Southern university and a & M college (SU) is the only university in the nation that offers M.S. And PH.D. Degree in urban forestry, therefore SU is uniquely poised to achieve the societal…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Southern University Agricultural & Mechanical College $556,536 under the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research program (CFDA 10.202) on October 1, 2025.

The award funds faculty-mentored research and training in urban forestry, with deliverables including databases, research articles, theses, capstone reports, dissertations, and presentations. Six research and training objectives structure the work: incorporating smart growth strategies to increase tree canopy cover through urban forest assessment and tree planting; assessing environmental complexity and its impacts on water resources and developing mitigation strategies; managing forested wetlands to improve flood prevention and wildlife habitat; evaluating urban forest UV mitigation potential; protecting natural resources against invasive species and pests; and utilizing geospatial technologies to improve ecosystem productivity. Faculty members serve as research mentors leading each objective and providing training to graduate students who earn graduate assistantships to participate in the research.

Southern University's Agricultural Research and Extension Center, located in Scotlandville, Louisiana, is the recipient. The institution is the only university in the nation offering M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in urban forestry. Performance occurs at Scotlandville, Louisiana. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. The funding supports enhanced research capacity and workforce preparedness of graduate students, with research findings applied to elevate the urban forestry program.

Southern university and a & M college (SU) is the only university in the nation that offers M.S. And PH.D. Degree in urban forestry, therefore SU is uniquely poised to achieve the societal engagement that others might not be able to accomplish. The project goal is to cultivate future scientists through faculty mentored research participation to achieve research and training objectives that algin with the mcintire stennis cooperative forest research programs' research priority areas. The funding will support the urban forestry faculty and graduate students in carrying out the research and training that can result in enhanced research capacity and workforce preparedness of the graduate students. The application of research findings in education programs will elevate the urban forestry programs to a new height. To accomplish the goal, the faculty-student team will achieve six research and training objectives that aim at solving pressing challenges: 1. Incorporate smart growth strategies to increase tree canopy cover through urban forest assessment and tree planting; 2. Assess environmental complexity and its impacts on water resources and develop mitigation strategies; 3. Manage forested wetlands to improve flood prevention and wildlife habitat; 4. Evaluate urban forest UV mitigation potential; 5. Protect natural resources against invasive species and pests; and 6. Utilize geospatial technologies to improving ecosystem productivity. We plan to achieve each objective by a faculty-student team who will conduct research under a set of research topics that are designed to accomplish that objective. A faculty member will serve as research mentor, lead a particular objective, and provide training to a team of students who will be earning graduate assistantship to participate in the research topics. The major products will be the research results of the faculty and student teams, such as database, research articles, theses, capstone reports, dissertations, abstracts, and presentations. The measurable outcomes include number of publications, graduate student enrollment, retention, graduation, and placement. The impacts include but not limited to utilize research findings to serve community members, stake holders, and public. Graduate students are the major target audiences/trainees. Target audiences also include community members, faculty, staff, and scientists in forestry and natural resources disciplines; professional organizations such as society of american foresters, international society of arboriculture, society of municipal arborists; public and private sectors in urban forestry, forestry, and natural resources; universities with forestry and natural resource programs; and federal and state research stations.