Founded in 1983, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is one of the world’s leading independent environmental research organizations. Areas of expertise include disease ecology, forest and freshwater health, climate change, urban ecology, and invasive species.

Studies by our scientists have been instrumental in informing the Clean Air Act, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and environmental management practices throughout the Northeast, including the Hudson River, New York’s Catskill and Adirondack forests, and the watershed of Baltimore, Maryland.

Hallmark projects include studies of the impact of acid rain on forests and freshwater ecosystems, unraveling the relationship between biodiversity loss and emerging infectious diseases, and tracking how climate change influences the spread of invasive species.

The Cary Institute’s Goals:

Advance understanding about the structure and function of ecological systems.
Provide the scientific knowledge needed to solve environmental problems.
Enhance the ecological literacy of students, decision makers, and the public.
Train the next generation of ecologists and resource managers.