Center for Integrated Forest Science (RWU-4855)
The Center for Integrated Forest Science (CIFS), a pioneering research program within Forest Research and Development, addresses complex questions that require science to inform natural resource management and policy decisions.
The Center for Integrated Forest Science (CIFS), a pioneering research program within Forest Research and Development, addresses complex questions that require science to inform natural resource management and policy decisions. Most of these questions require understanding biophysical and human dimensions, and fusing science from the natural and social sciences.
The mission of CIFS is to anticipate policy-relevant questions regarding forests and society and develop innovative research approaches to address those questions. CIFS works in three problem areas: (1) synthesis for policy analysis; (2) science for broad-scale assessment; (3) technology transfer. The problem areas are broad in scope, necessitating synthesis of information from a variety of scientific disciplines along with new research approaches that are integrated across disciplines and conducted at larger geographic extents.
Facilities Information
Center for Integrated Forest Science
1710 Research Center Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24060-6349
3160 Coweeta Lab Road
Otto, NC 28763-9218
P.O. Box 12254
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2254
CIFS researchers conduct interdisciplinary analysis of human-forest interactions. We identify and prioritize synthesis and policy analyses needs based on input from a wide variety of stakeholders. We also generate new and innovative approaches to address relevant policy and management questions, particularly in support of scientific assessments. Our research bridges biophysical, socioeconomic, and climate sciences and emphasizes matching aligning the development and delivery of results with the specific needs of policy analysts and natural resource managers. Some of our specific areas of research include:
- Quantifying the benefits of forest water-related ecosystem services for people and aquatic ecosystems.
- Modeling forest dynamics in response to climate and land-use change.
- Understanding the effects of climate and land-use change on forest disturbances and water resources.
- Relating landscape patterns and connectivity to services derived from forests.
Key Personnel
Project Leader
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Person
Jennifer Costanza, PhD
Research Ecologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/jennifer.costanza
Staff
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Person
Peter V. Caldwell, PhD
Research Hydrologisthttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/peter.v.caldwell
Data and Tools
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Tool
https://research.fs.usda.gov/srs/products/dataandtools/benefits-state-and-private-forest-lands-south
Multimedia
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Webinarshttps://research.fs.usda.gov/products/multimedia/webinars/science-x-planning-forests-future-forest-resources-and-disturbance
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Webinarshttps://research.fs.usda.gov/products/multimedia/webinars/science-x-forests-innovations-forest-research
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Webinarshttps://research.fs.usda.gov/products/multimedia/webinars/science-x-assessments-science-forest-planning
Related Links
Publications
- Katie H. Greenberg, Christopher E. Moorman, Katherine Elliott, Katherine Martin, Mark Hopey, Peter V. Caldwell. 2023. Breeding bird abundance and species diversity greatest in high-severity wildfire patches in central hardwood forests
- Kai Duan, Shen Qu, Ning Liu, Gladys R. Dobbs, Peter V. Caldwell, Ge Sun. 2023. Evolving efficiency of inter-basin water transfers in regional water stress alleviation
- Elly T. Gay, Katherine L. Martin, Peter V. Caldwell, Ryan E. Emanuel, Georgina M. Sanchez, Kelly M. Suttles. 2023. Riparian buffers increase future baseflow and reduce peakflows in a developing watershed
- Md Abu Bakar Siddik, Emily Grubert, Peter V. Caldwell, Landon T. Marston. 2023. Retirement of US fossil fuel-fired power plants will increase water availability
- Seth E. Younger, C. Rhett Jackson, Mackenzie J. Dix, Peter V. Caldwell, Doug P. Aubrey. 2023. Evapotranspiration partitioning of Eucalyptus benthamii and Pinus taeda during early stand development
- G. Rebecca Dobbs, Ning Liu, Peter V. Caldwell, Chelcy F. Miniat, Ge Sun, Kai Duan, Paul V Bolstad. 2023. Inter-basin surface water transfers database for public water supplies in conterminous United States, 1986–2015
- Elsa Youngsteadt, Adam Terando, Jennifer Costanza, Jelena Vukomanovic. 2023. Compact or sprawling cities: Has the sparing-sharing framework yielded an ecological verdict?
- Daniel Peptenatu, Ion Andronache, Helmut Ahammer, Marko Radulovic, Jennifer Costanza, Herbert F. Jelinek, Antonio Di Ieva, Kohei Koyama, Alexandra Grecu, Andreea Karina Gruia, Adrian-Gabriel Simion, Iulia Daniela Nedelcu, Cosmin Olteanu, Cristian-Constantin Drăghici, Marian Marin, Daniel Constantin Diaconu, Rasmus Fensholt, Erica A. Newman. 2023. A new fractal index to classify forest fragmentation and disorder
- Peter V. Caldwell, Katherine L. Martin, James Vose, Justin S. Baker, Travis Warziniack, Jennifer Costanza, Gregory E. Frey, Arpita Nehra, Christopher Mihiar. 2023. Forested watersheds provide the highest water quality among all land cover types, but the benefit of this ecosystem service depends on landscape context
- Jennifer Costanza, Frank H. H. Koch, Matt C. Reeves. 2023. Future exposure of forest ecosystems to multi‐year drought in the United States