Pacific Southwest Research Station

[image:] TreeSearch, links to http://treesearch.fs.fed.us/

Giving you access to over 25,000 online USDA Forest Service Research publications.

Science that makes a difference.

The Pacific Southwest Research Station is a world leader in natural resources research through our scientific excellence and responsiveness to the needs of current and future generations.

We represent the research and development branch of the USDA Forest Service in the states of California and Hawaii and the U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands. Our primary work occurs in California (the most populous state with the fifth largest economy in the world) and Hawaii (a strategic location in the Pacific Rim economies and tourism). Our mission is to Develop and communicate science needed to sustain forest ecosystems and their benefits to society.

2010 Request for Proposals for Sudden Oak Death/Phytophthora ramorum research - provides for approximately $500,000 to be awarded competitively in 2010. Through this Request for Proposals, we will fund research, nationwide and internationally, to increase the understanding of Phytophthora ramorum/Sudden Oak Death. Proposals are due on or before Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Complete instructions for submission are provided on the Request for Proposals. For more information contact Susan Frankel, Sudden Oak Death/Phytophthora ramorum Research Program Manager at sfrankel@fs.fed.us or 510-559-6472. Learn more about the SOD Program.

screen shot of climate change short course PSW Scientist Earns Deputy Chief's Distinguished Science Award - Research paleoecologist Connie Millar is well-respected within the scientific community for her leadership in interdisciplinary research, including climate change research. She is also admired for her aptitude and eagerness to clearly communicate complex scientific findings to land managers. For these reasons and more, Millar will be presented the 2009 Research and Development Deputy Chief's Distinguished Science award during ceremonies January 27, 2010 in Washington, D.C. Read the full news release.

Photo: Emerald Bay Tahoe Science: The Tahoe Science Consortium and Pacific Southwest Research Station have assembled a report entitled, "Effects of Fuels Management in the Tahoe Basin: A Scientific Literature Review." The report consists of chapters authored by research scientists that summarize the relevant scientific literature on vegetation responses to treatments, effects of treatments on future wildfires, soil and water quality responses, effects of wild and prescribed fires on air quality, and wildlife habitat and community responses. The report also includes a 6 page Executive Summary, an introductory overview of the context of fuels management in the basin, and an appendix describing several ongoing research efforts designed to answer key questions. Electronic copies of this report are available here: Effects of Fuels Management in the Tahoe Basin: A Scientific Literature Review

Visit our Tahoe Science research partnerships pages to learn more about the program.

Missed it when it was new? We've started a What's New archive.

Winter 2010 issue of Science Perspectives - The article, An emerging triad: air pollution, beetles, and wildfire , features the work of researcher Nancy Grulke. Biochemical changes in trees stressed by drought and air pollution may attract bark beetles, which overwhelm the trees’ defense mechanisms. Read this article or check out all of our Science Perspectives.

Goheen, E.M.; Frankel, S.J., tech. coords. 2009. Proceedings of the fourth meeting of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Working Party S07.02.09: Phytophthoras in forests and natural ecosystems. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-221. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 334 p.

Browse the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry Video Presentations page - see our experts' lectures and presentations on topics in tropical ecosystems and forestry. Current titles include "The Hawaii Tropical Experimental Forest"; "A General Framework for Ecological Restoration in Changing Climate"; "Mangroves, Sediment and Water"; "Habitat Value of Mangroves for Fish in Micronesia". Browse the videos.

Global Climate Change

Pacific Southwest Global Change - Learn about climate change research and related activities conducted by scientists at the PSW Research Station.
Pacific Southwest Research Station and Region 5 Sustainable Operations Survey Report - Read the results of our sustainable operations survey. Current participation in sustainable operations efforts and ideas for increasing success are presented. For more information contact Pat Winter pwinter@fs.fed.us.
Scientists talk about climate change in the West - Topics emphasize information of interest to wildland managers and others who want an understanding of the interaction among climate change, forests, wildfire, water supplies, fish and wildlife, and associated values, and the implications for wildland management.

PSW Station participates in MillionTreesLA initiative - The Pacific Southwest Research Station is pleased to be able to provide a simple tree selection tool to assist the City of Los Angeles in meeting their goal to plant a million trees. See how to pick a one-in-a-million tree! at our Center for Urban Forestry area. Also visit http://www.milliontreesla.org to learn more about the effort.