http://www.fs.fed.us/research/
Washington, DC
The Washington Office (WO) provides national R&D oversight, strategic direction, and representation; it
employs approximately 70 people. WO R&D provides advice to the Chief and Deputy Chiefs of the FS, the
Administration, Congress, interest groups, other Federal Agencies and the general public. Representation
includes coordination across the FS, the Department, other Federal Agencies, international R&D partners,
state, tribal, local governments, and NGO partners.
FY 2013
Enacted ($)
Washington, DC Funding History
FY 2014
Enacted ($)
FY 2015
Budget ($)
Washington Office Headquarters and Reserve
Account -R-15
13,618,000
12,701,000
12,820,000
National Cost Pool and Assessments
54,978,000
53,851,000
53,412,000
WASHINGTON, DC TOTAL
68,596,000
66,552,000
66,232,000
projects. Funds held in reserve are allocated to the
field after the appropriation is passed. The FY 2015
President’s Budget for the WO is $66,232,000, a
decrease of $320,000 from the FY 2014 Enacted
level. This includes approximately $900,000 for the
National Agroforestry Center (NAC), which is
managed from the national office.
See the
Nebraska state paper for program details for NAC.
FY 2013 Key Accomplishments
NAC led an interagency team that completed
Agroforestry: USDA Reports to America, Fiscal
Years 2011-2012. This first-ever USDA-wide report
was released with details on how agroforestry
helps farmers, ranchers and woodland owners
enhance agricultural productivity, protect the
environment, and increase profits.
 Forest Service R&D implemented FIA annual
forest sampling in all 50 states. In excess of
42,000 field plots were measured representing 14
percent of the FIA national plot system. Data
being less than two years old is publically
available for 49 states and coastal Alaska online
at http://www.fia.fs.fed.us.

New analysis and tools help predict sensitivity of
streamflows to climate change.
WO R&D Oversight
Oversight and guidance of research is the key role
of the WO R&D staff. The Deputy Chief for R&D
conducts periodic reviews of the strategic visions,
management and business operations, program
delivery, and customer service of the Research
Stations, the Forest Products Laboratory, and the
International Institute for Tropical Forestry. The WO
R&D staff coordinates implementation of a national
level external peer review of our research programs
to ensure our research is targeted to priority needs
and meets rigorous standards for scientific quality.
The WO R&D staff coordinates performance
reporting and accounts for R&D performance to
the Department of Agriculture and the Office of
Management and Budget.
WO funding includes administrative costs, national
commitments on interagency projects, and
funding
for
national
level
special

Forest Service R&D partnered with the West
Virginia University Division of Forestry and Natural
Resources to hold a workshop, “Science
Considerations in Functional Restoration”. The
workshop brought together approximately 25
select FS, ARS, university and international experts
in the area of functional restoration science. The
discussions highlighted science concepts in
improving systems’ capability to provide needed
goods and services in a changing future by
integrating biological, physical, and social
science developments.
Papers from the
workshop will be published as a special issue of
the Journal of Sustainable Forestry.

Together with Under Secretary Sherman and
Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake, Forest Service
R&D launched the Baltimore Wood Project and
Residential Carbon Challenge in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Wood Project is a signature Forest
Service partnership with the City of Baltimore,
local environmental and social organizations,
and private industry, demonstrating how the
Forest Service can help the city revitalize
distressed neighborhoods, create jobs, and
transition to a sustainable future.
National Priority Research – WO R&D
Research Needs
FS R&D priority research areas build on existing
local and regional research to solve issues
important to the American people (See blue box
below). National Priority research activities include:
Forest Disturbances: Forest Service R&D provides
scientific information and tools that can be used by
managers and policymakers to address impacts of
forest disturbances. As environmental conditions
change so will our forests. We need to understand
how to help our forests adapt to climate change,
including providing opportunities for new and
changing species mixes, restoring forests that are
damaged as temperatures and rainfall change,
controlling invasive insects and diseases, and
reducing the risk of wildfire.
Forest Inventory and Analysis: For over 80 years, FIA
has collected, compiled, analyzed, and published
State, regional and national inventory information
across all forest ownerships in the U.S. FIA data are
used for national forest carbon estimates. FIA data
are widely used by State Foresters, land managers,
policy
makers,
scientists,
environmental
organizations, and business interests to make
informed decisions about forestry issues. WO R&D
provides oversight for the national FIA program.
Watershed Management and Restoration: The
availability of clean water is becoming limited in
many parts of the United States, a trend likely to
continue as our population grows. It is important to
anticipate where water shortages will occur, to
identify how future climate will affect rain and snow
fall, and to find ways to reduce water pollution and
to protect water sources.
Bioenergy/Biomass Management: America’s forest
resources significantly contribute to energy security,
environmental quality and economic opportunity.
FS R&D uses a competitive funding opportunity to
advance research in Wood-based Bioenergy and
Bioproducts. The Biomass Request for Proposals is
focused on Forest Biomass Management and
Production Systems, Bioenergy Conversion and
Bioproducts, and Decision Tools. These projects
leverage private funding and build research
partnerships between federal, University and
private researchers.
Urban Natural Resources Stewardship: With the
majority of people living in urban areas, an
emphasis on urban ecological systems, science
delivery, and stewardship is paramount to ensure
the proper care of natural resources and the
provision of ecosystem services in urban and
urbanizing landscapes. Forest Service R&D partners
with the National Science Foundation to sponsor
sweeping new research on urban ecosystems.
FOREST SERVICE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (FS R&D) is a world leader in innovative science for sustaining global forest resources for
future generations. Research findings and products benefit forest and rangeland managers, and everyone who uses goods or
services from forests. We operate five research stations that encompass all 50 states, the Forest Products Laboratory located in
Madison, Wisconsin, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry located in Puerto Rico. Our researchers and support personnel
are located at 67 field sites throughout the United States. We also maintain 80 experimental forests and ranges across the Nation.
Our unique ability to integrate science and decision making and to work across boundaries between public, private, and tribal lands
through strong partnerships advances the Agency’s three core themes of restoration, communities, and fire.
The FS R&D program has two components: Priority Research Areas and Strategic Program Areas. The Priority Research Areas address
urgent needs in seven areas: Forest Disturbance, Forest Inventory and Analysis, Watershed Management and Restoration, Bioenergy
and Biobased Products, Urban Natural Resources Stewardship, Nanotechnology, and Localized Needs Research (region-specific
needs). The Strategic Program Areas (SPAs) are the long-term programs from which Priority Research Areas are funded. The seven
SPAs are: Wildland Fire and Fuels; Invasive Species; Recreation; Resource Management and Use; Water, Air, and Soil; Wildlife and
Fish; and Inventory and Monitoring.
The FY 2015 President’s Budget includes $275,315,000 for Forest and Rangeland Research, $19,795,000 for the FS R&D National Fire
Plan, and $6,914,000 for the Joint Fire Science Program.