Brief Biography

Dr. Thompson is the Applied Forest Management program lead and advisor to incoming Forestry students. His research work includes spruce budworm population monitoring, emerging forest insects and diseases, and a long-term project focused on predicting temperature regimes of headwater streams in northern Maine. Neil looks after both greenhouses on campus, a Germplasm Conservation Orchard for American chestnuts, an orchard of clones of clear American beech, and a collection of several hundred nest boxes for songbirds, ducks, owls, and bats.

Recent Courses Taught

  • FOR 100: Introduction to Forestry (Fall)
  • FOR 332: Forest Protection II (Fall)
  • FOR/ENV 242: Map and LiDAR Interpretation (Spring)
  • GIS 300: GIS Applications I (Spring)

Educational Background

  • Ph.D. Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (2017)
    University of Northern British Columbia
  • B.Sc. Forestry (2013)
    University of Maine

Selected Publications

  • Rea, R., Ajala, L., Aitken, D.A., Child, K.N., Thompson, N., Hodder, D.P.. The Use of Bear (Ursus spp.) Scat Analysis as a Preliminary Assessment of Moose (Alces alces andersoni) Calf Predation by Bears in North Central British Columbia. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, 42 (2019): 369-377.

    Thompson, N.P., Lewis, K.J., Poirier, L.P., 2018. Adjacency to a harvest trail increases drought resistance of interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) in partially harvested stands in central British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. Accepted. DOI 10.1139/cjfr-2018-0007

    Thompson, N.P., (2017). Disturbance history and its influence on drought tolerance of interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beisn.) Franco) in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region of British Columbia, Canada. Doctoral dissertation, University of Northern British Columbia.

    2018: CFRU Fall Field Tour, “UMFK Research on State Sustainability Criteria in Support of OBF [Outcomes Based Forestry]” (presentation)

    2018: Viewshed Analysis in the LiDAR Era: UMaine Presque Isle Science Seminar series (presentation)

    2016: Drought resilience of interior Douglas-fir following clumped partial harvesting in British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Institute of Foresters Master’s Night, Prince George, British Columbia (presentation).

    2016: Disturbance History and Drought Resistance of Douglas-fir in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. UNBC Graduate Student Poster Session (poster).

    2015: 250-year reconstruction of Douglas-fir beetle and western spruce budworm outbreaks in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region of British Columbia: progress and directions. Canadian Institute of Foresters Master’s Night, Prince George, British Columbia (presentation)