http://www.fs.fed.us/research/
New Jersey
Forest Service Research and Development (FS R&D) delivers research to New Jersey through the Northern
Research Station (NRS) and its Silas Little Experimental Forest near New Lisbon. Currently, there is no research
work unit located in New Jersey. Research on fire-related issues provides near-real time fire meteorology,
canopy fuel moisture, and hazardous fuels data to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and is delivered by
two employees located at the Silas Little Experimental Forest.
and forest disturbance processes as well as
develop practical tools to enhance forest
productivity and increase production of clean air
and water. The FIA program will continue to
monitor and inventory the nation’s forests to
better inform forest policy development and
provide valuable data to enhance accelerated
forest restoration. NRS will focus on the highest
priority research by eliminating the Northeastern
States Research Cooperative; research on
mycology, long term soil productivity, and riparian
research critical to water quality; and the invasive
species program in MI and CT.
Smoke from low-intensity fires affects human health and
safety. Research is helping fire managers minimize adverse
effects on residents and fire fighters.
Northern Research Station Overview
Headquartered at Newtown Square, PA, NRS
develops and delivers leading-edge science and
technology that helps people ensure the longterm health and productivity of rural and urban
landscapes. NRS maintains 24 field locations and
24 experimental forests across 20 states in the
Midwest and Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Iowa,
Maine,
Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West
Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The FY 2015 President’s Budget is $50,495,000 of
which $15,718,000 is for annualized Forest
Inventory and Analysis (FIA). In addition,
$2,944,000 is provided for the National Fire Plan
Research. NRS 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 station
decrease of $4,126,000 from the FY 2014 Enacted
level. At this level, the NRS will continue to
provide cutting edge research in urban forestry
FY 2013 Key Accomplishments
 Developed improved predictions of local smoke
transport during low-intensity forest fires, helping
fire and forest managers minimize adverse airquality effects on residents and firefighters near
prescribed fires. The tool is based on tests
conducted by the New Jersey Forest Fire
Service in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
 Demonstrated that fuel reduction treatments to
reduce wildfire risk and protect lives and
property may not reduce forests’ ability to
sequester carbon over the long term, resulting in
less fuels and wildfire risk without a
corresponding loss of the benefits of carbon
sequestration of the forest.
Priority Research in New Jersey
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 New Jersey include:
Forest Disturbance: Management of forest
ecosystems to sustain desired benefits requires
knowledge of how forests change over time in
response
to
natural
disturbances
and
management activities. In New Jersey, forest
managers have better tools for predicting fire
danger, fire risk, air quality, and ecosystem
function
under
changing
environmental
conditions. New Jersey forest managers can also
access current tree and bird distribution maps
and habitat projections under different climate
change scenarios.
Urban Natural Resources Stewardship: With most
people living in urban areas, an emphasis on
science and technology transfer is paramount to
ensure the proper care of natural resources and
the delivery of ecosystem services in urban and
urbanizing landscapes. New Jersey cities now
have critical urban and community forestry
information including tree canopy and impervious
surface cover characteristics, priority areas for
tree planting, and a summary of urban tree
benefits.
Bioenergy and Biobased Products: America’s
forest resources contribute significantly to energy
security, environmental quality, and economic
opportunity. New Jersey forest owners have
benefited from land management decisionsupport tools for assessing biomass inventory and
distribution.
Watershed Management and Restoration: The
availability of clean water is becoming limited in
many parts of the United States, a trend likely to
continue into the future as the population grows.
It is important to understand where water
shortages will occur, identify how future climate
will affect rainfall and snowfall, and find ways to
reduce water pollution and to effectively
manage and protect water sources.
Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA): The NRS FIA
program conducts an updated annual inventory
of New Jersey’s forest resources in cooperation
with the State Forester and other state
organizations. FIA provides the science-based
information needed by the nation’s leaders to
make sound forest policy decisions and to better
understand forest processes and associated
threats to ecosystem health.
Localized Needs Research in New Jersey
Focusing on critical regional and local research
issues, NRS provides research results and tools and
technologies including:
Pine Barrens Fire Management: The NRS conducts
regional climate and fire danger modeling
specific to the Pine Barrens that fills an existing
gap in the current fire danger rating system. NRS
scientists also quantify the ecological effects of
prescribed fire and insect defoliation on forest
resources.
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.