UMass Amherst: Department of Environmental Conservation

Harper, Richard W.

Extension Assistant Professor

Office: 320 Holdsworth Hall
Tel: +1 (413) 545-3747

E-mail: rharper

Primary interests

As an extension faculty member, my position involves initiating and expanding a broad-based integrated research and extension program in support of the management of municipal forests and urban landscapes. I administer a monthly, award-winning, international webcast (Urban Forestry Today) aimed at meeting real-time educational needs of urban forest practitioners, and I closely align programming/outreach efforts with professional associations and agencies in Massachusetts and New England.

Current Integrated Research-Extension Projects

Current Associations

Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association (Board of Directors)
International Society of Arboriculture – New England Chapter (Vice President)
ReGreen Springfield (Board of Directors)
USDA Forest Service – Urban Forest Strike Team (Advisory Board)

Courses Taught

NRC 310 Community Forestry
NRC 390G Plant Health Care Diagnostics

Selected Recent Publications (Refereed Journal)

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.

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.

Scharenbroch, B.C., D. Carter, M. Bialecki, R. Fahey, L. Scheberl, M. Catania, L.A. Roman, N.L. Bassuk, R.W. Harper, L. Werner, A. Siewert, S. Miller, L. Hutyra and S. Raciti. 2017. A rapid urban site index for assessing the quality of street tree planting sites. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 27: 279-286.

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 and 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.

Harper, R.W., W.R. Autio, J.T. Finn and F.S. Rossi. 2016. Tree Wardens and public grounds management in North America: Overseeding athletic fields with perennial ryegrass to promote safe playing surface. Arboricultural Journal 40(3): 1-13.

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.

Dampier, J.E.E., R.W. Harper, L. Schwartzberg and R.H. Lemelin. 2015. A comparison of arborists’ and horticulturists’ preferences of Tsuga chinensis to T. canadensis in the urban landscape. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 41(1): 41-48.

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.

Weston, P.A. and R.W. Harper. 2009. Potential of Tsuga spp. from North America and Asia as replacements for eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 35(1): 5-9.

Selected Recent Publications (Outreach)

McElhinney, A.M., R.W. Harper and D.A. Lass 2017. Getting to the roots: Understanding the relationship of planting costs and nursery production systems. American Nurseryman 113(2): 14-19. (February)

Harper, R.W. 2016. Tree of merit. City Trees. (Issues I-IV)

Bayer, M. and R.W. Harper. 2016. Pollinators in the urban landscape II. Citizen Forester 190: 1-3. (May)

Bayer, M. and R.W. Harper. 2016. Pollinators in the urban landscape I. Citizen Forester 188: 1-3. (March)

Bayer, M., T. Smith and R.W. Harper. 2015. Tree planting and cold hardiness. Citizen Forester 183: 1-2. (October)

McElhinney, A.M. and R.W. Harper. 2015. Growing into agriculture. American Nurseryman 111(7): 20-21. (July)

Clapp, J.C. and R.W. Harper. 2015. The value and function of evergreen conifers as urban green infrastructure. Arborist News 24(2): 42-45.

Harper R.W. and J.L. Gangloff-Kaufmann. 2014. Stinging insects in the urban landscape: Their management, your safety. Arborist News 23(5): 28-31.

Harper R.W. and J.L. Gangloff-Kaufmann. 2014. Arborists and stinging insects in the urban landscape. Arborist News 23(4): 44-47.

Bradley, B.A. and R.W. Harper. 2014. Can community forests keep pace with a changing climate? Arborist News 23(3): 44-47.

Harper, R.W. 2013. Urban forestry on the frontier. City Trees. Society of Municipal Arborists. 49(5):10-14.

Harper, R.W. 2013. The Amherst urban forestry program: a model for Massachusetts communities. Citizen Forester. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. 7(10): 1-2.

Harper, R.W. and M.E. Freilicher. 2013. Community partnerships and urban trees celebrated at Tree City USA Awards. Citizen Forester. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. 7(7): 1-2.

Ryan, H.D.P. and R.W. Harper. 2012. Home tree inspections. Landscape Message. University of Massachusetts Extension. (#23, electronic)

Harper, R.W. 2012. The state of our urban forests. Hort Notes. University of Massachusetts Extension. 23(10) pp1.

Harper, R.W. 2012. Drought, stress and what it means for trees. Citizen Forester. Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation. 23(9): 1-2.