The project was initiated in 1993, and is currently organized around three foci reflecting our philosophy of interdisciplinary research.

In 1996, we were awarded our first grant from NSF's Database Activities Program to develop a database and database tools to enhance the ability of researches in forest canopy studies to collect, analyze, link, and archive data. This capability will speed the development of the field to more efficiently address both intellectually stimulating and environmentally pressing questions of interest to academics, policy-makers, and the general public.