National Capacity in Forestry Research (2002) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-13
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
The adequacy and capacity of available university-level programs to meet near future needs. Our analysis and recommendations place special emphasis on the nation's largest forestry research entity, the USDA Forest Service, but they also address its larger operating
|
From page 2... ...
In addition to the workshop and associated public comments and letters, the committee communicated with professionals in relevant forestry research and education organizations and consulted numerous other sources, including recent surveys and studies of trends in forestry education, to obtain relevant information for analysis.
|
From page 3... ...
The value of forestry research has been measured by the gains that have increased the efficiency of wood use and timber management, but these measures do not address the gains attributed to productivity research or the benefits derived outside the marketplace, such as those related to environmental protection and social welfare. Although it is not remembered well, the Forest Service was established to protect watersheds and maintain the nation's supply of fresh drinking water, and watershed research has retained high priority.
|
From page 4... ...
To achieve an adequate knowledge base, forestry and natural-resource education and research programs in government and academia should dedicate resources to the foundation Veldts of forestry science while engaging in efforts to develop emerging education and research priority areas. ASSESSING THE STATUS OF FORESTRY RESEARCH In obtaining information for this report, we were challenged by the limited availability of systematic budgetary, expenditure, and programmatic data on the diverse forestry and natural resources programs from the different agencies and organizations responsible for or involved in research.
|
From page 5... ...
Employing additional full-time permanent researchers, rather than supplementing with temporary employees and post-doctoral students in fields that are required to address traditional and emerging issues, will improve Forest Service continuity and effectiveness in research efforts, especially long-term projects. Deficiencies in the forestry research workforce should be addressed as soon as possible, because trends to date indicate that the situation may worsen.
|
From page 6... ...
. Given an environment of decreasing budgets and fiscal constraints, the Forest Service should consider allocating a larger portion of its total research budget to the station or research work unit level for extramural research grants that are inter-organizational and cooperative, requiring active involvement, cooperation, and integration of Forest Service, university, and other research partners.
|
From page 7... ...
The advisory body and staff would also monitor forestry-research quality and accountability by renewing and expanding the periodic-review process, including reviews of McIntireStennis projects and Forest Service research accomplishments. Reasonable intervals for site visits are 10 years for McIntire-Stennis institutions and 5 years for Forest Service research stations.
|
From page 8... ...
Forestry and natural-resources extension programs provide direct support for disseminating research findings to research users, such as nonindustrial private forest landowners, urban residents, production and environmental interest groups, naturalresource professionals, state and federal agencies, local governments, and policy-makers. The USDA maintains a unique position to communicate research results to everyday users through its extension programs.
|
From page 9... ...
To strengthen that role and ensure continuity in technology transfer, universities, government, and private organizations should actively participate in training forestry researchers to communicate research results to forest managers and to be receptive to their needs. CREATING INTELLECTUAL AND SCIENTIFIC-RESEARCH CAPITAL Despite constraints on growth in the forest sciences, colleges and universities must develop the next generation of scientific leadership.
|
From page 10... ...
Because there is a wide variety of subfields in forestry and natural resources and few institutions can produce doctoral graduates in many subfields, regional cooperation might be viewed as a way to expand capacity by pooling resources in important areas. Building of regional coalitions among universities for the purpose of graduate education could enhance the education of students and lead to cost-effective expansion of the capacity to develop forestry and natural resources scientists.
|
From page 11... ...
working closely with government agencies and other organizations to develop new research and education collaborations and partnerships; (2) encouraging and providing opportunities for university faculty and government researchers to conduct integrated interinstitutional research; (3)
|
From page 12... ...
The Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 states: "The Secretary shall continue to review periodically each operating agncultural research facility constructed in whole or in part with federal funds, and each planned agncultural research facility proposed to be constructed in whole or in part with federal funds, pursuant to criteria established by the Secretary to ensure that a comprehensive research capacity is maintained." Review is the only means of ensuring that objectives are being met. As previously recommended by several expert panels, the Forest Service, universities, and other forest~y-research partners should review research facilities and determine how to optimize research infrastructure.
|
From page 13... ...
Follow through is required to ensure interorganizational cooperation, adequate funding, administrative tracking, educational excellence, and, most important, strong research capacity. The future of forests and of their capacity to play their accustomed roles in natural resources and social landscapes throughout the world will depend on national ability to: develop better knowledge; use that knowledge to address issues of economic, environmental, and social importance; deliver the knowledge to forest landowners and managers; and measure and monitor our progress toward achieving our universal goals.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.