Science you can use
From the Director
For nearly 100 years, the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) has worked to make our forests healthier, rural economies stronger, and quality of life better for all Americans. It is a bold statement to make, but virtually every American has benefited from research performed at the Forest Products Lab. However, we recently took a long, hard look at our programs. We simply had to ensure that we were still conducting research in areas that promised the biggest pay-off for the American taxpayer and that we were effectively assisting our many customers in using our technology and knowledge. One of our primary customer groups is the forest products industry. If the Lab is to be successful in providing forest managers the tools necessary to reduce the buildup of undesirable material in our nation's forests, then we certainly need to begin rebuilding America's forest products sector. To accomplish this, we need to develop breakthroughs in emerging areas such as biorefining, nanotechnology, and advanced composites. These technologies can be structured to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, increase national security, sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create good jobs. To attain these results, we are developing programs at FPL designed to help us become a business incubator and better support business enterprises seeking to increase their production of sustainable products derived from forest biomass. Our FPL Business plan reflects our new vision. We produced it to describe our programs and to suggest areas in which we can work with businesses to develop new products and improve existing processes. As you talk with your partners and customers about what the Forest Service is doing to address some of our most pressing national issues, I hope you'll keep us in mind and mention our work. We are always looking for opportunities to partner and work together. A copy of the FPL Business plan is available by contacting FPL Communications Director Gordie Blum at (608) 231-9325, or gblum@fs.fed.us. .Dr. Chris Risbrudt |