Mark S. Ashton
Morris K. Jesup Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology and Director of School Forests
Professional interests
Research concerns tree seedling ecology, physiological and morphological adaptations of leaves to environment, forest microenvironments, disturbance and landscape level dynamics of forests and their applications to: 1) regeneration silviculture of native forests; 2) restoration of degraded forestlands; 3) plantation analogs of mixed-species stands and agroforestry systems; and 4) silviculture of non-timber forest crops.
Teaching concentrates on all aspects of silviculture and forest ecology with a particular emphasis on natural forests - worldwide. Other areas of interest include management of protected areas broadly defined; ecosystem services – with particular focus on water and carbon sequestration; forest watershed issues of the urban - rural interface; and agroforestry and forest restoration systems as models for community development.
Honors and Awards:
2019 - Acknowledgement of Teaching Excellence – Yale F&ES Student Class 2019
2019 - David M. Smith Award for research and teaching in silviculture, Society of American Foresters
2014 - Acknowledgement of Teaching Excellence – Yale F&ES student class 2014
2013 - Yale Sustainability Achievement Award
2013 - Acknowledgement of Teaching Excellence - Yale F&ES student class 2013
2012 - Acknowledgement of Teaching Excellence – Yale F&ES Student class 2012
2011 - Recognition of Service Award – Connecticut Forest and Park Association
2010 - Acknowledgement of Teaching Excellence – Yale F&ES student class 2010
2010 - Conservation Service Award – Incarnation Center
2009 - Acknowledgement of Teaching Excellence – Yale F&ES student class 2009
2008 - Acknowledgement of Teaching Excellence – Yale F&ES student class 2008
2003 - Recognition of Public Service, State of Connecticut
2002 - Acknowledgment of Teaching Excellence - Yale F&ES student class 2002 (large class category)
1999 - Acknowledgment of Teaching Excellence - Yale F&ES student class 1999 (student advising)
1998 - Acknowledgment of Teaching Excellence - Yale F&ES student class 1998 (large class category)
1997 - UNESCO Sultan Quaboos prize for Environmental Conservation
1996 - Honorable Mention - Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in College and University Teaching
1996 - Acknowledgment of Teaching Excellence - Yale F&ES student class 1996 (small class category)
1996 - Leopold Schepp Award for Forest Conservation
1995 - Acknowledgment of Teaching Excellence - Yale F&ES student class 1995 (student advising)
1995 - Nominee - Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in College and University Teaching
1994 - Acknowledgment of Teaching Excellence – F&ES Yale student class 1994 (large class category)
1994 - Appalachian Trail Countryside Initiative Award from National Park Service
93/94 - Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations awards for protected areas management plans
1993 - Acknowledgment of Teaching Excellence – F&ES Yale student class 1993 (large class category)