U.S. Forest Service to Close Bartlett Experimental Forest Amid Nationwide Restructuring
The U.S. Forest Service is shuttering the Bartlett Experimental Forest in New Hampshire’s White Mountains as part of a massive nationwide consolidation plan. The move is one of more than 50 research center closures intended to streamline agency operations and unify research priorities.
- The Bartlett Experimental Forest is being closed as part of a broader Forest Service restructuring.
- The agency is shuttering approximately three-quarters of its 77 research stations.
- Research headquarters will move to Salt Lake City, Utah, with a single research organization based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
- Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest is not currently slated for closure, though all sites remain under evaluation.
The Impact of the Closure
Scientists and local advocates are criticizing the decision, citing the loss of invaluable long-term data. Mariko Yamasaki, a retired research wildlife biologist from the site, emphasized that the center provides a 90-year record of vegetation changes. According to Yamasaki, the Forest Service’s approach to long-term ecological and management research is unique and challenging to replicate elsewhere ([NHPR](https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-04-09/bartlett-experimental-forest-nh-white-mountains-newhampshire-closure-forest-service)).
Why the Forest Service is Consolidating
The U.S. Forest Service stated that the consolidation aims to:
- Unify research priorities across the agency.
- Accelerate how science is applied to management decisions.
- Reduce administrative duplication.
The transition will happen in phases and employees will be relocated to new research sites ([NHPR](https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-04-09/bartlett-experimental-forest-nh-white-mountains-newhampshire-closure-forest-service)).
About the Bartlett Experimental Forest
Established in 1931, the Bartlett Experimental Forest is located within the Saco Ranger District of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. It has served as a critical site for studying the ecological structure, function, and process of New England’s northern hardwood forests.
Ecological Significance
The forest spans an elevational gradient from 207 meters in the Saco River Valley to approximately 915 meters at its upper reaches. It’s a terrestrial site for the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), serving as the most northeastern NEON site and a key point for studying nitrogen deposition gradients ([NEON](https://www.neonscience.org/field-sites/bart)).
Historical Context
The area was originally purchased under the Weeks Act of 1911. Over the decades, it has been shaped by selective logging of white pine and red spruce, clearcutting for locomotive fuel, and natural disturbances including the 1938 hurricane and a 1998 ice storm ([US Forest Service](https://research.fs.usda.gov/nrs/forestsandranges/locations/bartlett)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Will all experimental forests in New Hampshire close?
No. As of April 2026, the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest is not slated for closure, though the agency is evaluating all research and development sites.
Where is the new Forest Service research headquarters?
The agency is moving its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah, with a single research organization headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado.
What happens to the staff at Bartlett?
Employees will be moved to new research sites according to relocation timelines provided by the agency.
Looking Forward
As the U.S. Forest Service moves toward a more centralized research model, the scientific community remains concerned about the continuity of long-term ecological monitoring. The closure of the Bartlett site marks the end of an era for a facility that has provided nearly a century of insight into the management of timber and wildlife habitats in the Northeast.