Articles

Researchers compared two silvicultural treatments based on an irregular shelterwood with either dispersed or aggregated tree retention to transition red pine plantations in the western Great Lakes region to an overstory structure and woody plant community more representative of natural open-canopy woodlands formerly on the sites.

Managing smoke, predicting fire behavior, and preparing for fire attack are essential actions during wildfire.

What we do before fires—from mechanical thinning to community planning to prescribed burning—can alter how and where a fire moves and protect lives and communities. Agency scientists conduct research and create tools that aid managers in building fire adapted forests, grasslands, and communities.

Our researchers are finding ways wood products can replace plastic in food packaging, developing new methods to create and apply biochar, innovating ways to build mass timber structures.

Wildfire, pests, pathogens, extreme weather, drought: these and other disturbances threaten America’s timber resources. Forest Service scientists describe, detect, map, and provide management options for these risks. They also develop new technologies and methods, such as drones, to aid managers in monitoring threats and quickly responding.

New research shows that in addition to the other benefits of longleaf pine forests, they also use significantly less water than fast growing loblolly pine forests.

The strength of America’s forest sector did not happen by accident. Forest Service scientists help managers delineate acres available for timber harvest in dynamic environments, enable decision makers to prepare for present and future markets, and develop new ways to use woody material in our economy.

Koa, a tree commonly used in Hawaiian forest restoration, does not suppress exotic grasses enough to allow secondary forest succession to a more diverse forest type.

A large wildfire depleted soil carbon in a chaparral ecosystem and microorganisms continued to decompose carbon pools after the fire, preventing soil carbon for recovering for at least 4 years.

Safety is a top priority in the Forest Service; every firefighter should come home safely. Wildland firefighters are exposed to unique hazards that can result in injury or death as well as long-term health risks from smoke. Forest Service Research understands how important it is to continuously evaluate safety needs and update research and technology accordingly.

Urban forests provide critical services that directly affect human health and well-being. Trees engage in unseen, yet critical work by moderating air and water pollution in neighborhoods, reducing storm runoff, and providing shade. Urban trees contribute to urban residents’ physical, mental, and economic well-being. San Diego's 4.9 million trees are valued at $4.7 billion as structural assets.

For over a century, Forest Service Research and Development has built the foundation for what we know about forests, fire, and firefighter safety across the country.

The USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station has released the latest data on production, prices, employment, and trade in Northwest forest industries. The information, which highlights trends dating back to 1958, is available online.

Forest Service researchers have supported the agency’s multiple use mandate since the early 1900s. Our long-term research studies and sites provide the essential underpinnings for silviculture nationwide.

Riparian and groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest provide critical ecosystem services but are threatened by multiple interacting stressors.

Since the Forest Service’s inception, agency scientists have worked shoulder to shoulder with forest managers to support sustainable and efficient timber production. The Forest Service provides authoritative, nationwide data on the status and trends of forest resources and wood processing facilities.

A tribute to Yasmeen Sands, a member of the Forest Service family for 25 years. She wrote the stories and communicated to the world the incredible wonder and knowledge that the Pacific Northwest Research Station offers. Her 25 years helped build the station, tell the Forest Service story, foster the public affairs community, and shine a light on the extraordinary work we do together to advance understanding of forest science.

The Climate Smart Restoration Tool estimates seed transfer distance and vegetative transitions for current and mid-century climate by using current and future climate data, coupled with vegetative inventories.

Simulations that incorporate ecological resilience and invasion resistance into benefit-cost analysis of fuel treatments can help land managers to plan and implement cost effective fuel treatments in sagebrush ecosystems.

In Hawai'i, new efforts aim to increase the availability of native, site-specific, genetically appropriate seed to restore areas burned by wildfires.