The Forest and Woodland Ecosystems program conducts short- and long-term research across a wide geographic area, with an emphasis on the Rocky Mountain region. Scientists contributing to Forest and Woodland Ecosystems’ research program are stationed in Flagstaff, Arizona; Tucson, Arizona; Fort Collins, Colorado; Woodland Park, Colorado; Moscow, Idaho; Missoula, Montana; and Logan, Utah.  Program research takes place primarily within the Northern Region (Forest Service Region 1), Rocky Mountain Region (Forest Service Region 2), Southwestern Region (Forest Service Region 3), and Intermountain Region (Forest Service Region 4).  

Scientists in the Forest Woodland and Ecosystems program specialize in a wide range of topics. Our primary research themes are summarized below. For more information about the program mission, research, and cooperators, see the Forest and Woodland Ecosystems Charter.  For related resources, see the Resources Tab.

Our Research

Forest Ecology & Disturbance Ecology

We collect long-term data on forest ecosystem structure and function and identify trends in key ecosystem processes. We also study how natural and anthropogenic disturbances – such as wildfire, insects, and diseases – impact ecosystem function.

Forest Management & Silviculture 

We study forest management methods that can meet different - and often multiple - management goals. Forest management goals can include reducing fuels to reduce wildfire risk, increasing a forest’s resiliency to disturbances, and managing for ecosystem services such as water quality or timber production. 

Restoration & Reforestation

In light of climate change, unprecedented wildfire, and other ongoing disturbances, land managers need research on the best methods to restore forest ecosystems. Our scientists study postfire reforestation and other restoration practices aimed at increasing forest resilience and helping forests re-establish ecosystem services. 

Insects & Diseases

Our research entomologists, plant pathologists, and plant physiologists study the impacts of insects and diseases on plant health and forest ecosystems. We create novel tools for early detection and new methods for better managing these threats to our forests. 

Climate Change Adaptation in Forests

The impacts of climate change are apparent in our forest ecosystems today. We conduct research on how climate change impacts forest resources and species, how climate change interacts with other disturbances, and ways that we can help forests adapt to current and projected climate change impacts. 

Soil Ecology, Soil Disturbance, & Biochar

Soil forms the base of forest ecosystems and provides vital ecosystem services. We study how forest management practices impact soils and how to maintain and restore healthy soil resources - including the production and use of biochar to enhance and restore forest ecosystem services.

Remote Sensing & Landscape Monitoring

We use cutting-edge methods to advance our understanding of forest and grassland ecosystems and to help managers better predict the impacts of on-the-ground management actions. Monitoring methods in our ‘toolbox’ include the use of remotely-sensed data collected from satellites, data and images collected from uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), and data integration tools for the next generation of fire and fuels modeling.