The tract is part of the 1.1 million acres (4,500 km2) of Maine forest sold in 2005 by International Paper (IP) to the Seven Islands Land Company, a private forest investment management holding company. In 2007, the research forest was purchased by Northeast Wilderness Trust ensuring its wild and natural state into the future.[2]
The Howland Forest is a founding member of the AmeriFlux and FLUXNET research networks.[2]
Ecology
The Howland Forest study site is located in a boreal transitional forest of the New England/Acadian forests ecoregion. The forest is dominated by mixed spruce, hemlock, aspen, and birch stands ranging in age from 45 to 130 years. The soils are formed on coarse-loamy granitic basal till.[3]