National Capacity in Forestry Research (2002) / Chapter Skim
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6. Summary and Conclusions
6. Summary and Conclusions
Pages 119-127
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From page 119... ...
Those important foundation forestry research needs are biology, ecology, and silviculture; forest genetics; forest management, economics, and policy; and wood and materials science. The important emerging research disciplines are human and natural resource interactions; ecosystem function, health, and management, forest systems at various scales of space and time; forest monitoring, analysis and adaptive management, and forest biotechnology.
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From page 120... ...
But the status quo of incremental changes in vision, funding, cooperation, and staffing will lead to diminished, not enhanced, research, education, and practice. The effects of reduced research and education capacity have been the largest with the USDA Forest Service research branch, but extend to the forest products sector and most state forestry research organizations as well.
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From page 121... ...
One persistent challenge in preparing this report was the lack of data on current forestry research personnel, infrastructure, and support. The USDA Forest Service collects data on its scientists, Research Work Units, and budgets.
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From page 122... ...
There are many examples of federal cooperative efforts, such as the U.S Geological Survey Fish and Wildlife Service Cooperative Research units, which have been models of how cooperation can be effective. Forest Service extramural support for university research increased moderately from 1980 to 1995, but has declined precipitously since.
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From page 123... ...
If possible, other federal and nongovernmental forestry research organizations should be invited to participate. Recommenclation 3-5 Universities and state institutions should increase the use of competitive mechanisms for allocating Mcintire-Stennis arid Renewable Resources Extension Act funds within these institutions, and in doing so, encourage team approaches to solving forestry and natural resource problems as wed as integrated research and extension proposals or interinstitutional cooperation.
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From page 124... ...
Enhanced forestry outreach and extension efforts continue to be a key to successful implementation of forestry research and professional education efforts. The cooperative extension program has successfully transferred knowledge about forest productivity and protection for decades, and expanded its mission to include programs in economic development, urban forestry, environmental education, and nontimber forest products.
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From page 125... ...
Vanous forestry schools are attempting to develop new models that integrate broad themes, such as sustainable forest management and forest productivity in the South or ecosystem management in the West. The new models have involved programs in which students take courses at different universities such as Washington State University and the University of Idaho, which are within 10 miles of each other—or development of widely needed courses by the western National Association of Professional Forestry Schools and Colleges (NAPFSC)
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From page 126... ...
Recommendation 5-2 Clear federal research facility mandates—such as long-term ecological research sites, experimental forest and natural resource areas, and watershed monitoring facilitiesshould receive priorityfor retention and enhancement, and a system of periodic review of alifacilities should be implemented and maintained. Establishing forestry research management collaborations at large spatial scales with an environmental perspective was iclentifiect as a priority by the National Research Council Committee on Forestry Research in 1990, anct this concept also remains salient today.
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From page 127... ...
Success will require clear technical cooperation in performing research, which provides evidence that the forestry sector is performing research efficiently. What is necessary is a concerted, permanent cooperative effort among many stakeholders, which includes joint strategic planning and monitoring; continued support of existing organizations and fi~ndamental and emerging research; a larger and open cooperative grants programs Tom the Forest Service; broader training for forestry graduate students; and an integrated research, education, and extension enterpnse.
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