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Research Work Unit NRS-14

Strategic Directions

HTIRC has six strategic directions:

1. Improve the genetic quality and regeneration of fine hardwoods, including black walnut, black cherry, and northern red oak, through application of classical breeding, genomics, molecular markers, genetic modification, advanced propagation, seed production technologies, and silviculture.

2. Establish a highly credible hardwood genetics research center that will be recognized as a leader in forest genetics and thereby become a leading graduate education and training facility for future scientific leaders in hardwood forest genetics.

3. Hire and nurture pre-eminent scientists who will build the credibility of the research program and be highly competitive for federal research grants.

4. Establish the Martell Experimental Forest and Conference Center as a significant site for education and training of consulting foresters, nursery practitioners, and landowners in nursery management and hardwood culture.

5. Communicate, convey, and market the work of HTIRC in order to be perceived as the pre-eminent international center for hardwood genomics and biotechnology.

6. Secure funding for an endowment to insure long-term organizational stability, provide for operating support of the research program, and establish funded research positions within the Center.

Current Plans

The mission of the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC) is to advance the science of hardwood tree improvement and genomics in the central hardwood region of the United States by:

• Developing and disseminating knowledge on improving the genetic quality of hardwood tree species;
• Conserving fine hardwood germplasm;
• Developing elite hardwood trees for restoration and regeneration of sustainable hardwood forests and riparian zones for production of forest products and maintenance of genetically diverse ecosystems;
• Developing recognized and respected science leaders in forest genetics.

Hardwood Tree Improvement Research Focus