REPORT
FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS AT CFR
COLLEGE OF FOREST RESOURCES FACULTY RETREAT
September 21, 2004, Center for Urban Horticulture
Robert L. Edmonds
Associate Dean for Research
SUMMARY
Forty faculty, research staff and graduate students from the College of Forest Resources (CFR)
met at the Center for Urban Horticulture on September 21, 2004 to discuss questions pertaining
to the future research agenda for CFR. Dean B. Bruce Bare provided introductory remarks.
Associate Dean Bob Edmonds followed and presented an overview of the reading materials
provided in advance of the meeting, including the Draft Report of the Faculty Ad Hoc
Committee on Future Directions for CFR, chaired by Bob Edmonds and Steve West (May 2004).
Six small discussion groups considered the eight questions below. A summary of the discussion
on these questions follows. Professor E. David Ford provided some thoughts on a NODE
approach to research. At the end of the retreat Professor Jerry Franklin provided a description of
the new National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) program funded by the National
Science Foundation. Jerry is involved with a $6 million planning grant that was recently
awarded and the hope is that other CFR and UW faculty will become involved. More
information on NEON is available at: www.neonic.org and http://ibrcs.aibs.org. .
Question 1. What are the most pressing natural resource and environmental quality issues
facing the PNW and the nation over the next 10 years? Which of these problems and what
dimensions of these problems (ecological, social, and economic) should the College address?
Why?
The major issues facing the PNW and the nation revolve around maintaining a natural system
land base in face of land use changes driven by higher economic returns for other land uses. How
can we produce products from a shrinking land base and create high quality jobs in natural
resource fields?
Furthermore, how do we maintain forested landscapes in the face of urbanization, forest health
problems, macro-economic trends, globalization, environmental trends (e.g.: climate change) and
invasive species? We need to better understand complex biological systems – their functionality
and sustainability. The next generation will face increasing risk with respect to forest health,
invasive and endangered species, water use, wildlife, and recreation. Humans are leaving an
increasing ecological footprint. We need to make the transition from a fossil fuel based society
to one based on renewable sources of energy.
Maintaining ecosystem sustainability will be a challenge to our social systems and technology.
Particular attention needs to be paid to the wildland-urban interface and ecosystem restoration.
We need to better understand human perceptions and motivations as they affect our natural
resources and environmental systems. Rates of consumption must be balanced against rates of
production to ensure long-term sustainability on a global scale.
Question 2. Based upon the most promising research areas, what faculty positions will we
need? Should we obtain input on faculty needs from outside CFR (within the university
and outside)? If so, how should we do this?
The following is a list of potential faculty positions that were identified:
•
•
Quantitative landscape analyst (urban interface, hydro-ecology, bioenergy, geospatial
sciences, management, conservation) with an understanding of GIS, large-scale spatial
analysis, and modeling
Non-market value or environmental economist
Additionally, a variety of discipline-based faculty needs were identified to include: water
scientist, silviculturalist, natural resource policy development and analysis expert, natural
resource conversion technologist (e.g., natural products chemist), and a forest health expert.
Needed faculty positions will continue to be discussed and advice will be sought from outside of
CFR
Question 3. What should the Dean's office be doing to foster research (grant opportunities,
processing, reporting, accounting, facilities, space, etc.)?
The Dean needs to lobby in Olympia and Washington, DC and be an advocate for CFR research
initiatives. Federal and state research opportunities need to be communicated. Our facilities need
to be upgraded.
Question 4. How can we increase our grant activity? Which incentives for faculty would be
most effective?
The New Initiatives Team (NIT) should be re-energized with faculty release time and other
resources, including research assistant support.
Question 5. What is the role of Centers, Cooperatives, and Initiatives in our research
program?
Research centers, cooperatives, and initiatives perform an important role in CFR. They provide
research foci, bring faculty together, increase interdisciplinarity, and provide an outreach role.
They also provide funding for graduate and undergraduate students. Challenges facing these
programs are to maintain relevance, keep adequate facilities to support infrastructure, and remain
objective.
2
Question 6. How does graduate education relate to our research program?
The CFR research program links faculty and graduate student education. Research helps faculty
to work on relevant issues and introduce current research into classes. Graduate students need
funding, career counseling, and faculty mentoring.
Question 7. Should we have a graduate/research program review?
A major review should be considered after our research focus has been more fully defined.
Question 8. How should recruitment fellowships and other forms of support be allocated?
The discussion on recruitment revolved around the question of leverage for strong programs
versus equity across programs. More discussion on this question is need by the faculty.
3
DETAILED REPORT
Faculty, staff and graduate students from the College of Forest Resources (CFR) met at the
Center for Urban Horticulture to discuss the following questions pertaining the future research
agenda for CFR. The retreat agenda is shown in Appendix 1. Appendix 2 lists retreat attendees,
while Appendix 3 lists members of breakout groups and the questions they were assigned to
discuss.
1. What are the most pressing natural resource and environmental quality issues facing the PNW
and the nation over the next 10 years? Which of these problems and what dimensions of
these problems (ecological, social, and economic) should the College address? Why?
2. Based upon the most promising research areas, what faculty positions will we need? Should
we obtain input on faculty needs from outside CFR (within the university and outside)? If
so, how should we do this?
3. What should the Dean's office be doing to foster research (grant opportunities, processing,
reporting, accounting, facilities, space, etc.)?
4. How can we increase our grant activity? Which incentives for faculty would be most
effective?
5. What is the role of Centers, Cooperatives, and Initiatives in our research program?
6. How does graduate education relate to our research program?
7. Should we have a graduate/research program review?
8. How should recruitment fellowships and other forms of support be allocated?
Background reading for the retreat was provided. The list of reading materials is shown in
Appendix 4. Focus was on the Draft Report of the Faculty Ad Hoc Committee on Future
Directions for the College of Forest Resources chaired by Bob Edmonds and Steve West. A
summary of this report is given in Appendix 5. Dean Bruce Bare provided introductory remarks
(Appendix 6). David Ford’s thoughts on a node approach to CFR research are presented in
Appendix 7.
Six small discussion groups considered the above questions. Each group discussed questions 1
and 2. One of the other questions was assigned to each group, such that each group had a total of
3 questions to consider. Below are the reports of each group.
4
GROUP 1.
Question 1. Most pressing natural resource and environmental quality issues facing the
PNW and the nation over the next 10 years
Invasive species
Development of the wildland-urban interface
Ecosystem restoration
Question 2. What faculty positions will we need?
Get advice outside of CFR
Emphasize characteristics (expert in specialty, broad interdisciplinary experience, team player,
accountability)
Question 3. What should the Dean's office be doing to foster research (grant opportunities,
processing, reporting, accounting, facilities, space, etc.)?
Dean needs to lobby in Olympia and Washington, DC – advocate for CFR research initiatives
and communicate federal and state opportunities. Look at other Colleges and Departments for
models.
GROUP 2
Question 1. Most pressing natural resource and environmental quality issues facing the
PNW and the nation over the next 10 years
Lack of creativity
Create high quality jobs in natural resources fields
Produce products from a shrinking land base
How to maintain natural system land base in face of higher economic return for other products? –
ecosystem function, social systems, technology
Question 2. What faculty positions will we need?
Creative people (and somewhat aggressive)
Non-market values economist (a non-traditional role)
Quantitative landscape ecologist – silviculture, remote sensing technologies, modeling, scale
beyond stands
Water scientist
Recreation
Split appointments across campus
Non-market evaluation problems (water, carbon, recreation, biodiversity, air quality)
How to value these products
Regulations acts as clubs rather than incentives
Recognizing these values would help create the desired natural conditions
5
Non-market values may be higher than costs of remediation
Question 4. How can we increase our grant activity? Which incentives for faculty would be
most effective?
Hiring versus redirecting faculty research
Most useful incentives (release time, RA time)
Energize New Initiatives Team (NIT) with release time and other resources
GROUP 3
Question 1. Most pressing natural resource and environmental quality issues facing the
PNW and the nation over the next 10 years
Urbanization and its impacts - Population growth, demography, consumption
Globalization (resource cost, regulations)
Forest health (restoration)
Sources of increased risk – Invasive species, health, biodiversity, use
Rural – urban disparity
Increasing the sustainability of human activities
Materials, energy, water, ecological footprint – increasing the sustainability of human activities
in urban to wildland spectrum (materials, energy, water), transition from fossil fuel based
societies to bioenergy
Question 2. What faculty positions will we need?
Research areas/
themes
Existing CFR
strengths
Existing campus/
external strengths
Needs
Urbanization
CUH, UE,
Geographic location
Social,
UE-IGERT,
LARC, CBA
Economic
lands
UWB, Evans School
Globalization
CINTRAFOR
I-IGERT,
Jackson and Evans Schools
FPL, COE,
Integration,
Focus,
Organization
Forest Health
(Healthy terrestrial
systems - urban,
production,
wildland)
RTI, Forest
Protection
US Forest Service – FPL,
PNW Station, USGS, NPS,
OSU, WSU, Yakama
Nation, Colville Tribes,
DNR,WSU
Silviculture,
Social/
Economic,
Policy,
Horticulture
6
Question 5. What is the role of Centers, Cooperatives, and Initiatives in our research
program?
Facilities
Funding – external and internal (Fund graduate and undergraduate students)
Provide strategic foci
Organization – bring faculty together (increase interdisciplinarity)
Service – outreach
Challenges - Maintaining relevance and objectivity (not becoming a “consultant”). Also need
adequate funding
GROUP 4
Question 1. Most pressing natural resource and environmental quality issues facing the
PNW and the nation over the next 10 years
Nodes – yes!
Restoration/Conservation/Biodiversity
Risk Assessment
Urban to wildlands (CFR theme)
e.g., undeveloped areas
what to do with
how to assess structure and function (natural world, human health, economics)
how to maintain/manage restore
Human interface (key!)
Theory/science
Practical/management
Interdisciplinary/integration of disciples (major role for CFR on campus)
Question 2. What faculty positions will we need?
Silviculture
Landscape analysis/conservation biologist especially with tools (GIS, large scale spatial analysis,
modeling)
Question 6. How does graduate education relate to our research program?
Graduate program linked with faculty
Helps faculty work on issues
Classes
Students need: funding, career counseling, mentoring
7
GROUP 5
Question 1. Most pressing natural resource and environmental quality issues facing the
PNW and the nation over the next 10 years
Maintaining forested landscapes given a dynamic environment
–Urbanization
–Forest health
–Macro-economic trends
–Environmental trends e.g.: climate change
- Invasive species
•Increased natural resource consumption require us to address social, economic, and ecological
needs and develop and transfer new technological tools.
•Attracting and retaining the next generation of natural resource leaders, scientists, and teachers.
•A lack of methodology to integrate social, economic, ecological values to make long term
decisions involving conservation, restoration, and sustainable development.
Question 2. What faculty positions will we need?
•Modeling and quantitative analysis expert with focus on landscape level
•Natural resource policy development and analysis expert
•Natural resource conversion technologist e.g.: natural products chemist
•Natural resource management expert with experience in modern silviculture
•Restoration expertise along the entire urban to wildland gradient
Question 7. Should we have a graduate/research program review?
•Should seek to place CFR in an international context, for example an application of research
findings to global natural systems.
•Maintain a commitment to integration at the graduate level while ensuring sufficient
specialization and in-depth knowledge.
•A major review should be considered after our research focus has been more fully defined.
8
GROUP 6
Question 1. Most pressing natural resource and environmental quality issues facing the
PNW and the nation over the next 10 years
Complex biological systems (modeling, statistical/informatics)
The group felt that a 10 year time frame is too short; we should be looking further into the future
Question 2. What faculty positions will we need?
Landscape ecology (urban interface, hydroecology, bioenergy)
Recreation
Question 8. How should recruitment fellowships and other forms of support be allocated?
The discussion revolved around the question of leverage for strong programs versus equity
across programs. The Biology Program model is to admit fewer students who are all fully
supported (however, they can do this because of access to TAs as recruiting tools). More
discussion of this question is need by the faculty.
9
APPENDIX 1
AGENDA
CFR Faculty Retreat
The Future Research Agenda for the College
Northwest Horticultural Society Hall, CUH
Tuesday - September 21, 2004
8:30-9:00 - Coffee and treats
9:00 - Introduction and agenda (Associate Dean Edmonds)
9:05 - 9:20 - Opening remarks and retreat objectives (Dean Bruce Bare)
9:20 - 10:00 Discussion of draft report on Future CFR directions and other reading materials (Associate Deans
Edmonds and West)
10:00 - 10:15 - Coffee Break
10:15 - 11:30 - Break into small groups to discuss the following questions:
1. What are the most pressing natural resource and environmental quality issues facing the PNW and the nation over
the next 10 years? Which of these problems and what dimensions of these problems (ecological, social, and
economic) should the College address? Why?
2. Based upon the most promising research areas, what faculty positions will we need? Should we obtain input on
faculty needs from outside CFR (within the university and outside)? If so, how should we do this?
3. What should the Dean's office be doing to foster research (grant opportunities, processing, reporting, accounting,
facilities, space, etc.)?
4. How can we increase our grant activity? Which incentives for faculty would be most effective?
5. What is the role of Centers, Cooperatives, and Initiatives in our research program?
6. How does graduate education relate to our research program?
7. Should we have a graduate/research program review?
8. How should recruitment fellowships and other forms of support be allocated?
9. Other questions
11:30 - 12:30 - Small groups report back to larger group (continue discussion)
12:30-1:00 - Lunch (plans for future meetings to discuss research)
1:00 - adjourn
1:00 - 2:00 - The NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) planning effort and how it relates to CFR
(Jerry Franklin) - for those who are interested.
10
APPENDIX 2
ATTENDEES AT CFR FACULTY RETREAT
September 21, 2004
FACULTY:
Jim Agee
Graham Allan
Bruce Bare
Linda Brubaker
Sharon Doty
Ivan Eastin
Bob Edmonds
David Ford
Jerry Franklin
Jim Fridley
Rick Gustafson
Charlie Halpern
Tom Hinckley
Kevin Hodgson
Jay Johnson
Bruce Lippke
Dave Manuwal
John Perez-Garcia
Ken Raedeke
Gerard Schreuder
Doug Sprugel
Kristiina Vogt
Dan Vogt
Steve West
John Wott
GRADUATE STUDENTS:
Jon Honea
Elaine O'Neil
Caren Crandell
Edie Sonne
Mitchell Almaguer-Bay
STAFF:
Ken Bible
Brian Boyle
Rose Braden
John Calhoun
Shelley Evans
John Hanby
Larry Mason
Tom Mentele
Cecilia Paul
Miranda Wecker
11
APPENDIX 3
BREAKOUT GROUPS
Group 1 (questions 1,2,3)
Jim Agee
Ivan Eastin
Kevin Hodgson
Gerard Schreuder
John Honea (reporter)
Brian Boyle
Miranda Wecker
Group 2 (questions 1, 2, 4)
Graham Allan
Jerry Franklin
Bruce Lippke
Steve West (reporter)
Caren Crandell
Shelley Evans
Group 3 (questions 1,2 5)
Bruce Bare
Tom Hinckley
Ivan Eastin
John Perez-Garcia
John Wott
Elaine O’Neill
John Hanby (reporter)
Group 4 (questions 1,2 ,6)
Linda Brubaker
Jim Fridley
David Ford
Dan Vogt (reporter)
Charlie Halpern
Edie Sonne
Rose Braden
Larry Mason
Group 5 (questions 1,2,7)
Sharon Doty
Rick Gustafson
Ken Raedeke
Kristiina Vogt
Mitchell Almaguer-Bay (reporter)
John Calhoun
Tom Mentele
Group 6 (questions 1,2, 8)
Bob Edmonds
Jay Johnson
Doug Sprugel
Dave Manuwal
Ken Bible
Cecilia Paul (reporter)
12
APPENDIX 4
RETREAT READINGS
1.A Draft Report to Dean Bare of the Faculty Ad Hoc Committee (Chaired by Bob Edmonds and
Steve West) on Future Directions for CFR, May 3, 2004.
2.Faculty Responses to a research questionnaire. Bob Edmonds Feb. 2004.
3. Future Challenges For The Science To Shape Forest Management: An Academic Perspective.
Don DeHayes, Dean, The Rubenstein School, UVM. Presented at the Forestry Dean's tour in
August, 2004.
4.Report of a Blue Ribbon Panel on America's Forestry Research Policy.
5. National Graduate Education Needs and Priorities in Natural Resources, NAPFSC, Dan
Keathley 2003
6.USDA Forest Service. Social Science Research Agenda, February 2004.
7. Ecology for a crowded planet. Science 304, May 2004
8. Towards a shared vision. Ann Bartuska, USDA Forest Service.
9. Federal natural resources agencies confront and aging workforce and challenges to their
future roles. Renewable Natural Resources Foundation, Renewable Resources Journal 21:4
(winter 2003-04)
10. The Graduate Curriculum in Forest Science at Oregon State University
11. National Capacity in Forestry Research - see exec Summary at:
http://books.nap.edu/catalog/10384.html
12. Environmental Issues in Pacific Northwest Forest Management
http://books.nap.edu/catalog/4983.html
13. Complex Environmental Systems, NSF, Environmental Research and Education, January
2003.
13
APPENDIX 5
Summary of Draft Report of the Faculty Ad Hoc Committee on
Future Directions for the College of Forest Resources
May 3, 2004
Bob Edmonds (Co-Chair)
Steve West (Co-Chair),
Gordon Bradley
Ivan Eastin
Jim Fridley
Tom Hinckley
Bruce Lippke
John Marzluff
Sarah Reichard
Clare Ryan
Although the undergraduate teaching needs in CFR will continue to be important it is felt that
the best approach to hiring faculty is to emphasize our research strengths and develop new
research areas rather than filling teaching gaps. There are many research areas
that could be developed, however. How do we go about determining these areas and how do we
want to position ourselves for the future with respect to faculty hiring?
In response to these questions Dean Bruce Bare established an ad hoc faculty group on January
27, 2004 to identify the scientific research and educational initiatives that have the best chance of
producing significant and compelling breakthroughs over the next 5-8 years and where the
College could (should) play an important leadership role.
These new initiatives should have the promise of propelling CFR to world-class status and
should represent the collective views of the faculty, staff and students of CFR. The Dean
specifically charged the group to identify new faculty, facility and other resources needed to
achieve these breakthroughs. This report is a summary of our deliberations.
The College currently has many areas of research strength with national and international
reputations as indicated below. Associated faculty members are listed.
Wildlife Science - West, Manuwal, Marzluff, Raedeke
Forest Soils – Harrison, Zabowski, D. Vogt, Brown, Edmonds
Forest Ecosystems/Ecology - Franklin, Halpern, Agee, Edmonds, Brubaker, Sprugel
Paper Science – Gustafson, McKean, Hodgson, Allan
Forest Health – Agee, Gara, Edmonds
Conservation/Restoration – Reichard, Ewing, Brown
Urban Ecology – Marzluff, Bradley, Ryan
In addition a number of our research centers have excellent reputations including the:
14
Rural Technology Initiative (Lippke), the Stand Management Cooperative (Briggs, Harrison,
Turnblom), the Olympic Natural Resources Center (Calhoun), the Center for Water and
Watershed Studies (Steinemann), the Center for Urban Horticulture (Mabberley), CINTRAFOR
(Eastin) and the Canopy Crane (Franklin), These research strengths are still topical and deserve
future support. New initiatives include the new Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest
(Calhoun) and the Precision Forestry Initiative (ATI).
Further ideas came by examining the areas being considered under the developing NSF
sponsored NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) program.
Areas being addressed by NEON are:
Climate change
Biodiversity
Land use change
Exotic species
Hydroecology
Education K to old
CFR faculty, staff and students were also asked to submit their ideas and these are summarized
below:
Sustainable Forestry enterprises – sustainable forestry and ecosystes, intensive forestry,
international forestry, sustainable environmental technologies, silviculture
Genetics and biotechnology – population genetics, conservation genetics
Restoration and conservation – ecosystem restoration, restoration ecology
Urban Ecosystems – urban forestry, urban land management, urban ecology
Ecosystem Change
Water – hydrology and water quality
A need for integrative scientists
Social science – leadership in natural resources, politics, environmental-social problems
Geospatial sciences – remote sensing/GIS
Understanding complex systems – mathematical modeling, complex system theory
Biochemistry – plant biochemistry, polymer biochemistry
Whole Plant Physiology
Forest Health – entomology, pathology, fire
With this information on currently funded competitive grants, NEON and input from CFR
faculty, staff and students the committee discussed the idea that a research cluster or node
approach might provide insights into research directions. Nodes are areas of interdisciplinary
inquiry. Emphasis areas could be:
Conservation – genetics, biology, wildlife, ecology, policy, economics, ethics
Biotechnology – restoration, bioenergy
Climate change – hydrology, fire, C sequestration
15
But how do we integrate these and other research areas in a theme? Perhaps the
idea of a Center for Risk Management of Natural Resources is possible as shown
below.
Risk Management as an Umbrella or Central Concept
Restoration
engineering
CFR, COE
Water
Exotic &
Invasive
Species
CFR, COE
AFS
CFR, BIOL,
AFS
Theory of Risk
Management
Risk Management in
Natural Resources
AFS, ECON
Homeland
Security
Issues
Fire
Economics
CFR,
USFS
Including noncommodity
economics
CFR, ECON
Threatened &
Endangered
Species
CFR, BIOL, AFS
Biotechnology
CFR, COE
Urbanization
CFR, LA/UDP,
Evans
Forest
Ecosystem
Health and
safety CFR
There are other boxes, but this serves the idea.
·
Many present and future activities of the College are related to risk assessment and
management. It is a useful concept for dealing with management alternatives given limited
resources.
·
Thinking about these issues and relationships will help place the College’s efforts in a
larger context within the University and hopefully clarify which directions to take in future
faculty hires.
·
Which of these issues will remain large or increase in the future? Where are the College’s
current strengths? Which areas would we like to build and which would we leave to other
campus groups (partnerships)?
·
We feel that the strength of the College (and its greatest opportunities) will lie at levels of
organization at the organism and higher.
Recommendations
The following are our recommendations to date.
1.We should build on our research strengths and identify new research areas in which we can
excel and develop a world-class reputation. We should not attempt to cover all aspects of
forestry research. Cluster hiring should be attempted where possible.
16
2. Priority areas for faculty hiring (see Table 1):
Potential Research Areas (Nodes – Areas of interdisciplinary inquiry) or Expertise Needed
GIS/Remote Sensing/Geospatial
Fire
Hydrology/riparian management
Conservation/restoration
Threatened and endangered species
Risk management
Social Science
Recreation
Non-commodity economics
Silviculture
Biotechnology
Bioenergy/Carbon sequestration
Modeling
NEON
Plant biology/whole plant physiology
Horticulture
Forest Health
Potential Faculty Positions
Natural Resource (non-commodity) economist
Fire scientist
Quantitative landscape scientist/silviculturalist
Recreation scientists (2) – social, natural
Land use planner (GIS expertise)
Restoration scientist
Horticulturalist
Land/water interface scientist
Risk management (related to fire, invasive species, habitat - could be policy person, statistician,
or psychologist)
3. Use the undergraduate curriculum transformation imagery in developing our research
program. Develop the urban to wildland theme in our research program (see Table 2)
4. Input on future directions and faculty hiring should be obtained from others on the University
of Washington campus (Biology, Evans School, Engineering, Ocean and Fishery Sciences), and
outside organizations (e.g., U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Station, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, USGS, DNR, Weyerhaeuser Company, Simpson, Boise and consultants).
5. Effort should be put into obtaining buildings and facilities for the Environmental Forum, the
Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest, the Pacific Northwest Fire Center and the NEON
program.
17
6. Develop the use of remote access distance learning to distribute our research information (e.g.,
streaming video).
7. Pursue NSF research training grants.
8. Employ post-docs to write research grants.
9. Encourage ethnic diversity in the CFR research program.
10. Upgrade CFR research facilities
Dean’s opportunity funds could be used for items 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10
18
APPENDIX 6
Introductory Remarks
Research Agenda for the Future
B. Bruce Bare, Dean
College of Forest Resources
September 21, 2004
College Mission
{Study and investigate the functionality and sustainability of natural resource systems
{Natural and managed environments
{Interdisciplinary approach across multiple scales of urban and wild land landscapes
{Generate and disseminate information through our teaching, research and outreach
programs
College Vision
To be a world-class internationally recognized source of knowledge relevant to environmental
and natural resource issues
A World Class Vision Implies
{High quality (faculty, staff, students, programs, graduates)
{High impact (at UW and throughout our external community)
{Sufficient resources (facilities, space, funds)
Integrating Theme Is Sustainability
{Sustainable forestry in managed and natural forests
zPlantations, parks, reserves, watersheds
{Sustainable urban environments
zUrban forestry, horticulture, restoration ecology, water, wildlife
{Sustainable forest enterprises
zPaper mills, precision forestry technologies, tourism, recycling, wood products, non-timber
products
Sustainability
Economics
Our Academic Programs
key principles and processes that explain the behavior and interaction of biotic and
social systems along gradients from highly to minimally impacted terrestrial ecosystems
{Focus on the interaction between nature and humans with a synthesis of scientific
knowledge related to natural resources and environmental sustainability
Our Research Programs
{Emphasize the functionality and sustainability of complex natural resource and environmental
systems featuring:
zIntegration
zInterdisciplinary
zCollaboration (on and off campus)
zTeam-approach
zMultiple scales
zGradient from urban to rural ecosystems
{Stress
19
Characteristics Of Our Research Agenda
{Emphasize coupled human and bio-physical systems
{Supports development of a new science of sustainability to integrate ecological and economic
approaches in a socially acceptable manner
{Develops technology; discovers new scientific knowledge; and transfers knowledge to the user
community
Assumptions Relevant to Our Research Mission
{We are being asked to do more with less governmental support
{To maintain or enhance our research, we must look to alternate sources of funding
zPrivate fund raising will grow in importance (foundations, corporations, individuals, NGOs)
zAggressively seek federal funding
{Continually look inward to gain new efficiencies and to build campus partnerships
Assumptions Relevant to Our Research Mission
strong partnerships with external collaborators
{Our research agenda must align with the priorities and expectations of both society and
government funders
{To prosper in this climate, we must proactively seek research funds to support our agenda
{Build
We Recognize
{The use of science is absolutely necessary but is by no means sufficient
{Value preferences expressed through the economic, political, and legal systems will largely
determine the ultimate balance
{We need an integrated, holistic, adaptive approach that interprets scientific evidence in a
context of long-term societal welfare
We Recognize
{Our MS and PhD graduate programs must continue to:
zProvide an in depth specialized, disciplinary education
zPromote interdisciplinary systems thinking for an integrated team-based approach to help solve
our complex biological and social problems
We Recognize
{Research funding will always be somewhat opportunistic as funding sources dictate
{Faculty will pursue research agendas best suited to their disciplinary needs
{Priority will be given to the College’s research agenda when resources are allocated
Possible Research Mission
{To discover and understand ecosystem processes, develop new approaches for the use and
protection of natural resources and environmental services, and understand human behavior and
decisions about natural resources
Source: Don DeHayes, President, NAPFSC
20
Possible Research Questions
oHow does the natural world work?
oHow do people use the natural world?
oHow do such uses change the way the world works?
oHow do these uses and changes affect people?
Source: Don DeHayes, President, NAPFSC
Critical Capacity Shortages
{Quantitative analysis
{Decision sciences
{Land use and landscape analysis
{Ecosystem processes (forest health)
{Utilization technology
Source: National Graduate Education Needs and Priorities, NAPFSC
Emerging Research Areas
{Landscape
analysis
{Spatial analysis and information management
{Watershed science and planning
{Forest ecosystem health and restoration
{Risk analysis (ecological and economic components)
Source: National Graduate Education Needs and Priorities, NAPFSC
Suggested Research Themes
{Ecosystem Structure and Function
zProductivity
zHealth
zFunction
zManagement
Suggested Research Themes
{Social and human systems
zEnvironmental
valuation
zSystem integration (population, ecosystem, and socio-economic)
zNatural and human system interactions (land use, watershed planning, open space, and parks)
zCommunication and negotiation
Suggested Research Themes
{Technology
zBio-technology
zNew
energy sources (gasification of biomass)
and communication technology
zSatellite and remote imagery
zInformation
21
Expected Outcomes Today
{Develop research initiatives within 3-4 broad topical areas
{Identify profile for new faculty hires
22
APPENDIX 7
Thoughts from David Ford on a NODE approach to research in CFR
Although we may think about working in areas research is done to answer specific
questions
Example of a NODE:
in ecosystems/productivity to answer a question
question that can be translated into a number
What: Aof general
specific questions
What operations
Stand level
silviculture
should be applied
to achieve multiple
to second growth
objectives?
forests
Multiple types of stands,
largely in the 20 to 80
year age class
Timber, visual amenity,
wildlife habitat, and other
ecosystem functions
There are a number of specific questions varying according to:
objectives,
area/type of system
But we do require some core biological and ecological knowledge
23
What operations should be applied to second growth forests
to achieve multiple objectives?
Why is this important and suitable for study now?
A variety of types of user are asking this question.
Different approaches are being advocated for stand and
landscape treatments
There are some answers but more questions arising from
recent large scale experiments on the effects of different
operations
We need to establish a documented silviculture for these
types of stands
24
What operations should be applied to second growth forests
to achieve multiple objectives?
How can CFR provide leadership?
What operations should be applied to second growth forests to achieve multiple objectives?
We have ongoing research into many components of this problem
Possible contributors
Brubaker
Franklin
Halpern
Manuwal
Hinckley
Sprugel
Ford
West
We can provide a SYNTHESIS
25
What operations should be applied to second growth forests
to achieve multiple objectives?
What should we do?
Identify some specific problems of:
scientific interest
management importance
Joint work/Joint synthesis?
Foster international links
26
Sustainability
Economics
Sustainability
Social
Ecological
Habitat
Examples of concepts
needing to be refined to
answer new questions
Shade Tolerance
Invasive species
27
Emphasize the functionality and sustainability of complex natural
resource and environmental systems featuring:
Integration
A+
Vegetation/Stand structure/Animal habitat
Interdisciplinarity
A+
Botanist/Lifers/Foresters
Collaboration (on
and off campus)
Team-approach
Multiple scales
Gradient from
urban to rural
ecosystems
A
Form a IUFRO Working Group
We need to define specific research
questions to define specific teams
A+
Individual organism, stand and landscape
Depends upon the specific questions asked
28
Our Research Programs
w
Emphasize the functionality and
sustainability of complex natural resource
and environmental systems featuring:
z
z
z
z
Integration
Interdisciplinarity
Collaboration (on and off campus)
Team-approach
29