Seven hundred and forty-five million acres of forestland. Eighty universities. One voice: the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs.
America’s forests face complex challenges that demand sophisticated solutions. The university programs training tomorrow’s forest professionals need resources, coordination, and a voice in Washington. The National Association of University Forest Resources Programs has provided all three for more than 40 years.
We represent 80 university forestry and natural resources programs across the nation. These institutions educate the next generation of foresters, conduct the research that guides forest management, and deliver extension services that help landowners make informed decisions. Our role is to ensure they have what they need to succeed.
Our member institutions deliver the research that guides forest management decisions, create curricula that prepare professionals for evolving stewardship challenges, secure government funding, and advance technology that sustains forest resources across 745 million acres.
Federal investment in university forest research flows largely through McIntire-Stennis. Established in 1962, the program provides formula-based funding to land-grant universities and other eligible institutions for forestry research that addresses national priorities.
McIntire-Stennis funding, combined with nonfederal matching funds, creates the base support for long-term research efforts. The program represents the central linkage in the federal-state partnership that sustains American forestry science.
NAUFRP members receive McIntire-Stennis support. Our role is ensuring Congress maintains and expands that investment. The research emerging from M-S programs tackles climate adaptation, wildfire management, sustainable harvest practices, and emerging threats to forest health. This research guides decisions affecting billions of dollars in timber value and hundreds of millions of acres.
Our members span the nation’s diverse forest ecosystems. From the pine plantations of the Southeast to the boreal forests of Alaska, NAUFRP represents the universities training foresters who understand regional challenges and national opportunities.
Every region contributes distinct expertise. Together, they educate over 5,000 forestry students annually and conduct research that shapes policy from Capitol Hill to counties in every corner of the country.
