Southern Research Station Headquarters - Asheville, NC
Main Logo of Southern Research Station, Stating: Southern Research Station - Asheville, NC, with a saying of 'Science you can use!'
[Images] Five photos of different landscape

Southwide Initiatives

Emerging Issues in the South

For an in-depth look at State-by-State summaries & forest facts:





The Southern Research Station is part of the Nation's largest forestry research organization -- USDA Forest Service Research and Development -- the leading organization for research on natural resource management and sustainability in the United States. Headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, the Southern Research Station serves 13 Southern States and beyond. Its staff of over 130 scientists is organized into Research Work Units with science technicians and other support personnel, who work at various locations throughout the region: Federal laboratories, universities, and experimental forests.

Since the beginning of the 20th Century, the Southern Research Station's researchers have excelled in studies on temperate and tropical forests, forest resources, and forest products and activities. These studies provide a wealth of long-term data sets and conclusions on the dynamics of tree plantations and natural stands, watershed management, and wildlife habitats. Guided by a Strategic Framework updated in 2006, our mission is to create the science and technology needed to sustain and enchance southern forest ecosystems and benefits they provide. Forest Science in the South - 2006 summarizes budget information, highlights the year's accomplishments, and list publications.



Small logo of the USDASmall logo of the Forest Service Shield



National Research Issues

Urban natural resource stewardship

Considering urban and suburban settings in ecological terms will help ensure a healthy environment in developed areas. It also may reduce the pressure on people to move into wildlands and thereby help prevent the continuing loss of open space. Forest Service scientists are tackling questions such as: What are the impacts of human migration on the spatial patterns of resource use and management? How do preferences for resource use and management vary with demographic, cultural, and other factors?

Ecosystem services

Forest Service R&D is working to inventory and evaluate the status and trends of ecosystem services. We are developing the appropriate metrics to assign values to things such as water, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. Part of our job is to do a better job of explaining to the public the inherent value in ecosystems. We have already begun such work for carbon sequestration with carbon credits.

New challenges

In addition to the core programs and 2007 emphasis areas, Forest Service scientists are increasing their capability in nanotechnology and the pine genome. The Forest Service research on these and many other topics is part of a larger collaborative effort with partners in academia, industry, and other government entities.

  • Nanotechnology

    Potential uses of nanotechnology in forest products include development of intelligent wood- and paper-based products that could incorporate built-in nanosensors to measure forces, loads, moisture levels, temperatures, or pressures, or detect the presence of wood-decay fungi or termites. Nanotechnology can extend well beyond fiber products and new materials development and into the areas of sustainable energy production, storage, and utilization.

  • Pine genome

    Scientists want to build on existing knowledge of the loblolly pine's genetic blueprint and decipher its genome. Knowing what genes are responsible for what traits will allow them to accelerate tree improvement programs to ensure healthy and highly productive loblolly pine forests. Loblolly pine's fast growth rate, climate tolerance, disease resistance, and superior wood quality make it one of the most economically and ecologically important species in the United States. The understanding of the loblolly pine genomes will set the stage for other conifers. This knowledge is essential to maintaining the Nation's competitiveness in the global forest products market.





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