Early research at the Sylamore focused mainly on silviculture with numerous studies that developed and tested practices for managing upland hardwoods. Researchers also performed hydrologic research on local streams and evaluated the effects of timber harvesting on wildlife habitat.

Centuries ago, American Indians in the area frequently used low-intensity fires to clear the land and generate forage. But the frequency of fire in these parts declined along with the number of American Indians after European settlement. Martin Spetich, SRS research forester and manager of the Sylamore, is among the scientists trying to understand the historical role fire played in these forests.

Spetich oversees two keystone studies.One keystone study examines the effect of fire on species dynamics and forest restoration, analyzing both burned and unburned areas in combination with a number of treatments. The other keystone study is being done at the landscape scale using a complex landscape disturbance model to predict future impacts of current management across the Boston Mountains in Arkansas.