FOREST SYSTEMS AND BIOENERGY INTEREST GROUP
Program Description
The sustainable management of western forests is becoming increasingly difficult in the face of intense summer
forest fires, large insect outbreaks, and limited silvicultural options due to loss of markets for lower quality,
small diameter wood. The ability to utilize low-quality, small-diameter wood has diminished over the past two decades
as a direct result of the closure of pulp and saw mills throughout the region. Frequently, blame is laid for these
closures on the increased regulatory environment associated with wildlife habitat protection policies,and the subsequent
loss of a steady supply of raw material. Other researchers claim that the phenomenon of western mill closures is a
function of a glut of raw material available both domestically and abroad.
The Forest Systems and Bioenergy interest group has changed the focus from finding a cause for this shift in
demand for western wood products to finding alternative uses for these resources. We are looking at integrating
small-scale, mobile, wood biomass chemical conversion to liquid fuel systems with emerging technologies in the
renewable-energy sector (hydrogen fuel cells). Course
work is flexible to cover the diversity of interests within the interest group.
Current Research
For current funded grants in this interest group, click here.
| Faculty | Areas of Interest |
|
Ernesto Alvarado
| Wildland fire science; Fire ecology and management; Combustion and fire behavior; Carbon emissions; Fire and climate change; Quantitative modeling; International forestry |
|
David Briggs
| Operations research in forest products industries |
|
Sharon Doty
| Phytoremediation; Plant biotechnology |
|
Robert Edmonds
| Forest soil microbiology; Biology of forest diseases; Air pollution |
|
Jerry Franklin
| Forest ecology; Ecosystem processes; Landscape ecology; Succession; Structure |
|
Kevin Hodgson
| Surface and colloid science of papermaking; Secondary fiber recycling |
|
Bruce Lippke
| Forest economics, global trade and environmental policy linkages, resources assessment, environmental/economic performance of renewable industrial materials, rural technology transfer |
|
L. Monika Moskal
| Remote sensing; Biospatial analysis |
|
Peter Schiess
| Forest engineering; Harvest and transportation planning; Forest road design and construction; Mechanical harvest operations |
|
Daniel Vogt
| Soil and ecosystem ecology; Natural, disturbed, and sustainable ecosystems |
|
Kristiina Vogt
| Linking social and natural science; Reserves; Conservation |
For further information:
Interest Group Coordinator: Dr. Dan Vogt
sfr of Forest Resources
Box 352100
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-2100
email dvogt@u.washington.edu; FAX 206-685-3091; Phone 206-685-3292
For admissions packet:
Office of Student Services
sfr of Forest Resources
Box 352100
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington 98195-2100
email sfradv@u.washington.edu; FAX 206-685-0790; Phone 206-543-7081