National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council

Urban Renewal

Our Nation’s forests, grasslands, and urban environments are facing increasing pressure from human and environmental threats, including climate change, pollution, growing human populations, and increasing energy demands.

Forest Service Research & Development (R&D) has responded to this challenge by identifying priority research areas for emphasis over the next 3-5 years. These priority areas build upon R&D's core Research Topics and demonstrate R&D's commitment to remaining an interactive, vibrant, and visionary partner in solving today’s critical problems with science and technology.

The Priority Areas are:

• Biomass & Bioenergy: Research focused on alternative energy sources, new products and new markets that contribute to U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic opportunity.
• Climate Change: Adaptation research to improve the resiliency of forests, rangelands, and aquatic areas and to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on trees, forests, and forest ecosystems.
• Nanotechnology: Leading cutting-edge innovations in the development of wood products.
• Urban Natural Resources Stewardship: Research for the management, protection, and care of urban natural resources to improve people’s lives.
• Watershed Management & Restoration: Watershed-scale research to understand where water shortages will occur, identify how future climate will affect rain and snow fall, and find ways to reduce water pollution and protect water sources.