2014 forest service research overview

2014 Forest Service Research Overview

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service Research & Development Washington Office

USDA Forest Service Research & Development

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Contact Information

Research and Development Deputy Area (DCO)Deputy Chief: Jimmy L. Reaves, PhDAssociate Deputy Chief: Cynthia D. West, PhDAssociate Deputy Chief: Carlos Rodriguez-Franco, PhDUSDA Forest Service201 14th Street, SWWashington, D.C. 20024http://www.fs.fed.us/research

Resource Use Sciences (RUS)Staff Director: Carl F. Lucero

Quantitative Sciences (QS)Staff Director: Richard W. Guldin, PhD

Forest Management Sciences (FMS)Acting Staff Director: Linda Heath, PhD

Environmental Sciences (ES)Acting Staff Director: Richard W. Guldin, PhD

Science Quality Services (SQS)Acting Staff Director: Daina Apple

Policy Analysis (PA)Staff Director: William J. Lange, PhD

Forest Products Laboratory (FPL)Director: Michael T. RainsOne Gifford Pinchot DriveMadison, WI 53726-2398http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us

Northern Research Station (NRS)Director: Michael T. Rains11 Campus BoulevardSuite 100Newtown Square, PA 19073http://www.nrs.fed.us

International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF)Director: Ariel E. Lugo, PhDJardin Botanico Sur1201 Calle CeibaSan Juan, PR 00926-1119http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/

Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNW)Acting Director: Robert Mangold, PhD1220 SW 3rd AvenuePortland, OR 97204

or

P.O. Box 2890Portland, OR 97208-3890http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw

Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW)Director: Alexander Friend, PhD800 Buchanan StreetWest Annex BuildingAlbany, CA 94710-0011http://www.fs.fed.us/psw

Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS)Director: G. Sam Foster, PhD240 West ProspectFort Collins, CO 80526http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs

Southern Research Station (SRS)Director: Robert L. Doudrick, PhD200 W.T. Weaver BlvdAsheville, NC 28804http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov

For more detailed contact information, visit the websites listed above.

Front Cover: A Forest Service scientist conducts a stream survey in Oregon. (USDA Forest Service)Back Cover: Firefighters, seen here in Colville National Forest, work tirelessly in adverse conditions. (USDA)

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2014 Research Overview

Science Serving SocietyThe research and development arm of the Forest Service works at the forefront of science to improve the health and use of our Nation’s forests and grasslands. Research has been part of the Forest Service mission since the agency’s inception in 1905. Today, some 500-plus Forest Service researchers work in a range of biological, physical, and social science fields to promote the sustainable management of the Nation’s diverse forests and rangelands. Their research covers a lot of territory, with programs in all 50 states, U.S. territories, and commonwealths. The work has a steady focus on informing policy and land-management decisions, whether it addresses invasive insects, degraded river ecosystems, or sustainable ways to harvest forest products. The information and technology produced through basic and applied research programs is available to the public for its benefit and use.

Forest Service research is carried out through five regional research stations, the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico. Forest Service scientists partner with colleagues in the agency’s other mission areas and with other USDA agencies, including the Agricultural Research Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Forest Service Research and Development (R&D) also partners with other federal agencies, industry, academia, and non-profit organizations.

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Forest Service Headquarters - Yates Building, Washington D.C.


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As the research arm within a land management agency, Forest Service R&D has a uniquely intimate connection to the land and an opportunity to inform land management decisions through the application of science. Long-term research is the foundation of Forest Service R&D. Two critical resources help to make this longstanding research possible: a vast network of experimental forests and ranges; and, the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program, a national annual census of the Nation’s forests.

The Forest Service maintains a network of 82 experimental forests and rangelands that extends from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, up to Alaska, all the way over to Hawaii, and down to the Deep South. This broad spread includes

nearly 50 degrees of latitude, which results in a wide range of temperature and precipitation conditions. Ecosystems vary from a boreal forest in Alaska, to a tropical forest in Puerto Rico, to a dry desert range in Utah. These living laboratories support a diverse portfolio of applied and basic studies with short- and long-term planning horizons. These studies use a range of approaches, including manipulating the environment, long-term observations, simulation modeling, and life history studies. The dominant research themes have focused on timely issues related to the use and conservation of natural resources. Today, there is focus on water, wildland fire, wildlife habitat, and the impacts of a changing climate on natural resources.

The Foundation of Forest Service R&D

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The FIA Program informs on the condition of and trends in forest health. The McSweeney-McNary Act of 1928, which formally established a research organization in the Forest Service, provided a legal mandate for the FIA program. It directed the USDA Secretary to conduct and keep current a comprehensive survey of present and prospective requirements for timber and other forest products in the United States and of timber supplies. FIA reports on status and trends in forest area and location; species, size, and health of trees; total tree growth, mortality, and removals by harvest; wood production and utilization rates by various products; and forest land ownership. The report also projects how forests will appear in 10 to 15 years, which helps determine whether current forest management practices can sustain forests in the long run. Forest Service R&D manages FIA in cooperation with the agency’s State and Private Forestry and National Forest System Deputy Areas.

Both the experimental forests and ranges and the FIA Program have generated huge datasets that go back decades. The size and richness of these datasets means that Forest Service scientists have documented a long history

of changing disturbance regimes such as droughts, hurricanes, and wildland fires. This knowledge allows them to assist land managers in management and restoration efforts. Because much of the land serves as habitat for wildlife and fish, Forest Service efforts aid threatened and endangered species too. For example, Forest Service scientists tracked the response and recovery of tropical forest herb, shrub, and vine communities to multiple hurricanes over 21 years across the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico. This remarkable study provided evidence that hurricanes alter the composition of non-tree species by promoting the dominance of rapidly spreading ferns and vines. These big datasets also draw in external individuals and groups conducting ecological research. In the past few decades, the Forest Service has moved a subset of its experimental forests and ranges into a system of ecological observatories by cooperating with networks such as Long Term Ecological Research (LTER), National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and by collaborating with other agencies and external scientists, many supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Forest Service scientists conducting field research in Florida.

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Forest Service R&D has 82 Experimental Forests and

Ranges spanning boreal to tropical

forests, with some sites boasting

100 years of data collection.


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National Research Focus AreasForest Service R&D focuses the bulk of its research capacity on areas of national importance, including wildland fire and fuels; water, air and soil; wildlife and fish; invasive species; outdoor recreation; forest inventory and monitoring; and resource management and use. The FY 2014 Enacted Budget provides $292,805,000 for the Forest and Rangeland Research appropriation, which includes $66,805,000 for the Forest Inventory and Analysis program. Some research projects that highlight the depth and breadth of Forest Service R&D are presented below:

Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) ProgramFIA uses remote sensing and sampling to track forest health and productivity on all U.S. lands, public and private. The information gathered includes tree cover, species ranges and diversity, forest land uses, and tree age, size, growth, mortality, and harvest. FIA tracks the forest products sector by surveying all mills on wood consumption and production. This information is vital to the forest sector for infrastructure planning and maintaining global competitiveness. The FIA program also provides the national forest carbon estimates required by EPA and the U.S. State Department to satisfy international reporting requirements. The program monitors and reports on health and sustainability indicators of U.S. forests for the United Nations and other global reporting mechanisms.

The Resources Planning Act (RPA) AssessmentThis assessment, most recently published for 2010, reports on the status and trends of the nation’s renewable resources on all forest and rangelands, as required by the Forest and

Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. The RPA Assessment is nationally consistent, spatially explicit, and multi-faceted, including analyses of forests, rangelands, wildlife and fish, biodiversity, water, outdoor recreation, wilderness, urban forests, and the effects of climate change upon these resources. The 2010 RPA Assessment uses a scenario approach to look at the major drivers of change on renewable resources: economic development, population growth, climate change, and land use change. The assessment also looks at the potential vulnerability of water supplies, wildlife habitat, recreation, and forest and range resources.

National Report on Sustainable ForestsThis periodic report provides a comprehensive overview of U.S. forest conditions with regard to the ecological, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability. The report is designed to inform and facilitate public dialog and decision making on moving the U.S. toward the goal of sustainable forest management. An update of this report is anticipated for 2015.

Inventory, Monitoring & AnalysisThe mission of this research is to provide the resource data, analysis, and tools needed to effectively identify current status and trends, management options and impacts, threats, and other natural processes in order to enhance the use and value of our Nation’s natural resources.

The forest industry has spent billions of dollars based on reliable inventory data from FIA. The FIA Program has assured the public

that U.S. forestry resources have been used wisely.

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Water, Air, and SoilThis research provides the scientific basis and specialized tools needed by natural resource managers and landowners to understand the likely effects of their decisions on the Nation’s water, air, and soil resources on forests and rangelands. The applied research conducted by Forest Service R&D contributes to a better understanding of the interactions between changing land uses, weather patterns, and pollution levels.

Water Quantity and Quality Upon its founding, one of the Forest Service’s missions was to protect our Nation’s headwaters. Today, the provisioning of water of sufficient quality and quantity remains integral to our work. Forested regions are a significant source of public drinking water. The quality of that water is controlled by hydrologic pathways from the atmosphere to the faucet. These pathways, and therefore water quality, are altered through changes in land management, use, and disturbance. Forest Service researchers conduct long-term water quality studies at scales from plots to watersheds, allowing us to understand these processes.

NetMap Platform for Watershed Analysis Forest Service scientists partnered with Earth Systems Institute to develop NetMap, a platform for rapidly conducting cost-effective watershed analysis. This tool supports climate-smart management by identifying areas of watersheds that are most likely to warm, are susceptible to erosion and mass wasting from wildfires and

floods, and are currently most productive for fish. NetMap is available to forest managers in the Northwest and is being expanded to cover other western regions.

NorWeST, Database for Stream Temperature Monitoring Data By working with partners, the Forest Service leverages data to save thousands of dollars in monitoring costs. For example, a recently launched, multi-partner web-accessible database “NorWeST” made accessible stream temperature monitoring data worth an estimated $10,000,000. The data had been collected by more than 60 state, federal, tribal, and private resource agencies in previous decades. This tool supports stream temperature-climate scenarios for all fish-bearing streams across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, including 52 national forests. Ultimately, this resource will facilitate better climate vulnerability assessments for aquatic species, enable coordinated management responses, and improve the efficiency of monitoring efforts.

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Forest Service research encompasses all types of freshwater bodies, with the goal of improving their management.


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Resource Management & UseThis research focus area provides science and technology that helps sustain forests and ranges in the United States and keeps them economically and environmentally productive. This research seeks to maximize the environmental benefits provided by forests and grasslands by supporting traditional and emerging forest products that contribute to the U.S. economy and American quality of life, and encouraging rural development through local business growth and job creation.

ForWarn for Detecting Forest DisturbancesForWarn is a satellite-based U.S. forest monitoring system that updates every eight days. It attributes detected disturbance to insects, disease, wildfire, storms, development or extreme weather events. Archived maps dating back to 2000 provide an invaluable record and are freely accessible through the web-based Forest Change Assessment Viewer.

Forest Carbon Management Framework (ForCaMF)The Forest Service developed this framework in collaboration with NASA to meet an increasing need to understand carbon storage as it relates to patterns of harvest and natural disturbance. ForCaMF is a nationally applicable decision support system based upon historical satellite imagery and information provided by the Forest Service’s Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) and FIA Program.

Climate Change and Forest ManagementThe Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO) is a web-based tool that allows forest managers to leverage climate change science for their management and planning needs. This resource is a national portal for information and tools concerning climate change impacts on ecosystems and management options for dealing with those effects.

Forest Plan Database & Exchange of Current Knowledge (FP_DECK)This electronic archive of National Forest and Grassland Land Management Plans provides a searchable database to share knowledge about, for example, the handling of special use areas and management approaches for similar systems. The system promotes consistency in terminology and management in the planning process.

The Great Basin Experimental Range in Utah.

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Climate Change Atlas for Birds and TreesThe atlas maps the current and potential future distribution of 134 tree species and 147 bird species in the Eastern United States, helping to answer a range of questions about present and projected suitable habitat for these species. Users can see which factors (e.g. temperature, elevation, soil type) help to drive species distributions, offering guidance on species sensitivity to large-scale climate differences.

Landscape Treatment DesignerThis spatial prioritization tool helps design and explore landscape restoration scenarios, allowing managers to optimize decisions about where and how to achieve restoration goals at any scale - from small watersheds to entire national forests to regions and beyond.

American Chestnut Tree ComebackIn the 20th century, an exotic fungus decimated American chestnut, which previously thrived in eastern North America for thousands of years. Forest Service scientists, working with The American Chestnut Foundation and academic institutions, have been developing blight-resistant trees. To effectively use the blight-resistant seedlings once they become available, Forest Service scientists have been testing silviculture and nursery practices by monitoring seedling survival, growth, and blight development over a five-year period.

Agroforestry for Greater ProductivityAgroforesty is a land management approach that blends agriculture and forestry where appropriate to build healthier, more profitable, and more climate-resilient farms, ranches,

and communities. The Forest Service’s National Agroforestry Center works to increase agroforestry assistance and application across the U.S. and beyond by working through a national network of partners to provide the science, tools, and assistance required by natural resource professionals and landowners. Current focus areas include production of user-friendly tools for better agroforestry practices, especially for water quality services, carbon and other greenhouse gas accounting science and tools to assist landowners in estimating mitigation contributions by these practices on their lands, and silvopasture research to provide better guidance on how these systems can be best designed to address animal welfare and productivity, fuel load reduction, risk minimization through product and income diversification and the provisioning of many other ecological services created by this practice.

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The Forest Service works with farmers across the U.S.

It is estimated that chestnut trees in eastern North America once numbered over three billion,

comprising 25 percent of all trees in the Appalachian Mountains.


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Urban Natural Resources StewardshipImproving the sustainability and livability of cities is a long-term challenge and goal across the U.S. and internationally. Municipal leaders are embracing nature as a critical component of the urban environment and the health and well-being of its residents. Forest Service scientists are at the forefront of urban forestry and watershed research, providing science that helps communities improve their natural resources and transition to a more sustainable future.

Critical Research for Informed Decision MakingThe Forest Service is at the forefront of urban forestry and socio-ecological research, providing information on urban forest modeling, urban ecosystem health, urban watershed rehabilitation, ecosystem services values, public health, environmental justice, urban wood utilization, and other topics. Place-based, long-term study of urban ecosystems directly addresses the questions and needs of local decision-makers working to improve their natural resources and community well-being. Forest Service scientists promote environmental literacy and community engagement across all urban research areas.

State-of-the-art TechnologyForest Service researchers have pioneered technology such as the i-Tree software suite, an internationally recognized application tool for measuring the benefits of tree canopy and returns on investment. Other tools include Urban Tree Canopy, which enables communities to prioritize tree planting decisions based on air quality, biodiversity, water management, public health, and environmental justice goals; and STEW-Map, which informs municipal agencies and the public where stewardship groups are active and where they’re not, to help strengthen organizational capacity and build effective partnerships.

Urban natural resources come in many forms, as seen in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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In 1950, 56 percent of the total U.S. population lived in metropolitan areas. Now, more than 220 million people, or 80

percent of the U.S. population, live in urban and urbanizing areas.

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Outdoor RecreationNational forests and grasslands offer the largest source of outdoor recreation opportunities in the United States. Forest Service scientists provide science and technology that recreation and wilderness managers can use to balance the demand by people for recreation and rejuvenation from the outdoors with the need to sustain healthy ecosystems.

Participatory Mapping of Human Ties to Landscapes The Human Ecology Mapping Project works to understand and map human activities and values in the forests of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. Using a web-based mapping tool and a series of community workshops, the project identified and displayed the diversity of recreation, cultural, historical, and economic connections held by different agencies, tribes, resource users, and residents. Mapping these connections helps land managers anticipate recreation needs and may lead to collaboration between government agencies, private landowners, and resource partners for all-lands conservation.

Myriad Benefits from Urban Proximate WildernessForest Service scientists conducted a review to identify the beneficial outcomes of outdoor recreation. Findings suggest that wilderness visits provide opportunity for physical challenge and exercise, contributing to physical health. Psychological and spiritual well-being is also served, through opportunities for solitude, spiritual renewal, and affirmation of sense of self. Social connections and connection to nature are often fostered as part of wilderness visits. Although not everyone visiting urban proximate wilderness will derive all of these benefits each time, these findings suggest that important benefits can be had. In the face of ongoing population and environmental change, managing for outdoor recreation opportunities can aid public well-being and support wilderness protection efforts.

County-level Recreation and Protected Land Resources DataForest Service scientists are providing this information, which is vital to federal land managers and to state park and natural resource agencies in public land planning. The Forest Service is the only source of this data, and researchers have prepared trial applications for Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans in Idaho and Georgia. Data analysis and report protocols have been developed to provide state-level trends that are consistent with national and regional recreation trend assessments.

Kayaking is one way recreationists enjoy the outdoors.

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Wildland Fire and FuelsEach year, tens of thousands of wildland fires cover millions of acres across the United States, causing billions of dollars of damage. Forest Service scientists conduct cutting-edge work in wildland fire research and develop tools, methods, and applications to improve our understanding and management of fire, fuel, and smoke.

Fundamental Fire Science and Technique DevelopmentForest Service scientists continue to investigate the incredibly complex physics of fire, developing new and improved technologies and techniques to measure fire behavior and effects. This fundamental knowledge helps researchers develop more accurate models to anticipate fire behavior under different conditions and to assess risk. Notably, Forest Service scientists are investigating how heat transfer processes are organized to produce ignition and flame spread. Scientists have found experimental evidence of flame spread by buoyant phenomena, a breakthrough with major implications for physical modeling of fires. Scientists are also exploring novel sampling techniques to more accurately describe fuel loads at different spatial scales. Knowing more precisely the amount of fuel available per acre is crucial for applications such as estimating smoke emissions.

Advancement of Fire Behavior and Effects ModelsThe Prescribed Fire Combustion and Atmospheric Dynamics Research Experiment (RxCADRE) is made up of scientists from the Forest Service, other Federal agencies, and universities. To develop, validate, and evaluate next generation fire and smoke models, there is a need for data on fundamental fire science questions. By orchestrating and collecting comprehensive data on prescribed burns, these researchers are creating a dataset that cuts across fire-related disciplines, including fire behavior, fire effects, and smoke chemistry and dynamics. This information is used to improve models, which can better inform decision making by resource managers with regard to wildland and prescribed fire. The Fire Whirl generator is used to study extreme fire

behavior related to fire whirls.

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BlueSky Modeling FrameworkBlueSky connects independent models and makes it easy to run them in combination. By connecting models of fire information, fuel loading, fire consumption, fire emissions, and smoke dispersion, BlueSky enables powerful and efficient calculations and information searches to be done, such as specific carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a fire.

Comparative Risk Assessment Framework and Tools (CRAFT) CRAFT is a planning system that provides forest managers with a structured approach to making complex decisions. Developed by the Forest Service and external partners, CRAFT improves the quality of forest management decisions and helps stakeholder groups work collaboratively and recognize the uncertainties they face in decision making. CRAFT enables people with varying needs and interests to reach agreement while ensuring transparency in decision making. Designed with planning teams in mind, CRAFT follows the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); however, aspects of the CRAFT method can be widely adopted by other audiences. It is already being used to help manage firefighting efforts.

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Forest Service scientists conduct field experiments to study fire and smoke behavior.

In 2013 alone, 47,479 forest fires burned 4,419,546 acres in the U.S. The Forest Service spent over $1.3 billion on suppressing these fires.


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Forest ProductsLed by the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), the Forest Service identifies ways to innovatively use wood and fiber, contributing to the conservation and productivity of forest resources and leading to sustainability for forests, the economy, and quality of life. Among FPL’s focus areas are advanced structures – using technology to change a building’s affordability, durability, quality, energy use, and disaster resilience – and nanotechnology – learning more about the fundamental components of wood at atomic and molecular scales.

High-Value Products from Low-Value Wood Cellulose nanomaterials are three forms of chemically pure cellulose that provide unique properties, including great strength and the ability to form into clear films. Since startup in 2012, FPL’s nanocellulose pilot plant has produced over 800 pounds of cellulose nanocrystals and made them available to more than 150 research scientists around the world. Research progress resulted in publication of a book with more than 100 summaries of production methods and applications for cellulose nanomaterials. Product applications include composite materials for light weight armor; reinforcement for cement; and flexible films for printed electronic circuits or barrier coatings. Forest Service R&D continues to lead in this exciting new research area.

Cellulose-based Aerogel for Oil & Chemical SpillsFPL research, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin, has developed a cellulose-based aerogel that offers the potential for a ‘green’ method of cleaning up oil spills and heavy metal contamination. The super absorbent sponge is produced through a freeze-drying process and then treated to give it water repelling and oil absorbing properties.

Service Life Predictions of Highway Bridges This national project aims to generate more reliable data about the true longevity of timber bridges in the U.S. and allows for more accurate life-cycle assessments in the future. Timber bridges are an indispensable component of the U.S. highway system, especially on secondary rural roadways. The current National Bridge Inventory database includes approximately 48,000 bridges that utilize timber as a primary

structural component for the superstructure. As many engineers begin to implement life-cycle cost analyses within the preliminary bridge design phase, there is a significant need for more reliable data on the expected service life of highway bridges. In-depth bridge inspections were conducted at over 125 sites among the major U.S. climate zones to generate more accurate service-life data for timber bridges.

Equipment in FPL’s nanocellulose pilot plant.

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Over 100 years, net greenhouse gas emissions associated with wood-based houses are 20 to 50 percent lower than those of thermally comparable steel- or

concrete-based houses.

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More Wood Construction Options with Cross-Laminated Timber As interest in sustainable building options continues to grow, wood construction is moving beyond its traditional roots in housing and expanding into mid-rise, high-rise, and non-residential applications. FPL researchers contributed expertise to a U.S. guide for early adoption of cross-laminated timber (CLT), an innovative engineered wood product. Developed for building professionals, the CLT Handbook provides technical information for the design, construction, and implementation of CLT systems and illustrates applications adapted to current codes and standards. The documentation provided is necessary for architects and engineers looking to implement the use of CLT, as codes and standards in the U.S. vary slightly from those in Canada and Europe where CLT is already being used more frequently.

Opportunities for Wood Use in New Nonresidential BuildingsBy analyzing construction trends from 2011, FPL researchers found that the opportunity exists for a nearly 3-fold increase in the use of wood building materials in new low-rise (six or fewer stories) nonresidential buildings constructed in the United States. The construction of these buildings is an important market for lumber, engineered wood, and structural and nonstructural wood panels in the United States. Researchers found that in 2011, an additional 2,640 million board feet of wood products could have been used in low-rise nonresidential buildings if buildings which passed International Building Code standards for wood construction were built from wood, and if nonwood components of wood-framed buildings were built with wood. This potential consisted of 1,253 million board feet of lumber, 700 million board feet of engineered wood, 1,298 million square feet of structural panels, and 78 million square feet of nonstructural panels.

Design Values for Southern Pine Lumber For decades, FPL has provided unbiased information on the properties, design, and use of structural wood products to groups and agencies that develop or control standards for ensuring public safety and health. The American Lumber Standard Committee Board of Review (ALSC BOR) called upon FPL to assist in reviewing proposed revisions to the Southern Pine Dimension Lumber Design Values. The ALSC BOR approves grading rules and engineering property design values for all structural lumber (foreign and domestic) sold in the U.S. Architects, engineers, home builders, and building code officers all rely on these design values. FPL researchers conducted a series of tests on Southern Pine structural lumber to assess the appropriateness of the assigned design values. Based on this review, ALSC BOR modified the Southern Pine design values and adopted monitoring programs to determine the accuracy of design values for other types of structural lumber by North American rule-writing agencies.

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FPL research contributes to developing codes and standards for mid- to high-rise wood structures.


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Invasive Species and PathogensInvasive species have significantly impacted U.S. ecosystems and cost millions of dollars to prevent, detect, and control. Forest Service R&D provides the scientific information, tools, and methods needed by regulators, managers, and the public to address invasive species.

Bark Beetle Ecology and Management There are hundreds of bark beetle species in the U.S., and while they are important to ecological processes in forests, they can cause extensive tree mortality and negative economic and social impacts. The southern pine beetle, for instance, is the most destructive insect pest of forests in the southeastern states. It can cause significant and rapid economic losses in traditional and urban forests, endangered species’ habitat, and recreational areas, threatening human safety and property. Forest Service scientists assist forest managers by monitoring population levels and identifying forests at greatest risk of attack. Forest Service researchers also work on mountain and western bark beetles.

Proactive Nursery Pest Management Pests are an ever present threat to nurseries and the popular horticultural plants that they house. Forest Service research is supporting managers in developing integrated approaches to pest management. Scientists are focused on understanding the development of seedling root diseases and the use of cultural and biological control to reduce and prevent losses caused by disease. With the phasing out of methyl

bromide, researchers have investigated the use of alternative fumigants. The Forest Service works closely with the USDA Animal and Plant Disease Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Sudden Oak Death Sudden oak death, caused by the exotic, invasive pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, has been detected in more than 500 U.S. plant nurseries and garden centers since its discovery in 2000. Since 2002, Forest Service R&D has led a comprehensive research program on the disease. The original emphasis of the program was developing detection methods and investigating the biology of the pathogen, but scientists are now applying their findings to management of the disease and prevention of the pathogen’s spread.

Walnut Twig Beetle LureForest Service scientists have developed a highly effective lure for the walnut twig beetle, which spreads thousand cankers disease in walnut trees. This pest threatens international walnut culture and timber production. The lure, a synthetic beetle pheromone, enables faster detection and mapping of this invasive insect.

White Pine Blister RustWhite pine blister rust, a disease native to Asia, was introduced into North America early in the 20th century. All native white pine species are susceptible to this disease, but the greatest economic impact has been on two important commercial species, western white pine and sugar pine. Forest Service scientists have found that the pathogen can use alternate hosts, meaning greater potential risk to trees in the U.S. However, researchers have identified resistance genes in these species and continue to work on managing vulnerable pine species, particularly high elevation whitebark and limber pines.

The last widespread

outbreak of the

southern pine beetle in the early

2000’s resulted in an estimated $1.5 billion

dollars of damage.

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Southern pine beetle specimen.

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Wildlife and FishForest Service research provides managers and decision-makers with the tools and knowledge necessary to help protect, enhance, and restore fish and wildlife habitats and minimize the effects of disturbances such as fire, urbanization, disease, and climate change.

White-Nose Syndrome in Bats Bats provide crucial services like pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal. However, bats are threatened by white-nose syndrome, a disease first discovered in 2007 in upstate New York that has already devastated many bat populations. More are expected to be impacted as the disease, which is caused by a fungal pathogen, continues to spread south and west. Forest Service scientists have created the most accurate and sensitive DNA technique to date for detecting the white-nose syndrome fungus in almost any kind of sample. This test set the new standard and is being used by the Forest Service, other federal agencies, and academic institutions to survey soil samples from across eastern North America.

Elk, Mule Deer, and White-tailed DeerUngulates such as elk and deer have the potential to drastically change ecosystems through their feeding patterns, with implications for agriculture, natural resource management, and recreation. Forest Service scientists conduct research to allow resource managers and policymakers to make informed decisions about landscapes with significant ungulate density. This research is especially crucial since these animals sometimes compete with livestock and damage agricultural species, leading to conflict between private and public land managers and other interests.

Greater Sage GrouseThe elaborate plumage and courtship dances of the male Greater Sage Grouse was once a common sight in the sagebrush landscapes of the American West. As factors like development and invasive species have contributed to the loss or deterioration of sagebrush habitat, Greater Sage Grouse populations have decreased dramatically. Forest Service researchers are investigating the ecology of Sage Grouse habitat and the effects of energy exploration on their range.

Trout Distributions and Environmental Change Cold water fish species, such as salmon and trout, thrive in waters with temperatures between 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold water fisheries provide important recreation opportunities for millions of American anglers each year and contribute greatly to the economy. Forest Service scientists are examining the role of climate and nonnative species in the distribution of cutthroat trout and bull trout. The results of this research will help managers develop strategies to address multiple threats to these valued and threatened fish species.

A male Greater Sage Grouse.

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White Nose Syndrome has killed over five million bats in

the eastern United States and Canada since 2007, devastating

six bat species, including the endangered Indiana bat, to date.


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Performance and Future Outlook

Future OutlookThe FY 2015 President’s Budget proposes $275,315,000 for Forest and Rangeland Research, a decrease of $17,490,000 from the FY 2014 Enacted level. The request provides $66,805,000 for the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program.

The Forest Service R&D program structure has two integrated components: Priority Research Areas and Strategic Program Areas. To address emerging needs and agency priorities, Forest Service R&D funds the Priority Research Areas from across the Strategic Program Areas. The FY 2015 President’s Budget will continue to focus on key research in these two components.

R&D Strategic Program Areas FY 2013 Enacted FY 2014 Enacted FY 2015 President’s Budget*

Wildland Fire and Fuels 21,467 22,160 20,445Invasive Species 34,010 35,106 32,389Recreation 4,713 4,423 4,081Resource Management & Use 90,041 93,382 86,155Water & Air 34,284 35,389 32,650Fish & Wildlife 26,281 27,128 25,029Inventory & Monitoring 69,058 75,217 74,566Total, Research 273,854 292,805 275,315

* In addition, $18.0 million is proposed under the Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative

Table 2. Enacted and Proposed Funding for R&D Strategic Program Areas

FY 2011-2013 PerformanceForest Service Research and Development (R&D) periodically reports a variety of metrics to assist internal managers and external partners in decision making and to meet the requirements of Congress, OMB, and USDA on performance accountability.

Accomplishment reporting is critical to achieve Forest Service goals and objectives and to support performance driven management and budget decisions. To be effective, data must be accurate and reliable. It must also meet the government standards for quality and accountability.

Table 1. Forest Service R&D Performance in Key MetricsPerformance 2011 2012 2013

Articles published in journals and other publications 4,261 3,699 3,460Invasive species tools developed, delivered, and used 163 169 193Number of grants and agreements to partners 730 649 581Percent of Nation with accessible FIA data 96% 92% 96%

19


Figure 1. Proposed Funding for R&D Strategic Program Areas in the FY 2015 President’s Budget

Table 3. Forest Service R&D Appropriations FY 2011-14 and Proposed FY 2015 President’s Budget

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative

R&D Appropriations

FY 2015FY 2014FY 2013FY 2012FY 2011

Resource Management & Use

Inventory & Monitoring

Invasive Species

Water & Air

Fish & Wildlife

Wildland Fire & Fuels

Recreation

12%

27%

9%7%

12%

1%

31%

Caring for the land and serving people

2014 forest service research overview

Documents