Resource Use Sciences:

Provides methods to identify and evaluate economically efficient management practices and strategies on public and private lands. Values for renewable resources and their uses are essential in resolving land use and resource allocation problems. The research will provide methods to monitor and analyze the responses of forest products markets and consumption to economic, technological, and institutional forces, and to measure impacts on rural development and diversification.

Urban Forestry Research provides information to efficiently maintain and restore urban and community ecosystems used by large segments of the U.S. population. This research includes studies that (1) assess the effectiveness of urban forest ecosystems in mitigating air pollution, slowing water infiltration rates and transpiring water, and (2) identify values of forests to urban populations. In addition, this research includes development of technology to improve urban housing durability and design of urban housing landscapes to reduce energy and water consumption.

Social Science Research: Humans depend on forests and grasslands for many goods and services, and consequently have the potential to greatly influence land conditions. Knowledge of people, their interactions and impacts is imperative if we are to sustain our public and private lands over the long-term. Forest Service research social scientists assess how human behavior, values, social institutions, economic activities and demographic trends impact the availability, demand for and use of forests and grasslands. In addition, social scientists examine how agency land management decisions and policies affect communities and private landowners in proximity to public lands, under-served populations, and the general public. The disciplines and specialties of agency social scientists are many including: economics, geography, sociology, social and environmental psychology, anthropology, archaeology, human ecology, political science and landscape architecture. Across these disciplines, a broad range of research topics are studied, for example: rural economic development and tourism, use of non-timber forest products, forest product markets, human perceptions of wildfire and prescribed fire, experiential aspects of wilderness, integrated (biophysical and human factors) analysis of cultural landscapes, impacts of changing demographics on forest resources and management, outdoor recreation supply and demand, and monetary and non-monetary resource valuation.

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Forest Products utilization and Processing Research produces information and technology to help manufacturers, mills, and small business operators become more efficient and , more friendly to the environment. New technologies will respond to wood and fiber resources which are more diverse in species and size classes. Increasingly
new construction utilizes wood products engineered to specified sizes, shapes, and properties, requiring new technologies and knowledge of wood and other materials. Research and development also centers on underutilized species, recycling of wood and paper wastes, nonpolluting paper production, automation, performance testing and evaluation of new products. Research to evaluate inorganic and non-petroleum adhesives for wood products will provide new ways of making larger materials from smaller timber resources.

Emphasis is placed on developing value-added technologies to economically utilize small woody material to improve forest health and reduce fire hazard in the West.

Work-study report of visit to Denmark/Sweden (May 8-18, 2001(.pdf format) (posted 9/11/02)

Products Safety and Human Health Research deals with the consumer aspects of wood products to ensure that they are designed, used, and protected for long-term safety and health of people. This activity includes studies to: (1) Improve safety and efficiency of wood and fiber products in homes and other structural applications; (2) Develop methods and criteria for evaluating the performance of wood-based products; (3) Evaluate the effect on indoor air quality and energy efficiency of wood and cellulose materials used in indoor environments; and (4) Identify and evaluate effective mechanisms for protecting and increasing the life of wood products against fire and decay.