U of I program focused on forestry management solutions through partnerships

Forestry management is the goal of a recently established research institute by one of Idaho’s post-secondary schools.

The Forest Innovations Institute (FII) looks to partner with public and private forest landowners and industry folks to develop solutions in management forested areas through things such as tree physiology and genetics, fore modeling, silviculture, forest pests and pathogens, harvest operations and economics and policy.

“FII will engage broadly with public and private forest landowners, industry partners, tribal governments, nonprofits and other universities on a regional and even international level,” said Dennis Becker, dean of the College of Natural Resources. “FII aims to ensure that forestry research is not only cutting edge but also grounded in real-world needs and opportunities.”

Along with its other goals, FII is also seeking to support workforce development and training with the U of I faculty and students by preparing upcoming forestry professionals with technological and economic know-how. U of I stated that the efforts align with its “strategic priorities to conduct research that generates practical solutions for Idaho’s residents and workforce.”

One of the companies with a long history of collaboration with U of I’s forestry program, manages more than 620,000 acres of private timberland in Idaho, and believes the institute will play a “critical role” in the management arena.

“Through our decades-long collaboration with University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources, our sustainable forest management initiatives have benefited from high-quality research on a wide range of issues including research on forest nurseries, tree improvement, watersheds and forestry operations,” said Darrin Ball, PotlatchDeltic’s vice president of Timberlands. “With more than half of our professional staff in Idaho being graduates of the College of Natural Resources, we view FII’s goal to generate an even higher-quality trained workforce as a major win for Idaho.”

U of I stated that by partnering with FII, foresters will have access to the latest technology and research, a fact not lost on Dustin Miller, director of Idaho Department of Lands, which oversees 1 million acres of the state’s endowment timberlands.

“[The institute] couldn’t come at a better time,” Miller said. “As demand for wood and wood products continues to grow, advancements in forestry research and technology are essential to maintaining a sustainable supply of wood and fiber for mills in Idaho and across the country. That helps ensure Idaho’s state forest lands are managed sustainably to produce the timber resources society depends on while generating income for our endowment beneficiaries.”

According to U of I, to fulfill the institute’s mission, “FII will draw expertise from several existing U of I research units, including the Center for Forest Nursery and Seedling Research, the Forest Products Lab, the IFIRE Combustion Lab, the Inland Empire Tree Improvement Cooperative, the Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, the Mica Creek Experimental Watershed, the Policy Analysis Group, U of I Drone Lab, U of I’s Experimental Forest and the Forest Affiliate Network. These units bring expertise and infrastructure that will enhance FII’s ability to conduct high-impact, transdisciplinary research.”

“With increasing pressures from wildfires, pests, climate change and economic shifts, our forests face unprecedented challenges,” Becker said. “The Forest Innovations Institute represents a bold response. By integrating new technologies, industry collaboration and state-of-the-art research, we aim to support healthy, productive forests.”