Dean Meason

Forest Ecologist

Non Forest Service

Photo of Dean Meason standing next to a tree with a measuring device.

My favorite science experience was working in the soil in the native forests of Hawai‘i. Soils can be wet and gooey or light and fluffy. Some soils are rich with organic matter, while other soils are rocky. Soils provide water, nutrients, and support to trees. Without the right soil the trees will die. Soil is very different in Hawai‘i. It all comes from volcanic eruptions. In Hawai‘i, you can see lava pouring out of Pu‘u‘O‘o into the sea. Walking up into the mountains you can see hard lava slowly turning into rich volcanic soil that plants can thrive in.

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