Our Mission

Introduction

The Southern Research Station is part of the Nation's largest forestry research organization - USDA Forest Service Research and Development -- the leading organization for research on natural resource management and sustainability in the United States. Headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, the Southern Research Station serves 13 Southern States and beyond. Its staff of 130 scientists is organized into Research Work Units, with science technicians and other support personnel who work at various locations throughout the region: Federal laboratories, universities, and experimental forests.

Since the beginning of the 20th Century, the Southern Research Station's researchers have excelled in studies on temperate and tropical forests, forest resources, and forest products. These studies provide a wealth of long-term datasets and conclusions on the dynamics of tree plantations and natural stands, watersheds, and wildlife habitats.