Working Group Descriptions & News (WG-news)

A-Resources Measurements Subject Area

A1-Inventory:

Focuses on the process of collecting, summarizing, and evaluating information on forest resources. Deals with forest mensuration, statistical sampling issues, and the use and interpretation of inventory data.

A2-Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry

Furthers the science, education and public outreach of remote sensing applications in forestry and natural resource disciplines. Fosters the integration of remote sensing, geographic information systems and related spatial technologies.

A3-Biometrics:

Forest biometrics is the application of mathematics and statistics in the management and biological study of forests. This group promotes interaction among forest biometricians and disseminates biometric results, tools, and technology throughout SAF.

A4-Geographic Information Systems:

GIS deals with the placement, description, and analysis of spatial information in many formats. This working group covers all issues related to GIS, including computer hardware, software, personnel and geographic data, and how to efficiently process and analyze information to make better resource decisions.

 

B-Forestry Systems Subject Area

B1-Nonindustrial Private Forestry:

Focuses on sharing information with landowners and/or foresters regarding current issues, new developments, and regulatory actions relating to management of NIPF lands.

B2-Urban and Community Forestry:

Provides technical information, support, and recommendations concerning urban forest ecosystem management. Increases awareness and understanding of urban and community forestry. Promotes all aspects of urban forestry and shares information with local units of government regarding current issues, programs, policy and regulatory laws concerning urban forest ecosystem management.

B3-International Forestry:

Communicates the scientific and technical information that advances policies and practices to provide sustainable conservation and management of the world's forest resources for ecological, social, and economic objectives, including trade. Fosters debate on issues and encourages member involvement in international forestry issues and activities.

B4-Agroforestry:

Increases awareness and understanding of how agroforestry systems improve the sustainability and economics of agricultural systems. Promotes the professional forestry role in the application of agroforestry systems and promotes all aspects of agroforestry including windbreaks, riparian buffer plantings, wildlife plantings, alleycropping, block plantings, and forest grazing (silvopasturing).

 

C-Ecology and Biology Subject Area

C1-Forest Ecology:

Focuses on the forest as an ecosystem and represents managers and scientists who study the relationships between forests and the environment or the growth and development of forests.

C2-Soils:

Promotes an understanding of the properties of soils that influence the distribution and growth of trees and affect forest management practices. Activities provide information about forest soils that land managers can use to make better management decisions.

C3-Water Resources:

Focuses on forest hydrology and watershed management. Member interests and technical backgrounds are highly varied and include public and private employment in research, teaching, extension and resource management.

C5-Wildlife and Fish Ecology:

Focuses on the relationship of forests and forest management on fish and wildlife resources. Recognizing this interrelationship, the group works to have the fish and wildlife resource a major component of forest conservation and management.

C6-Physiology:

Provides a forum for SAF members to communicate interests, ideas, and issues related to physiology and ecophysiology at the individual tree, stand, and landscape levels. Cosponsors the biennial North American Forest Biology Workshops and, on alternate years, technical sessions at the SAF National Conventions.

 

D-Management & Utilization Subject Area

D1-Forest Genetics and Tree Improvement:

This groups' interests include gene conservation, selection and breeding, seed orchard management, vegetative propagation, and the development and application of molecular biology and tissue culture techniques to forest tree species. Promotes the management of both natural forest and plantation forest ecosystems, through the science of genetics.

D2-Silviculture:

Dedicated to disseminating information on the science of silviculture to practicing foresters and to facilitating discussion among the research community.

D3-Forest Production and Utilization:

Interests include forest engineering and harvesting and the manufacturing, marketing and utilization of forest products. Members follow a broad range of career paths, from procurement forester to academic timber marketing specialist.

D4-Fire:

Members work to advance the understanding, science, technology, research and application of fire management in support of wildland fire protection, forestry, and rangeland ecosystem programs.

D5-Forest Pathology and Entomology:

This group collects and disseminates information on forest insects and diseases, utilizing input on forest health problems provided by SAF members.

 

E-Decision Sciences Subject Area

E1-Economics, Policy and Law:

This working group shares the latest information on economic, legal, and policy issues affecting renewable natural resource management.

E2-Land Use Planning Organization and Management:

Promotes the understanding of how an organization anticipates the future and moves to adapt its activities, structure, and function to be an effective land management organization.

The Land Use Planning, Organization & Management Working Group has developed a new website to keep our members involved and informed. Take look at: http://www.forestry.uga.edu/warnell/bettinger/saf/e2.htm

E3–Bioenergy, Climate Change, and Carbon Working Group

Provides science-based leadership in adaptive forest management pertaining to climate change, carbon management, and sustainable sources of domestic renewable energy. With respect to forests’ role in reducing and preventing GHG emissions, it shares information on carbon-offset-project qualification, quality, measurement, verification, trading, registration, and policy; use of cellulosic bio-fuels across multiple markets and applications; the substitution of renewable wood product building materials for nonrenewable building materials; and Life Cycle Assessments of technologies capable of accomplishing stated goals and simultaneously empower forest managers with the tools to restore forests to healthy landscape-level systems as defined by historical measures

E4-Management Science and Operations Research:

This group deals with the construction, validation, and implementation of planning, operations, strategic and tactical models to facilitate the management of forest resources at scales ranging from individual organisms to global. Major activities include sponsorship of a triennial, international Symposium on Systems Analysis in Forest Resources, and a working group web site (http://www.forestry.umt.edu/hosting/saf_e4/default.htm).

E6- Sustainability and Forest Certification:

Focuses on the crosscutting aspect of sustainable forestry and forest certification systems and, in the course of their activity, help support the activities of other SAF working groups and committees whose interests touch upon these topics. The Sustainability and Forest Certification Working Group tackles such topics as: sustainability theory and sustainable forest management; criteria and indicators; mutual recognition; national and international treaties, agreements and trade issues related to sustainable forestry; roles of forester certification in forest certification; forest auditing theory and practice; and labeling, marketing, and acceptance of labeled forest products.

 

F-Social & Related Sciences Subject Area

F1-Wilderness Management:

Recognizes wilderness is the foundation for healthy, diverse ecosystems and that the preservation and understanding of natural processes has emerged as one of the most significant issues of wilderness. Focuses on working cooperatively with urban communities, natural resource agencies, international forestry programs, and other working groups; raising the awareness of wilderness and its role in natural resources management; and dealing with both national and international issues related to wilderness.

F2-Recreation:

Addresses the management of outdoor recreation resources. Scope includes the management of recreation sites and facilities, dispersed recreation, landscape, cultural resources, historical resources, interpretative services, and other outdoor recreation activities, and the coordination of recreation with other resource activities.

F3-Outreach and Education Working Group

This working group focuses on improving an understanding and application of relevant communications and outreach techniques, including environmental education for both youth and adults.

F4-Human Dimensions Working Group:

Human Dimensions covers a broad set of ideas and practices, including economic and social values, individual and group behavior, citizen involvement in planning and implementation of management, and communication (adapted from Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management; Decker, Brown, and Siemer 2001).The Human Dimensions field strives to understand those human beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors relative to natural resources and to integrate that insight into natural resource management planning, decision making, and actions. The Human Dimensions Working Group will include, but not be limited to, those ideas, issues, and concerns associated with that umbrella covering the human/natural resource interface.

F5-Philosophy and History:

Fosters understanding and information exchange concerning the diverse philosophical backgrounds —past, present, and future—-that drive forest management. Areas of interest include ethics and the philosophy of science.