Brief Biography

Dr. Thompson is the 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)