Hines, "While scientists have studied the tropical rain forest canopy for years with cranes, this is the first extensive study of the temperate forest canopy." UW professor Jerry Franklin (who Hines describes as "the guiding force behind the crane") said that the study demonstrates that temperate conifer forests are better at banking carbon than any other ecosystem in the world, certainly more than tropical forests on a per unit area basis, at least 178 tons per acre (40 kg/m2.) This finding could have significant impact on strategies to fight global warming. The WRCCRF ceased operation in 2011. It was retrofitted with ecological monitoring sensors as part of the National Ecological Observatory Network. Administration It is administered cooperatively by the USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station and Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and is one of ten experimental areas associated with the United States Department of Agriculture's Pacific Northwest Research Station. The experimental forest has two administrative units: the Trout Creek and Panther Creek divisions. The Trout Creek division has old-growth forests, stands that originated after large wildfires in the first third of the 20th century, and young stands regenerated after clearcuts in the last half of the 20th century. The Panther Creek division has mature stands that grew after a fire in the early 1840s and young stands from more recent clearcuts. References External links Wind River Experimental Forest History (Forest History Society, U.S. Forest Service History Collection) Official USDA Research Station site. Accessed April 30, 2008. The content of this site is in the public domain. Official WWCCRF site. Accessed December 8, 2004. This is the reference on the founding date. Wind River Canopy Crane ends its journey above the trees. Accessed 2019.9.3 Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documentation, filed under Lookout Mountain Road, Carson, Skamania County, WA: Forests of Washington (state) Gifford Pinchot National Forest Historic American Buildings Survey in Washington (state) Protected areas of Skamania County, Washington Research forests