http://www.fs.fed.us/research/
Kentucky
Forest Service Research and Development (FS R&D) delivers research to Kentucky through its Southern
Research Station, which is headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina. Kentucky has one of the most diverse
hardwood species mixes in the nation covering 11.9 million acres of forestland.
SRS research is evaluating effects of hemlock loss on water.
Southern Research Station Overview
SRS serves 13 Southern States: Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Staffs are
organized into Research Work Units at locations
throughout the region. SRS employs over 103
scientists and many more technicians and
administrative personnel covering a diversity of
disciplines.
The FY 2015 President’s Budget for SRS is
$44,785,000, of which $14,629,000 is for annualized
Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA). In addition,
$2,282,000 is provided for National Fire Plan
research. SRS will also receive a competitive
share of the national amount of $6,914,000 for the
Joint Fire Science Program.
FY 2015 Program Changes
The President’s Budget includes a decrease of
$3,493,000 from the FY 2014 Enacted for SRS.
Funds will be used to address regional and
national priorities, such as invasive species
research
and
watershed
management.
Important ongoing research, including work
addressing climate change, forest restoration,
and forest inventory and monitoring will continue.
FY 2013 Key Accomplishments:
 Bats provide important ecosystem services by
reducing the number of insect pests in
agricultural lands and forests. Climate models
forecast that the distribution of Indiana bats
during the summer pup rearing season could
be greatly reduced and shift from the
Midwest to the Northeast and southern
Appalachians. Summer temperature was the
most important climatic variable explaining
the distribution of Indiana bat maternity
colonies. SRS scientists are identifying ways to
sustain Indiana bat populations over time. In
the short term, bats will seek cooler roosts
under shade in the summer. As they shift
regionally, managers will need to ensure
adequate roosting habitat is available in the
remaining suitable areas.
 In 2010, Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) was
discovered in urban areas within the native
range of the eastern black walnut tree. Forest
managers in Kentucky were concerned that
TCD may have spread into the surrounding
forests, so SRS researchers examined data
collected between 2000 and 2010 from the
FIA Program for evidence of TCD in the
eastern U.S. They found that black walnut
crown conditions and mortality levels
presently are within normal ranges. TCD does
not appear to be threatening black walnut in
the Kentucky’s forested landscape, but will
need to be monitored over time.
 Prescribed burning is a commonly used
management tool in upland hardwood
forests. It helps with fuel reduction, ecosystem
restoration, and wildlife habitat improvement.
SRS scientists and partners from NC State
University, High Point University and NC Wildlife
Commission are evaluating how wildlife,
including amphibians, reptiles and breeding
birds, respond to burning at different
frequencies and severities over time. The
results of this work are helping managers plan
burns for ecosystem restoration across large
landscapes in hardwood forests of the East.
 Using wood for energy raises issues for nearly
every aspect of forest management. SRS,
North Carolina State University, the Swedish
Agricultural Institute, and Virginia Tech
University evaluated economic impacts of
using wood for energy. Results show that if this
technology is achieved, this policy could
have significant impacts on forests, forest
landowners, and the forest products industry.
Factors that will impact forests include
responses of forest landowners, land use
change, and the level of logging residue
recovery achieved. Timber supply responses
to the potentially large and rapid expansion
of the wood bioenergy sector in the U.S. will
be crucial to ensuring sustainable forests.
Priority Research in Kentucky
Forest Service R&D priority research areas build on
existing local and regional research to solve issues
important to the American people.
Priority
research activities in Kentucky include:
Forest Disturbance: Managing forest ecosystems
to sustain desired benefits, such as clean water
and healthy forests, requires knowledge of how
forests change over time in response to natural
disturbances and management activities. As the
climate changes, so will our forests. There is a
need to understand how to help our forests adapt
to disturbance, including developing novel
species compositions, restoring forest and
wetland function, and controlling invasive
species. SRS scientists are evaluating the carbon
footprint of prescribed burning and beginning to
assess how wildland fire might be included in
carbon policy.
Urban Natural Resources Stewardship: With most
people living in urban areas, science and new
technology that informs urban natural resources
management and policy is critical for improving
environmental health and community well-being
in urban areas. Trends show that Americans are
increasing their outdoor recreational activity. SRS
researchers are helping managers plan for these
changes in recreation use.
Bioenergy and Biobased Products: America’s
forest resources significantly contribute to energy
security, environmental quality and economic
opportunity. Working with the Daniel Boone
National Forest, SRS researchers are comparing
five different silvicultural treatments that could
improve forest condition and vigor while
maximizing biomass productivity for economic
development. This information can help add
value and improve forest health and productivity.
Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA): FIA is providing
information about current conditions and trends
in public and private forest health across the U.S.
Researchers in FIA have been conducting annual
inventories in cooperation with Kentucky and
other southern states. Results are being used by
forest industry to determine economic options for
treatment in various areas across the state.
Localized Needs Research in Kentucky
Focusing on critical regional and local research
Research
Needs research results and tools and
issues,
SRS provides
technologies including:
Loss of hemlocks and effects on water: Eastern
hemlocks are facing widespread mortality due to
hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive insect
pest.
Because hemlock is concentrated in
riparian habitats and maintains a dense,
evergreen canopy, its loss is expected to have a
significant impact on forest processes, including
transpiration (Et).
SRS researchers estimated
changes in Et by monitoring tree water use and
changes in forest composition. From 2004 to 2011,
hemlock mortality reduced annual Et by 22% and
winter Et by 74%. This higher Et could reduce
stream flow, raising new questions about water
availability in the future.
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.