Collaborative Research: NSF R2I2: Managing Invasive Caribbean Pine to Reduce Wildfire Risk in Puerto Rico

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $265,721 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

The U.S. Caribbean is becoming hotter and drier, and the spread of invasive Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea) is amplifying wildfire danger, displacing native forests, and increasing hurricane damage. Partnering with local agencies and communities, this project will create the first high-resolution maps of pine invasion and burn scars, predict future risks, and package the results in user-friendly applications for Puerto Rico. The team will also engage with the community and citizen scientists, providing hands-on training in remote sensing and artificial intelligence (AI). Together, these efforts will launch a Regional Resilience Innovation Incubator that supports land managers, policymakers, and landowners in identifying mitigation resources, reducing wildfire risk, and protecting ecosystems, while expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills and workforce capacity across Puerto Rico and other fire-prone island regions. The project tackles three related knowledge gaps: 1) fine-scale detection of invasive pine trees in rugged subtropical terrain; 2) mapping low-intensity fires that existing satellite fire products often miss; and 3) forecasting coupled vegetation–disturbance dynamics under future scenarios. Using very-high-resolution drone and satellite imagery, the project will deploy state-of-the-art AI models to locate individual Caribbean pine crowns and delineate burn scars, validating results with field plots and community photo transects.

Key facts

NSF award ID
2519604
Awardee
Kent State University (OH)
SAM.gov UEI
KXNVA7JCC5K6
PI
He Yin
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
INTERDISCIPLINARY PROPOSALS
Estimated total
$265,721
Funds obligated
$265,721
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2027