Our Nation’s forests, grasslands, and urban environments are facing increasing pressure from human and environmental threats, including climate change, pollution, growing human populations, and increasing energy demands.
Forest Service Research & Development (R&D) has responded to this challenge by identifying priority research areas for emphasis over the next 3-5 years. These priority areas build upon R&D's core Research Topics and demonstrate R&D's commitment to remaining an interactive, vibrant, and visionary partner in solving today’s critical problems with science and technology.
The Priority Areas are:
- Biomass & Bioenergy: Research focused on alternative energy sources, new products and new markets that contribute to U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic opportunity.
- Climate Change: Adaptation research to improve the resiliency of forests, rangelands, and aquatic areas and to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on trees, forests, and forest ecosystems.
- Nanotechnology: Leading cutting-edge innovations in the development of wood products.
- Urban Natural Resources Stewardship: Research for the management, protection, and care of urban natural resources to improve people’s lives.
- Watershed Management & Restoration: Watershed-scale research to understand where water shortages will occur, identify how future climate will affect rain and snow fall, and find ways to reduce water pollution and protect water sources.