A Climate Change with Matt Matern Climate Podcast

Dr. Lee E. Frelich is a leading forest ecologist, researcher, and educator whose work has advanced scientific understanding of forest dynamics, climate change, and ecosystem resilience. He serves as Director of the Center for Forest Ecology and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota.

Over a career spanning decades, Dr. Frelich has become internationally recognized for his pioneering research on forest disturbance dynamics, succession, climate-driven ecosystem change, and the ecological impacts of invasive species. His studies of old-growth forests in the Great Lakes region have helped shape modern understanding of how forests respond to disturbances such as fire, windstorms, invasive organisms, and climate change. He is also known for his influential work on invasive earthworms and their effects on North American forest ecosystems.

A widely cited scientist, Dr. Frelich has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and developed innovative theories on forest resilience and succession. His research has highlighted how climate change may drive rapid and unexpected transformations in boreal and temperate forests, providing critical insights for conservation and land management. He earned both his B.S. in Botany and Bacteriology and his Ph.D. in Forest Ecology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.