Forests Programs
Forests cover nearly 1/3 of the United States and are economically, socially, and ecologically important to individuals and communities. The sustainability of the renewable resources forests provide continues to remain a key priority at NIFA. Forest programs expand the knowledge of forest ecosystems, train future forestry professionals, and put research-based management practices into action.
General Information
Private individuals, businesses and organizations own 423 million (56 percent) of the nation’s 751 million acres of forestland. Nearly 11 million family forest owners account for 92 percent of the private ownerships and 62 percent (262 million acres) of the private forest land. These lands are managed for a wide range of ownership objectives and support their owners’ personal goals and interests as well as contributing critical ecosystem goods and services to society as a whole.
NIFA's forest programs expand the knowledge of forest ecosystems, train future forestry professionals, and put research-based management practices into action through extension activities.
In addition to non-capacity grants, NIFA provides support for research and extension activities at land-grant institutions through grants to the states on the basis of statutory formulas. Eligibility is limited to the cooperating institutions, most of which are 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant institutions.
- McIntire-Stennis Capacity Grant
- Smith-Lever Act Capacity Grant
- Hatch Act of 1887 (Multistate Research)
- Hatch Act of 1887 (Regular Research)
- Division of Environmental Systems Portfolio Strategic Plan
- Agroclimate Science Portfolio Strategic Plan
- Bioeconomy-Bioenergy-Bioproducts Portfolio Strategic Plan
- ARCHIVE: FY 2012-2016 RREA Strategic Plan (extended through FY 2018)
- McIntire-Stennis Project Proposal Essentials
- Administrative Manual for the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Program
- McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Program Administrative Regulations Summary
- Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals
- U.S. Global Change Research Program
- Forests and Rangelands, DOI and USDA
- National 4-H Forestry Invitational
- National Association of University Forest Resources Programs
- Sustainable Forests Roundtable
- USDA Conservation Programs