National Capacity in Forestry Research (2002) / Chapter Skim
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5. Capacity of Forestry-Research Organizations to Meet Future Research Needs
5. Capacity of Forestry-Research Organizations to Meet Future Research Needs
Pages 105-118
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From page 105... ...
This chapter summarizes the concern and presents information in the context of the capacity of forestry-research organizations to meet future research needs.
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From page 106... ...
Given the high cost of modern research in biotechnology, genomics, and ecosystems, the need for adequate support of forestry research is even greater. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of this report provide recommendations for addressing deficiencies in scientific and fiscal resources needed to secure our nation's future forestry-research capacity.
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From page 107... ...
Current administrative structures and funding mechanisms do not provide the "critical mass", appropriate organization, and focus to meet many of the nation's needs in forestry research. To implement the research priorities outlined in this report, centers of excellence in forestry are proposed.
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From page 108... ...
Two examples of virtual centers at work are the cooperative ecosystem studies units and the Valuation of Wildland Resource Benefits project (Box 5-3~. Competitive funding remains an excellent approach to ensure that research expenditures are used for high-pnority needs (National Research Council, 2000~.
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From page 109... ...
As discussed in Chapters 3 and 4, forestry research needs to be better integrated with development and extension to ensure dissemination of research results. University cooperative extension programs offer the promise of achieving that objective, but for venous reasons they have not realized their potential.
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From page 110... ...
Industry funding for sustainable forestry research totaled $68 million in 1999, up Dom $60 million in ~ 996 (see Table 3-9) , but most of this spending occurred in only four companies, and one of the challenges for the industry is to engage the majority of the industry.
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From page 111... ...
, was formed to study timber supply issues in 1994. SOFAC has had about 15 forest industry, consulting, and state member organizations that pay annual dues and has had several USDA Forest Service research work unit contributors.
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From page 112... ...
stated that the physical plant and equipment at many forestry research stations and forestry colleges were inadequate. Since its publication in 1990, funding has been even less adequate to keep pace with changing technology.
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From page 113... ...
, Not uniquely or appropriately federal responsibilities not fitting the federal sector. As the research propositions and classifications suggest, the Strategic Planning Task Force on Research Facilities espoused a careful examination of research facilities and infrastructure with the intention of maximizing returns to federal investments via integrated, interconnected research facilities.
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From page 114... ...
Forestry faculty numbers have remained Given their existing personnel ano Infrastructure eases, more financial support to augment existing resources could greatly increase the Forest Service's (and other research organizations') ^~rt_~lr Ant ~~..~ ~~ ~1~ ~~____L~ A _ ~ ~1~ fairly stable, in comparison with the Forest Service personnel reductions ~ ~ ~ .
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From page 115... ...
The 1999 Committee of Scientists proposal suggesting that Forest Service researchers review and comment on the science base of national forest plans could further dilute the credibility and independence of the agency and as detract from scientists' time for scientific research. It might be easy to attribute the Forest Service's difficulties in defining vision and direction to external forces, such as its difficult political operating environment.
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From page 116... ...
However, creation of centers focused on specific research emphasis that involve many players is a need that continues to grow as forestry research continues to broaden and demands continue to expand.
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From page 117... ...
encouraging and providing opportunities for university faculty and government researchers to conduct integrated interinstitutional research; (3) providing incentives for minority group students to enter and remain in forestry research; (4)
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From page 118... ...
_ _ _~^ ~~ ~^ A$~~ ~~ The LTER Network exemplifies one mechanism for enabling valuable research and creating needed capacity, ideas endorsed throughout this report. The LTER network has been successful in: collecting scientific data on ecological phenomena over long temporal and large spatial scales, creating a legacy for such research, facilitating collaborating among researchers from diverse geographic locations, conducting major synthetic projects, and in providing easily accessible data for researchers.
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