Richard W. Harper

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.

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.
 

NRC 310 Community Forestry

NRC 382 Human Dimensions of Natural Resources (Integrative Experience)

Powning, C.B., R.W. Harper, D.V. Bloniarz, K.J. Kahl and E.M. Markowitz. 2026. Resident perspectives on tornado-induced tree canopy loss and a decade of regrowth in Springfield, Massachusetts. Journal of Natural Hazards 122:118.

Copeland, C.A., R.W. Harper, N.J. Brazee, C.M. Schweik, and F.J. Bowlick. 2026. Using unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) and photogrammetry to estimate tree height and trunk diameter of urban American elm trees. Arboricultural Journal, 1-23.

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.

Cormier, R.D., J.E. Dampier, C. Hart, D. Dyer and R.W. Harper. 2026. Firewood Banks: Turning urban wood waste into community

warmth. Arborist News 35(1): 30-32. (February)

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.

PhD-Forest Resources-Arboriculture, University of Massachusetts

BS-Forest Conservation/Management, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Canada