Saratoga Reads!
2025 Reading Season

First Growth and Old Growth Forests of the Catskills

The Catskills are underrepresented in ecological research, unlike the Adirondacks and other mountain ranges. There are very few examples of Old Growth and First Growth forests in the Northeast. First growth are forests that has never been logged or disturbed, and old growth forests are ones that have been developed over a long period of time without disturbance.

Dr. Dan Bogan of Siena College, and two student research fellows, are mapping these forests and examining data that is helpful in learning about forest ecology nutrients, the carbon cycle and carbon sequestration – and combating climate change. These forests should also be protected simply for their aesthetic and even spiritual meaning. Please register online.

This program is sponsored by Southern Adirondack Audubon Society. This program is inspired by our 2025 SaratogaREADS! selection, The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.

Dr. Dan Bogan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences at Siena College, where he enjoys integrating his research with teaching undergraduate courses that span Environmental Science, Biodiversity, Urban Wildlife, and Wildlife Conservation, and Applied Wildlife Research. Dan’s research explores the spatial ecology and behavior of wildlife, particularly coyotes and fishers, to understand how animals are responding to suburban and urban development. His applied research seeks to better understand human–wildlife interactions as a means to reduce or prevent conflicts to maintain human valuation of wildlife species. Dan holds a PhD from Cornell University, a MS from SUNY University at Albany, and a BS from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry.