http://www.fs.fed.us/research/
Florida
Forest Service Research and Development (FS R&D) delivers research to Florida through the Southern
Research Station (SRS), which is headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, and has field offices in
Tallahassee, Ocala, and Gainesville housing 9 employees. Forests cover 47% of Florida’s total land area,
accounting for more than 16 million acres. Florida’s forests shelter more than 100 species of animals,
including threatened and endangered species such as the Florida Panther, Black Bear and Red Cockaded
Woodpecker. The Chipola and Olustee Experimental Forests are located in Florida.
Florida Funding History
GAINESVILLE
SRS-4952 Integrating Human and Natural Systems
SRS at Florida A&M
FLORIDA TOTAL
FY 2013
Enacted ($)
FY 2014
Enacted ($)
FY 2015
Budget ($)
$318,277
134,420
$344,759
124,741
$316,021
133,467
$452,697
$469,500
$449,488
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.
SRS scientists evaluate phosphorus fertilizer on forest growth.
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 2013 Key Accomplishments:
 Longleaf pine woodlands of the southeastern
U.S. are fire dependent ecosystems. Overstory
structure determines fuel distribution and fire
behavior, and influences development of a
rich
understory
plant
community.
By
identifying the mechanisms that drive patterns
of plant communities, SRS scientists are
helping
managers
develop
restoration
practices that promote ecosystem diversity.
 Phosphorus is widely deficient in the southern
pine region, so fertilization is common. SRS
scientists studied tree response to various
fertilizer application rates, concluding that
higher rates in a first rotation may reduce the
need
for
additional
fertilization,
and
exceptionally high rates do not increase
biomass more than normal rates.
This
research will save money by encouraging
appropriate rates of phosphorus fertilization in
tree production.
 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 this
technology could have financial benefits for
private landowners and the forest products
industry. Sustainability of wood for energy will
depend upon the extent of land acreage
used and the amount of logging residue left
on site.
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.
Eucalyptus is increasingly considered as a
source for bioenergy production. However,
several Eucalyptus species are known to be
invasive in other parts of the world, and there
is concern regarding their impact on natural
communities in the U.S.
SRS scientists
evaluated the frequency of seedlings
escaping plantation boundaries.
Findings
indicate there is little evidence to suggest that
Eucalyptus poses a significant risk of moving
into surrounding landscapes under current
climatic and environmental conditions.
Although considerable uncertainty exists
regarding the effects of larger-scale plantings,
current findings suggest that Eucalyptus may
be a viable source of feedstock for bioenergy.
Priority Research in Florida
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 Florida include:
Urban Forests: In Florida, over 90 percent of the
people live in cities. To make cities more
sustainable, SRS scientists are designing strategies
to conserve natural resources while enabling
economic growth and development. SRS
scientists provide assistance with disaster response
and recovery following events such as ice storms,
hurricanes,
tornados,
and
flooding.
Comprehensive, long-term disaster plans promote
economic sustainability at the local, state and
federal levels.
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 Florida 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 Florida
Focusing on critical regional and local research
issues,
SRS provides
Research
Needs research results and tools and
technologies including:
Minority Landowners: SRS continues work focused
on nonindustrial private forest landowners in the
Black Belt region of the South. SRS scientists are
helping landowners in this region become more
familiar with fire mitigation programs.
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.