Major Initiatives
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The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources sponsors or is affiliated with a number of on-going major research initiatives.
Our current formal research initiatives include:
Center for Earth Observation, which was established in 1983 and is an Affiliate Campus of the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. The Center pursues a varied research and teaching agenda, using high-end laboratories equipped with powerful computer research capabilities.
Christmas Tree Genetics Program, which is improving the growth, quality and pest resistance of Christmas tree species important to North Carolina including Fraser fir, Virginia pine, Eastern white pine and Eastern red cedar. It also screens new species and is conducting genetic conservation efforts for Fraser fir, a globally threatened species.
Forest Biotechnology, which works with partners around the world to promote innovation in basic science in order to advance the application of molecular genetics to forest trees.
Forest Ecosystem Health and Assessment Program, a long-term, national research and monitoring effort that helps resource managers and policy makers manage forest resources, allocate funds for research and development and evaluate the effectiveness of environmental policies.
Forest Resource Economics, Management and Policy, which combines forest management and economic policy techniques under a single umbrella, allowing graduate students to pursue customized interdisciplinary studies covering the whole spectrum of forest economics and management, including public resource policy.
International Forestry and Conservation, a group that 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 international research topics.
Southern Center for Sustainable Forests, a cooperative organization comprised of FER, 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.
Restoration Ecology, a unique program that prepares students to help in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged or destroyed. Emphasis is placed on the actual craft of restoring natural ecosystems as well as the social and philosophical principles that mandate restoration.
Southern Forest Resource Assessment Consortium, a group that improves computer applications and modeling related to the evaluation of forest management techniques. This is a cooperative endeavor involving FER, USDA Forest Service Research, Southern forest industry, timberland investment management organizations and state forestry agencies.
