Forest management research allows humans to play an active role in keeping forests healthy. Today more than ever, this work is crucial. Forests across the country are facing the stresses of climate change and massive disturbances from wildfire, hurricanes, insects and disease, and invasive species.

Forest management research provides the insights needed to inform decisions about how to mitigate or adapt to these pressing challenges across diverse forest types covering over one third of the American landscape.

Much of this work is conducted at the Forest Service’s 81 Experimental Forests and Ranges located from the tropical forests of Puerto Rico to the boreal forests of Alaska. These provide unparalleled opportunities to conduct and apply forest management research at scale.

The Forest Service undertakes forest management research because:

• According to the American Forest and Paper Association, the U.S. forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, producing nearly $300 billion in products. Forest Service research informs decisions about how actions such as such as thinning and prescribed fire may influence the growth, quality, composition, and climate resilience of forests in the future.

• Forests are home to an outsized proportion of animals and other wildlife in the U.S., and national forests provide a home for 425 species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Forest Service research informs how forest management actions impact wildlife habitat and populations.

• Hotter, drier seasons and decades of fuels buildup are driving prolonged, more intense fire seasons. The Forest Service is the national scientific authority on developing and testing forest management strategies that optimize balanced fuels management and enhance fire containment capacity.

• Invasive species can be found in nearly every U.S. forest and grassland, causing billions of dollars in damage and threatening ecosystem health. Forest management research includes tools to enhance early detection and containment of invasive species, slow their spread, and facilitate recovery.

• Our natural systems have a remarkable capacity to adapt and recover. Forest Service research informs forest restoration efforts across the country, guiding decisions toward creating more resilient, climate-adapted forested landscapes.

• Most forests in the U.S. are privately owned, with family ownerships comprising 39 percent of the total. Forest Service scientists, technicians, and outreach staff work across the agency to ensure that landowners have access to the most advanced, science-based information and tools.

Featured Work

Virtual Reality field tour of the ‘Variable Density Thinning’ study on the Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest, California. This 33-minute tour provides a visual view of novel thinning and prescribed fire treatments for restoring a more diverse forest that is also resilient to stressors such as wildfire and drought. (High resolution 360 images – load time depends on strength of internet connection). 

Forest Service scientists are generating knowledge and strategies for restoring, managing, and sustaining Longleaf pine woodlands in the Southeastern U.S.

Exploring cost-effective restoration maintenance approaches for the oak and pine woodlands of the Ozarks using prescriptive grazing with goats.

Resources on American Chestnut restoration, including videos, and an online course.

Forest Service researchers have been at the forefront of advancing biochar research which is a product made from wood waste. When applied to soils, it can improve crop yields and help in the fight against climate change.