Research

The research program is mission driven and is designed to support technical information compliance needs related to the site’s natural resources.  It also supports SRS’s designation as a National Environmental Research Park, contributes to regional and national problem-solving in a unique and cost-effective manner, and develops national recognition and competitiveness.  Most research is done to solve USFS-SR management problems (e.g. forest products, soil and water conservation, or wildlife and botany research).  Research is also done for other SRS organizations, and is being expanded to resolve regional and national issues. Approximately 80 active projects are managed throughout the year.  Through partnerships with Southern Research Station and over 15 universities across the nation, research is being conducted to provide the best available scientific research base.  The research program is divided into five categories: RCW recovery and monitoring, biodiversity and ecosystem management studies (to provide NEPA information), wetland restoration and banking, operations research (to improve fire, silviculture, and wildlife management), and short rotation woody crops cooperative research to develop new, environmentally sound, and sustainable technologies.  The following are services that these programs provide to partners and SRS cooperators:

• Cost-effective and flexible research support through a “virtual” laboratory concept involving partnerships with other state and Federal agencies and universities.  The program also takes advantage of facility operations by other SRS cooperators.
• Technical assistance to suit the needs of natural resource management programs related to sitewide planning, land-use policy, compliance (endangered species, wetlands, NEPA, etc), and monitoring and analysis.
• Assistance in making SRS competitive on a national level and a recognized leader in natural resource research; this is achieved by developing projects that are unique and of national significance.  USFS-SR has attracted almost $1 million in extramural research to SRS in the last several years.
• Graduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.  In recent years, over 30 graduate and postgraduate students have been supported annually by various research projects.
• Assistance in building partnerships with external organizations, including stakeholders, state and Federal agencies, universities, landowners, and industry to develop new technologies, such as those associated with the Short Rotation Woody Crops Cooperative Program.

If you would like to browse the bibliography of Research Publications, Reports, and Abstracts that USFS-FS has supported since 1952, click here (PDF ~430k).

RETURN TO TOP