
Catanzaro, P. and M. Markowski-Lindsay. 2021. Expanding family forest owner options to keep their land in forest use. Journal of Forestry. https://doi.org/10.1093/jofore/fvab052
Harris, V., Caputo, J., Finley, A., Butler, B. J., Bowlick, F., & Catanzaro, P. 2021. Small-area estimation for the USDA Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey: Creating a fine-scale land cover and ownership layer to support county-level population estimates. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. 4, https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.745840
Murray, H., Catanzaro, P., Markowski-Lindsay, M., Butler, B. J., & Eichman, H. 2021. Economic contributions from conserved forests: Four case studies of the USDA Forest Service Forest Legacy Program. Forest Science. 67(6): 629-632. https://doi.org/10.1093/forsci/fxab039
Quartuch, M., S. Broussard Allred, E. Markowitz, P.F. Catanzaro, M. Markowski-Lindsay. 2021. Applying the Transtheoretical Model of Change to Legacy Planning Decisions. Small-scale forestry https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-021-09476-7
Markowski-Lindsay, M., P. Catanzaro, R. Zimmerer, D. Kittredge, E. Markowitz, and D. Chapman. 2020. Northeastern family forest owner gender differences in land-based estate planning and the role of self-efficacy. Journal of Forestry 118(1): 59–69. https://doi.org/doi:10.1093/jofore/fvz058.
Catanzaro, P.F. and K. Hamunen. 2019. Extension and Education Services: Applying Service-Dominant Logic Through Peer-to-Peer Learning. Chapter in: Services in Family Forestry New York, NY: Springer.
Bell, K.B., M. Markowski-Lindsay, P. Catanzaro, and J. Leahy. 2018. Family forest owner
decisions, landscape context, and landscape change. Landscape and Urban Planning.DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.08.023
Markowski-Lindsay M, P. Catanzaro, K Bell, D Kittredge, E Markowitz, J Leahy, B Butler, A
Milman and S Allred. 2018. In Forest and Intact: Designing Future Use of Family-Forest Owned
Land. Journal of Forestry. 116(4):357-366.
Markowski-Lindsay, M., Catanzaro, P., Bell, K, Kittredge, D.B., Leahy, J., Buttler, B.J., E. Markowitz, E., Milman, A., Zimmerer, R., Allred, S., and Sissock, M. 2017. Estate planning as a forest stewardship tool: A study of family land ownerships in the northeastern U.S. Forest Policy and Economics. Vol. 83. Pgs. 36-44.
Markowski-Lindsay, M., P.F. Catanzaro, A. Milman, D.B. Kittredge. In review. Qualitatively understanding estate planning triggers and conservation bequest decisions of family forest Owners in Massachusetts, U.S.A. Small-scale Forestry.
Andrejczyk, K., B.J. Butler, B.J. Dickinson, J.H. Hewes, M. Markowski-Lindsay, D.B. Kittredge, M.A. Kilgore, S.A. Snyder, P.F. Catanzaro. Landowner Assistance Programs in the USA: A Qualitative Exploration of Program Impacts on Behaviour. Small-scale Forestry. First online: 19 August 2015.
Kilgore, M.A.; S.A. Snyder, D. Eryilmaz, M.A. Markowski-Lindsay, B.J.Butler, D.B. Kittredge, P.F. Catanzaro, J.H. Hewes, K. Andrejczyk. 2015. Assessing the relationship between different forms of landowner assistance and family forest owner behaviors and intentions. Journal of Forestry 113(1):12-19.
D’Amato, A.W., P.F. Catanzaro, L. Fletcher. 2015. Regeneration responses to patch selection and structural retention within second-growth northern hardwood. Forest Science 61(1):183-189.
Butler, B.J., M. Markowski-Lindsay, S. Snyder, P.F. Catanzaro, D.B. Kittredge, K. Andrejczyk, B.J. Dickinson, D. Eryilmaz, J.H. Hewes, P. Randler, D. Taddle, and M.A. Kilgore. 2014. Effectiveness of landowner assistance activities: An examination of the U.S.D.A. Forest Service’s Forest Stewardship Program. Journal of Forestry 112(2) 187-197.
Ma, Z., B.J. Butler, P.F. Catanzaro, J.L. Greene, J.H. Hewes, M.A. Kilgore, D.B. Kittredge, and M.L. Tyrrell. 2014. The effectiveness of state preferential property tax programs in conserving forests: Comparisons, measurements, and challenges. Land Use Policy 36(2014) 492-499.
Greene, J.L., B.J. Butler, P.F. Catanzaro, J.H. Hewes, M.A. Kilgore, D.B. Kittredge, Z. Ma, and M.L. Tyrrell. 2014. Family forest owners and federal taxes. Forest Policy and Economics 38 (2014) 219-226.
Catanzaro, P., M. Markowski-Lindsay, A. Milman, D. Kittredge. 2014. Assisting Family Forest owners with conservation-based estate planning: A preliminary analysis. Journal of Extension 52(2) #2FEA9.
Butler, B.J., P.F. Catanzaro, J.L. Greene, J.H. Hewes, M.A. Kilgore, D.B. Kittredge, Z. Ma, and M.L. Tyrrell. 2012. Taxing family forest owners: Effects of federal and state policies in the United States. Journal of Forestry 110(7):371–380.
Markowski-Lindsay, M., P.F. Catanzaro, D.T. Damery, D.B. Kittredge, B.J. Butler, T. Stevens. Forest-based biomass supply in Massachusetts: How much is there and how much is available. Journal of Environmental Management. In review.
Markowski-Lindsay, M., Stevens, T., D.B. Kittredge, B.J. Butler, P.F. Catanzaro, and B.J. Dickinson. Barriers to Massachusetts forest landowner participation in carbon markets. Ecological Economics. In press.
Van Fleet, T.E., D.B. Kittredge, B.J. Butler, and P.F. Catanzaro. Re-imagining private forest conservation: estimating landowner awareness and their preparedness to act with the conservation awareness index. Journal of Forestry. In press.
Current Outreach Projects
• MassWoods: An on-line resource for landowners in Massachusetts
• MassKeystone: Training program for Massachusetts landowners and community opinion leaders.
• Conservation-based Estate Planning: Helping landowners decide the future ownership and use of their land
• Restoring Old-Growth Characteristics: Encourage the development of old-growth characteristics to our ecologically young second-growth forests
Outreach Publications
Littlefield, C., Donahue, B., Catanzaro, P., Foster, D., D’Amato, A. Laustsen, K. 2024. Beyond the “Illusion of Preservation”: Taking regional responsibility by protecting forests, reducing consumption, and expanding ecological forestry in New England. Supported, in part, by USDA’s Renewable Resources Extension Act.
D’Amato, A., Catanzaro, P. 2023. Restoring Old-growth Characteristics to New England’s and New York’s Forests. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Publication, 34 pp.
Catanzaro, P., D'Amato, A., Orwig, D., Siegert, N., Benedict, L. Everett, T., Daigle, J., Mahaffey, A. Managing Northeastern Forests Threatened by Emerald Ash Borer. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Publication, 30 pp.
Sutcliffe, K., P. Catanzaro, and S. Wells. 2021. Open Space Handbook: A Guide to Community Conservation in Massachusetts. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Publication, 34 pp.
Lukacic, O., P. Catanzaro, and E. Huff. 2021. Women on the Land. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Publication, 38 pp.
Catanzaro, P. & A. D’Amato. 2019. Forest Carbon: An essential natural solution to climate change. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Pamphlet, 28 pp.
Catanzaro, P.F., H. Murray, W. Ferris, and S. Wells. 2018. Using a Will to Pass on Your Land. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Pamphlet, 8 pp.
Catanzaro, P.F., and W. Ferris. 2017. Protecting Your Legacy. Developed for nine states across the country: ME, NH, VT, NY, PA, OH, WI, MN, MD. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Pamphlet, 20 pp.
Catanzaro, P.F., M. Markowski-Lindsay, J. Leahy, E. Sass, and K. Ferrare. 2017. Their Land, Their Legacy. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Pamphlet, 28 pp.
Catanzaro, P.F., A. D’Amato, and E. Silver Huff. 2016. Increasing Forest Resiliency for an Uncertain Future. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Pamphlet, 30 pp.
Van Fleet, T., P.F. Catanzaro and D.B. Kittredge. 2014. Ch. 61 programs: Understanding the Massachusetts Ch. 61 current use programs. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Pamphlet, 22 pp.
Catanzaro, P.F., J. Fish, and D.B. Kittredge. 2013. Massachusetts forestry best management practices manual. University of Massachusetts, Cooperative Extension Landowner Outreach Pamphlet, 52 pp.
Catanzaro, P.F., D.B. Kittredge, and M. Markowski-Lindsay. 2011. Harvesting Biomass From Your Woods: Make an Informed Decision. UMass Extension publication. Amherst, MA.
Catanzaro, P.F., J. Rasku, and W.S. Sweetser. 2010. Your Land, Your Legacy: Deciding the Future of Your Land. UMass Extension publication. Amherst, MA.
Kittredge, D.B., P.F. Catanzaro, S. Broderick, H. Bergey. 2009. Foresters and the Care of Your Land. UMass Extension publication. Amherst, MA
D’Amato, A.W. and P.F. Catanzaro. 2009. A Forest Manager’s Guide to Restoring Late-Successional Forest Structure. UMass Extension publication. Amherst, MA.
Catanzaro, P.F. and W.S. Sweetser. 2009. Your Land, Your Financial Choices: Running the Numbers on Forest Conservation Tools. UMass Extension publication. Amherst, MA.
Catanzaro, P.F. and W.S. Sweeter. 2008. Connecting for Conservation: A Town’s Guide to Land Conservation. UMass Extension publication. Amherst, MA.
D’Amato, A.W. and P.F. Catanzaro. 2007. Restoring Old-Growth Characteristics. UMass Extension publication. Amherst, MA.
Catanzaro, P.F. and A.W. D’Amato. 2005. High Grade Harvesting: Understand the Impacts, Know Your Options. UMass Extension publication. Amherst, MA.
Catanzaro, P.F. and W.S. Sweetser. 2005. Your Land, Your Choices. UMass Extension publication. Amherst, MA.