Research & Development - Climate Change

Forest Service Research and Development provides long term research, scientific knowledge, and tools that can be used to manage, restore, and conserve forests and rangelands. The research is both basic (foundation for future understanding) and applied (for use by practitioners).

See what the Forest Service’s Research & Development program is doing about climate change in your region of the country! Just click on the map!

To learn more about Forest Service’s Research & Development National Climate Change Program click here.

Climate Change

• We have recognized expertise on resource assessments. This expertise, models, and information can help resource managers understand likely futures in decision making. FY06 enacted budget for climate change research totaled over $18 million.
• We have the Nation’s Forest Census known as the Forest Inventory and Analysis program. This information is essential to understand climate change and other stresses on ecosystem dynamics.
• We understand the fine-scale dynamics of ecosystems, climate, and management. Critical research is still needed to develop adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• Other research we have underway:
  • How carbon cycles through forest and rangeland ecosystems, and how the management and use of these ecosystems affects the amounts of carbon from the atmosphere retained in forests and rangelands;
  • How the rate and intensity of climate change affects forest growth, productivity and health;
  • How climate-induced changes in natural disturbances can be mitigated and reduced in cost-effective and environmentally beneficial ways;
  • How the maximum resilience to rapid climate change by forests and rangelands can be managed.
  • How biomass utilization will help reduce fire impacts by reducing fuel loads and how reduced fuel loads and carbon stocks can be done to allow for needed increases in carbon sequestration.

Click here to learn more about Forest Service initiatives on Climate Change.