Pacific Southwest Research Station

PSW scientists collaborate with National Forest System and other natural-resource managers to provide scientific bases for new methods on adaptation and mitigation to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.

Ongoing Research:

Mitigation

• Biomass to Energy Project Contact: Mark Nechodom, mnechodom@fs.fes.us
• Overview of the Biomass 2 Energy Project
• Forests to Electrons: Costs and Benefits of Using Wildland Biomass to Generate Electrical Power
• B2E Life Cycle Assessment - Using Wildland Biomass to Generate Electrical Power
• Alder Springs Fuels Reduction Stewardship Project - Brief
• Alder Springs Fuels Reduction Stewardship Project - Communications


• Ecological Footprint and Green Cities

Adaptation

• Climate and Landscape Change Contact: Connie Millar, cmillar@fs.fed.us

Climate change introduces a significant challenge for land managers and decision makers in the western U.S. An urgent need exists to incorporate climate-change considerations across the spectrum of issues and at the spatial scales that concern resource managers and decision makers. Despite over 20 years of climate-change science and increased understanding of the effects of climate change on natural resources, this information has not been delivered effectively to public land managers or incorporated in management of national forests. In addition, routine aspects of NFS management and planning have not been assessed for their potential role in adaptation. Many existing paradigms (e.g., historic range of variation) and tools (e.g., plant association guides) assume long-term climate stability. Because climate and natural resource conditions are changing rapidly, existing paradigms and tools need to be reviewed, and new approaches may need to be developed. In response to these challenges, PSW scientists are developing general frameworks for management in a climate-change context, undertaking case studies with national forest units, and designing specific decision-support tools and reference materials that will incorporate climate-change considerations into decision making. The target audience is National Forest System (NFS) managers and decision makers from Ranger District to Regional levels. However, much of the information developed will be broadly relevant to other managers, policy makers, and scientists.

• Climate Change Science Program
• CIRMOUNT (Consortium for Integrated Climate Research in Western Mountains)


• Restoration of Ecosystem Processes
• Forest Management Services in Tropical Ecosystems
• Conservation of Biological Diversity
• Forest Function and Health
• Water and Watershed Processes
• Biodiversity and Conservation Genetics

Research is conducted by:

• Forest Biomass Energy Life Cycle Assessment Project
• Center for Urban Forest Research (RWU-4952)
• Sierra Nevada Research Center (RWU-4202)
• Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (RWU-4154)
• Institute of Forest Genetics (RWU-4103)