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.
More >>
|
|
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.
|