National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry
NCSSF's mission is to improve the scientific basis for the design, conduct and evaluation of sustainable forest practices in the United States. NCSSF sponsors work of the highest technical quality that is relevant to the urgent needs of forest managers, practitioners and policymakers.
NEW: Sustainable Forestry Guidebook
|
NEW! NCSSF Call to Action Statement
|
 |
NCSSF recommends developing and implementing a new basis for public policy for U.S. forests. This statement outlines key elements and a process to begin this pressing task to meet growing challenges such as climate change, water resources and deforestation. Although there are still significant gaps in scientific knowledge, the primary barrier to sustainable forest management in the U.S. is the ever-increasing inadequacy and inherent conflicts in existing forest policies.As we try to maintain forests under the current policy patchwork, an overwhelming array of simultaneous changes continues to reduce the ability of forests to sustain all the benefits they provide to society. The Commission presents this timely call to action as an independent, multi-stakeholder body spanning the range of forest-related expertise and interests. VIEW THE REPORT
|
|
NEW! “Forests for Tomorrow” Conference Report
|
 |
NCSSF’s conference “Forests for Tomorrow: Addressing U.S. Policy Challenges” engaged a diverse group of leading professional and stakeholders to share ideas and deepen thinking on the challenges facing U.S. forests. The participants developed ideas on the potential responses to those challenges and framed options to move policy forward. The Commission used the results of the conference to help refine their recommendations presented in the NCSSF Call to Action Statement (above). NCSSF hopes this meeting will serve as a catalyst to help people to work together more collaboratively in addressing the growing challenges of managing our Nation’s forests sustainably. The conference report summaries the meeting and the ideas generated. VIEW THE REPORT
|
|
Beyond Old Growth
|
|
|
NCSSF’s report “Beyond Old Growth – Older Forests in a Changing World” defines the characteristics, functions and strategies for protecting and perpetuating our older forests. The richly illustrated document synthesizes overarching commonalities and significant differences among five regional workshops held in the Northeast, the Great Lakes, the Southeast, the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest. VIEW THE REPORT
|
|
Indicator Report for Sustainable Forestry
|
|
|
NCSSF’s project report "Considerations in the Selection and Use of Indicators for Sustaining Forests" reflects the lessons gleaned from participants at a “Think Tank” workshop. The report by the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences sheds light on a number of issues in choosing and applying indicators. This publication will help groups planning to develop forest sustainability indicators for their community, state, ownership, region, or nation. VIEW THE REPORT
|
|
Sustainable Forestry Guidebook
|
|
|
"Conserving Biodiversity Through Sustainable Forestry: A Guide to Applying NCSSF Research" highlights the practical significance of the research the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry (NCSSF) has sponsored on biodiversity and sustainable forestry - in a useful form for practitioners and managers. The fully illustrated Guidebook offers practical tools to apply science in the field and is accessible for anyone interested in forests and the practices associated with forest management. The goal of this publication is to help improve forest management by making biodiversity science easier to understand and illustrating on-the-ground applications. Available in spiral bound water proof version for field use. VIEW THE REPORT
|
|
NCSSF Global Markets Forum Report
|
|
|
Globalization of the world's forest industries has raised questions about the competitiveness of the U.S. timber industry in the face of lower production costs from oversees competition. NCSSF brought together a diverse group of leaders from conservation groups, industry, government, and academia to examine the potential impacts of shifting markets on U.S. forest biodiversity. The results of these discussions are summarized in the "Global Markets Forum" report. VIEW THE REPORT
Click Here to view the presentations that informed the dialogue at the Forum.
|
|
NCSSF's Findings Report
|
|
|
The National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry published an interim report on the results of the first half of projects completed in its 7 year program to advance the science and practice of biodiversity conservation and forest sustainability. This report presents the Commission's first findings based on NCSSF-funded projects and Commission deliberations on the significance of the research for practice, management and policy. VIEW THE REPORT
|
|
Overviews of NCSSF's 2002 - 2004 Research Projects
|
|
Short summaries of each of NCSSF's completed projects to date. Start here to find a quick reference for our projects and their results. Interested in the science behind the results? Follow the links at the end of the summaries to the full project reports, websites, tools, and other project deliverables.
|
|
Events and Opportunities
|
For more information contact Chris Bernabo , Program Director, 202-207-0007, fax: 202-628-4311
NCSSF, 1707 H St, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006
NCSSF is conducted under the auspices of the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE), a non-advocacy, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the scientific basis for environmental decisionmaking.
