Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Washington received a $120,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program (CFDA 10.310), awarded May 1, 2026, with completion by April 30, 2028. This research project develops a mechanistic understanding of naturally resilient populations of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) to support assisted migration strategies and forest adaptation to future climate stressors. The project delivers three primary research products: a phenology model characterizing bud burst timing across Douglas-fir populations throughout the U.S. range; empirical measurements of stress tolerance thresholds for various environmental conditions; and comprehensive assessments of multiple stress tolerances both within and across populations to identify vulnerable and resilient populations.

The research addresses critical forest management challenges by providing evidence-based guidance on selecting appropriate seed sources for assisted migration implementation, thereby preventing maladaptation during vulnerable forest establishment phases. Through its focus on understanding the mechanistic drivers of stress tolerance, the project advances AFRI's goals of developing a skilled workforce and supporting natural resource management while contributing to climate adaptation strategies for commercial and conservation forestry operations.