We also work closely with the Regional Urban Forester with Region 8 State & Private Forestry, located in Atlanta, GA. Visit our employee page to learn more about each of us.

Our research program seeks to improve the understanding of how people living in urban and urbanizing landscapes both influence and are influenced by natural environments (click here to learn about our research projects). Our technology transfer centers aim to develop and communicate guidelines, models, and tools for natural resource professionals, policymakers, planners and citizens (click here to learn more about our technology transfer centers).

Our research work unit charter integrates both research and technology transfer components. There are four main problem areas within our charter, as follows:

Problem 1.  Assess human influences on natural ecosystems in urban and urbanizing landscapes:  The South is the fastest growing region in the Nation.  Current estimates place population growth at 815,000 individuals annually.  By 2020, over 12 million acres of forestlands are projected to be lost to growth-induced urban land-uses. The consequences of this land use change will have far reaching consequences for the sustainability of southern forests and community well-being. 

Problem 2.  Assess how human influences on natural ecosystems affect human-derived benefits from those ecosystems:  With the conversion of natural ecosystems through urbanization, the type and amount of ecosystem goods and services used by humans are altered.  These changes directly affect community well-being.  Research is needed to understand how benefits change with urbanization and to develop best management to optimizing services in urban and urbanizing landscapes. 

Problem 3.  Define the relationship of land use policies to ecological and social patterns and processes and how they influence natural disturbances in urban and urbanizing environments:  Public policies are often developed independently and often in the absence of full understanding of natural resource and ecological implications.  Research is needed to assess how state and local land use policy and decision making alter ecosystem services and natural disturbance regimes often resulting in subsequent risks to human and forest communities. 

Problem 4.  Develop technology transfer models, tools, and guidelines for natural resource professionals, policymakers and citizens to address and minimize risk due to changes from urbanization and other human influences on forest ecosystems:  An integrated, multidisciplinary approach to understanding the social and ecological aspects of urban and urbanizing landscapes is critical, as well as is the dissemination of both new and existing information.  This approach will provide information and tools for policy makers and natural resource professionals challenged with managing resources in these changing landscapes. It will also provide information for policymakers and homeowners who often have limited understanding of the benefits that ecosystems provide and how their land use decisions affect ecological processes and disturbance regimes. To view our full research work unit charter, click here.

The Southern Research Station programs are divided into five main science areas (click here for more information). SRS-4952 is part of the Forest Values, Uses, and Policies Science Area, which seeks to provide the knowledge and tools required to manage impacts and optimize benefits of human-forest interactions. To view the Forest Values, Uses, and Policies Charter, click here.