Forest Genetics & Biotechnology

Promo Area

Improvements in species and breeding techniques identified through our genetics and biotechnoly efforts are helping people across North Carolina better cultivate their favorite species while introducing compatible new favorites into their forests, yards and gardens.

Key Contacts

Vincent Chiang
Professor,
Co-Director, Forest Biotechnology Group
Phone: 919-513.0098
Fax: 919-515-7801
vincent_chiang@ncsu.edu

Ron Sederoff
Professor,
Co-Director, Forest Biotechnology Group
Phone: 919-513-0073
volvo@unity.ncsu.edu

John Frampton
Professor & Christmas Tree Genetics Program Leader
Phone: 919-515-7580
john_frampton@ncsu.edu

Steve McKeand
Professor,
Director of NCSU Cooperative Tree Improvement Program
Phone: 919-515-3168

Fax: 919-515-3169
steve_mckeand@ncsu.edu

Fikret Isik
Research Assistant Professor, NCSU Cooperative Tree Improvement Program
Phone: 919-515-5029
Fax: 919-515-3169
fisik@ncsu.edu

Ross Whetten
Associate Professor,

NCSU Cooperative Tree Improvement Program
Phone: 919-515-7578

Fax: 919-515-3169

ross_whetten@ncsu.edu

Bill S. Dvorak
Professor,
Director of CAMCORE
Phone: 919-515-6426
W_Dvorak@ncsu.edu

Gary R. Hodge
Professor

CAMCORE

Phone: 919-515-6427
grh@ncsu.edu

Extension Programs

FER Home : Forest Genetics & Biotechnology : Extension Programs

FER contributes its forest genetics and biotechnology expertise to several extension and outreach programs that educate industry professionals, the general public and communities about the benefits and role of genetics and biotechnology in forest management.

These programs are typically sponsored by other areas within the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, state agencies and private or non-profit foundation:

FER’s Forestry & Environmental Outreach Program often offers courses, workshops, conferences and seminars involving forest ecology and management for industry professionals on both a non-credit and continuing education credit basis. It also educates the general public, professionals, landowners, public and private land managers on these issues. 

Extension Forestry provides technical assistance on the management of timberlands and wildlife habitats via educational programs for adults and children. Services are provide through N.C.’s 100 County Extension Centers as well as the Cherokee Indian Reservation Center. 

Camcore is a non-profit, international program that works for the conservation of tropical and subtropical forest tree species around the world. Camcore works with industry partners to identify threatened species and collect seeds for use in conservation and growth studies, assess genetic diversity to improve methods of conservation, evaluate the adaptability of trees to new locations and develop long-term improvement programs for ensuring the sustainability of resources. 

International Forestry and Conservation promotes international faculty exchanges, student participation in global research projects and courses in relevant topics. It offers research grants to students, and works with a wide variety of worldwide organizations in pursuing such international research topics as tropical forest conservation and economic development and sustainability for developing countries. 

The Southern Center for Sustainable Forests, a cooperative organization comprised of FER faculty and staff, Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences and the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources. The Southern Center provides leadership for research, education and extension that promotes economically and ecologically sustainable management of forests in the South.