| | AFF Research Grants
Public policies that impact private forest ownership are strengthened and more effective at conserving forests when informed by sound research. Due to a lack of research, the dynamic nature of and full suite of ecological, economic, and social benefits provided by family forest ownerships are not fully understood. As a result, public policies may not succeed in supporting family forests and the services they provide to the public.
The American Forest Foundation is launching a new research grants program that aims to fill gaps in our understanding of forest ecology, the socio-economic dimensions of forest ownership and management, and the impact of public policies on forest sustainability, with an emphasis on family forests. The findings of this grants program will help develop and advance policies that improve the sustainability of America’s family forests.
2008 Research Grants – no longer accepting proposals
The Research Grants Program of the AFF will fund graduate research seminars during the 2009 fall semester of 2009, and a hosted AFF Fellow in fall 2009/spring 2010.
The graduate research seminars are expected to focus on one on the following issues of relevance to family forests, and explore how different policy approaches to these issues could improve the sustainability of family forests:
1) What are the current and projected impacts of bio-energy markets on the sustainability of family forests? What policy approaches would encourage participation in these markets and improve the economic, ecological, and social sustainability of family forests?
2) What suite of forest ecosystem services are relevant to different ownership classes of family forest owners? What policy approaches would encourage family forest owners to maximize the benefits that their forests provide, both to themselves and to society at large?
3) What are the anticipated impacts of climate change on family forests, and what are the best adaptation strategies? Given the unique challenges of working with family forests, what are the best policy options to maintain intact forestland at the landscape level, ensuring a climate benefit as well as the overall economic viability and ecological sustainability of family forests?
For further details:
2008 Request for Proposals
2008 Research Grants Cover Page
AFF’s Research Partners Group (RPG) will select the awardees and will notify recipients no later than December 19, 2008. The diverse group is comprised of experts and academicians from around the country.
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