Climate change is a defining challenge of this century, and Forest Service scientists are at the forefront of the effort to confront this issue. The agency’s Research and Development deputy area has developed Research Improves Climate-smart Management of America’s Forests and Grasslands to highlight the agency’s contributions to climate science and their application to land management. This series of vignettes shows how Forest Service science makes forests and grasslands more resilient, communities more prepared, and green markets and initiatives more viable.

“This product is absolutely the result of all of the research stations coming together in support of a common goal,” said Deputy Chief Alex Friend. “My intent is for this to be a launchpad for all of us to spark deeper collaboration around how R&D can support climate-smart land management.”

Climate-related research is woven throughout the publication, which highlights specific examples of R&D’s contributions to finding climate solutions for working lands, wildland fire decision support, managing for forest and grassland resilience to climate change, and innovative scientific discoveries. Forest Service scientists provide the scientific understanding needed to inform forest and grassland management decisions, as well as practical applications of new knowledge.

America’s forests and grasslands provide drinking water for millions of people, influence the global carbon balance, supply food, support rural and urban jobs, provide places to recreate, and are home to many different types of fish and wildlife. Climate change is already impacting these systems, which are increasingly stressed by severe wildfires, invasive species, diseases, drought and other climate-driven disturbances. 

In addition to supporting land management decisions, R&D also helps the USDA and the nation move closer to achieving climate and carbon goals. For instance, the Forest Inventory and Analysis program is the primary source of data on U.S. terrestrial carbon stocks, forming the basis of national greenhouse gas estimates from forest land use and land use change. Emerging carbon markets can provide new income streams for farmers, ranchers and forest owners, and applications and tools founded upon Forest Service research support carbon markets. R&D research suggests that targeted reforestation of currently understocked forest lands could improve the nation’s carbon storage capacity by up to 20%. 

Check out the publication to learn more!