As a first-generation college graduate, I understand the challenges associated with socio-economic barriers. I and the members of the UMass Urban Forest Ecology Lab (UFEL) are committed to each other’s success and to increasing, retaining, and supporting others - including underrepresented students among the UMass student body. We are also wholeheartedly dedicated to doing our part to create a campus environment that applauds shared values like kindness and understanding, while celebrating difference and diversity among individuals. We are excited to be part of a community that strives to foster dignity and respect for all.
Primary Interests
As Extension Faculty, my position involves initiating and expanding a broad-based integrated research & extension program in support of the management of municipal forests & urban landscapes. I administer the award-winning ‘Urban Forestry Today‘ monthly webcasts designed to meet real-time educational needs of practitioners, and I closely align outreach-programming efforts with cooperating associations & agencies. In addition to publishing in the scientific literature, I and the members of UFEL also contribute to professional journals and newsletters (Arborist News, ISA New England Chapter Newsletter, MA DCR Citizen Forester) read widely by practitioners & tree enthusiasts, alike.
Current Integrated Research-Extension Projects
Current Associations
Courses Taught
- NRC 310 Community Forestry
- NRC 382 Human Dimensions of Natural Resources (Integrative Experience)
Refereed Journal Publications (select, from 40+)
Coleman, A.F., D.A. Doroski, R.W. Harper, A.J. Elton, E. Grigorian and E.E. Griffith. 2025. Urban tree committees of New England, USA: Describing past, present, and future regional trends. Cities and the Environment (CATE) 18(2): 1-45.
Butler, S.M., E.E. Griffith, R.W. Harper, J.E. Leahy, B.J. Butler, J. Comisky, C. Hart, J. E. Dampier, D. Dyer. 2025. Fueling communities into the future: A survey of firewood banks to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to organizational sustainability. Journal of Rural & Community Development 20(2): 34-55.
Hargrave, J.R., R.W. Harper, B.J. Butler and J.T. Mullins. 2024. Influence of Community Characteristics on Urban Forest Management Programs in New York State. Cities and the Environment (CATE) Vol. 17: Iss. 1, Article 3.
Lass, D.A. and R.W. Harper. 2023. Understanding the economic contributions of the arboriculture & commercial urban forestry sector in New England. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 41(2):48–58.
Healy, M., N. Geron, R.W. Harper, J. Rogan, D.G. Martin and L.A. Roman. 2023. Urban forest management motivations and practices in relation to a large-scale tree planting initiative. Society & Natural Resources 1-24.
Coleman, A.F., R.W. Harper, T.S. Eisenman, S.H. Warner, and M.A. Wilkinson. 2022. The multidimensional nature of urban street trees: A review of scholarly research. Forests 13 (11): 1779.
Elton, A.J., R.W. Harper, L.F. Bullard, E. Griffith and B.S. Weil. 2022. Volunteer engagement in urban forestry in the United States: A review of the literature. Arboricultural Journal 44(1): 1-23.
Eisenman, T.S., T. Flanders, R.W. Harper, R.J. Hauer and K. Lieberknecht. 2021. Traits of a bloom: A nationwide survey of U.S. urban tree planting initiatives (TPIs). Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 61: 1-15.
Harper, R.W., E.S. Huff, D.V. Bloniarz, S. DeStefano, C.R. Nicolson and M. Davidsohn. 2020. Employing qualitative research interviews to understand urban forestry stakeholder continuing education needs. Arboricultural Journal 42: 1-11.
Harper, R.W., E.S. Huff, D.V. Bloniarz, S. DeStefano and C.R. Nicolson. 2018. Exploring the characteristics of successful volunteer-led urban forest tree committees in Massachusetts. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 34: 311-317.
Harper, R.W., D.V. Bloniarz, S. DeStefano, C.R. Nicolson. 2017. Urban forest management in New England: Towards a contemporary understanding of tree wardens in Massachusetts communities. Arboricultural Journal 41(3): 1-19.
Yin, J., R.W. Harper and N.L. Bassuk. 2017. Effects of Tree Production Method and Transplanting on Root Hydraulic Conductance. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 35(2): 79-83.
Allen, K.S., R.W. Harper, A. Bayer and N.J. Brazee. 2017. Nursery production systems and their impact on urban tree survival. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 21(1): 183-191.
Harper, R.W. and P.A. Weston. 2016. Potential of alternative Tsuga spp. as landscape replacements for T. canadensis: Longer-term evaluation and propagation of T. chinensis. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 42(5): 346-354.
Markarian, G., R.W. Harper and D.V. Bloniarz. 2016. Flexible, open-source programmes and estimating projections of urban tree benefits: A case study in Amherst, MA. Arboricultural Journal 38(1): 1-13.
Green, B.L., R.W. Harper and D.A. Lass. 2015. Differing nursery production systems impact cost of planting oak species in the urban environment. HortTechnology 25(5): 651-656.
Clapp, J.C., H.D.P. Ryan III, R.W. Harper and D.V. Bloniarz. 2014. Rationale for the increased use of conifers as functional green infrastructure. Arboricultural Journal 36(3): 161-178.
Harper, R.W. and R.S. Cowles. 2013. Susceptibility of Chinese hemlock (Tsuga chinensis) to injury from autumn horticultural oil applications. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 39(1): 6-10.
Outreach Publications (select, from 100+)
Hargrave, J.R. and R.W. Harper. 2024. Understanding the relationship between tree supply and diversity in the urban environment. Arborist News 33(6): 34-37. (December)
Copeland, C.A., C.M. Schweik and R.W. Harper. 2023. Exploring the use of unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) in urban forests. Arborist News 32(6): 44-48. (December)
Silveira, E. and R.W. Harper. 2022. Understanding autumn leaf color change in trees. Arborist News 31(5): 32-35. (October)
Harper, R.W., K. Bezanson, and D.V. Bloniarz. 2021. Student-led urban tree inventories in Massachusetts: Strengthening our understanding, one tree at a time. Arborist News 30(4): 34-37. (August)
C. W. Morrin and R.W. Harper. 2020. Trees & the law: Reviewing the basics. Arborist News 29(6): 30-33. (December)
Harper, R.W., N.J. Brazee, C.A. Copeland and T.M. McElhinney. 2020. Researchers & students collaborate to restore Ulmus americana in the Northeast. Arborist News 29(1): 28-30. (February)
Harper, R.W., K.S. Allen and A.L. Bayer. 2018. Nursery production systems and their impact on urban tree growth and development. Arborist News 27(4): 12-19. (August - Part I, October – Part II)
Harper, R.W. and D.V. Bloniarz. 2018. Regreening Springfield, MA – and communities nationwide – one tree at a time. Arborist News 27(1): 22-25. (February)
McElhinney, A.M., R.W. Harper and D.A. Lass 2017. Understanding the true costs of planting and growing urban trees. Arborist News 26(6): 22-28. (December)
Harper, R.W. and D.V. Bloniarz. 2017. Income, equity and the urban forest: Strengthening student understanding in Springfield, MA. Arborist News 26(3): 26-28. (June)
Harper R.W. and J.L. Gangloff-Kaufmann. 2014. Arborists and stinging insects in the urban landscape. Arborist News 23(4): 44-47. (August - Part I, October – Part II)
Bradley, B.A. and R.W. Harper. 2014. Can community forests keep pace with a changing climate? Arborist News 23(3): 44-47. (June)
Harper, R.W. 2013. Urban forestry on the frontier. City Trees: The Journal of the Society of Municipal Arborists 49(5):10-14.
Book Reviews (select, from 10+)
Harper, R.W. 2025. Review of The tree collectors: Tales of arboreal obsession by A. Stewart. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 112: 128981.
Harper, R.W. 2024. Review of The rare trees: The fascinating stories of the world's most threatened species by S. Oldfield & M. Rivers. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 99: 128457.
Harper, R.W. 2023. Review of The American chestnut: An environmental history by D.E. Davis. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 87: 128043.
Harper, R.W. 2022. Review of The age of wood: Our most useful material and the construction of civilization, by R. Ennos. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 68: 127469.
Harper, R.W. 2021. Review of The tree book: Superior selections for landscapes, streetscapes, and gardens, by M.A. Dirr & K.S. Warren. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 62: 127162.
Awards
Honourary Member – Ontario Arborist’s Association (2021)
Public Education Award – Tree Canada (2020)
Early Career Scientist Award – International Society of Arboriculture (2019)
Honor Award (shared) – USDA Forest Service (2017)
Sharon J. Lilly Award of Achievement – International Society of Arboriculture (2015)
President’s Award – Massachusetts Tree Wardens Association (2014)
Distinguished Educator Award (shared) – NYS Arborists Association (2012)
