The mcintire-stennis cooperative forestry research program is funded through the USDA national institute of food and agriculture as a formula-based program for forestry and natural resources…

The mcintire-stennis cooperative forestry research program is funded through the USDA national institute of food and agriculture as a formula-based program for forestry and natural resources research at land-grant universities. The program provides funding to the rubenstein school of environment and natural resources (RSENR) for critical state and regionally focused forestry and natural resources research to advance the understanding of forestry and natural resource issues and practices, and to monitor their effects on forest ecosystem health, forest management, social systems, and public policy. Over 75% of vermont's land area is covered by forests. These forested lands play a critical role in protecting watersheds, maintaining biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and supporting rural, working landscapes. Forestry as a field of study has had a long and distinguished history at the university of vermont with forestry courses taught here since 1888, with only a brief hiatus during world war II. The department of forestry was established in 1946 and the program is now a part of RSENR and accredited by the society of american foresters. The program prepares students with the knowledge, experience, and critical thinking skills needed to help solve the complex problems facing forest ecosystems, sustainable forest management, and conservation in the 21ST century. The mcintire-stennis forestry research program aims to increase forestry research in the production, utilization, and protection of forestland; train future forestry scientists; involve other disciplines in forestry research; and facilitate cooperation with state agencies and other vermont partners in forestry research. RSENR solicits proposals for five-year projects. Proposals are evaluated on their alignment with the strategic goals and targeted research areas of the national mcintire-stennis program. The current portfolio of mcintire-stennis projects in RSENR include two extensions of ongoing projects, as well as three new interdisciplinary projects that address ecological, social, and economic aspects of forest conservation and management. The two ongoing projects include work with: maple syrup producers to understand the relationship between management intensity, financial returns, biodiversity protection, and delivery of ecosystem services; and forest stakeholders to determine approaches that can best guide forest management as increasing disturbances alter ecological balances within regional forests. Of the three new projects, the first focuses on developing climate adaptation strategies that reduce risks to forest health, sustain critical habitats for culturally important and at-risk species, and support key ecosystem services like carbon storage. The second investigates the tradeoffs and synergies among carbon forestry practices, biomass energy, and recreational uses, addressing the QUE stion of how managers can integrate practices to achieve joint benefits while reducing user conflicts. The third new project focuses on the socioeconomic and ecological barriers to climate mitigation practicing facing small forestland owners, particularly rural, low-income, and minority communities often marginalized in the forest products industry. All projects emphasize research on forest PR oductivity, utilization, and protection in the face of climate change, invasive species, and socio-economic dimensions of forest fragmentation. All projects include significant opportunities to collaborate and share findings with stakeholders across agencies, nong overnmental organizations, and forest-dependent communities. We also place a high value on the training of future forest science professionals by supporting graduate students and early career researchers across these projects.