Research Initiatives

forestry students involved in research

Research & Outreach

Opportunities for world-class research that makes a difference

Need one more reason to study forestry at SFA? In addition to offering amazing natural resources and opportunities for life-changing internships, we also participate in a variety of research initiatives through our partnerships with organizations such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Forest Service, National Park Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Texas Forest Service.

McIntire-Stennis Capacity Grant

SFA is one of only two Texas universities awarded this annual research grant. The McIntire-Stennis Capacity Grant provides SFA with funding to promote student research on the following forestry topics:

  • reforestation and management of land used for crop and timber production
  • forest, rangeland and watershed management
  • management of recreational forest lands
  • protection of forests and resources against threats such as fire, insects or diseases
  • utilization of wood and other forest products
  • and policy development.

Current graduate student McIntire-Stennis supported research projects:

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Each summer, students from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture head to Wyoming, where they spend two weeks collecting data in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

This trip is a win-win for everyone involved: Forestry students have the opportunity to travel to two of the world’s most beautiful national parks and participate in valuable research. The parks get guaranteed access to a group of enthusiastic volunteers.

Check out this video from the 2016 research trip.

East Texas Pine Plantation Research Project

Since 1982, SFA’s East Texas Pine Plantation Research Project, initiated by the Arthur Temple  College of Forestry and Agriculture, has worked to improve the management of East Texas forestlands and the Western Gulf Coast region through collaboration with private landowners and extensive data collection.

In addition to collecting valuable scientific data, this project provides forestry students important research experience and training.

Wildland fire risk assessment in the Netherlands

Since 2012, Dr. Brian P. Oswald, Joe C. Denman distinguished professor of fire ecology, along with SFA students, have collaborated with public safety agencies in the Netherlands to collect fire fuel load data. The data collected helps develop a wildfire spread model that can predict wildfire behavior.

SFA students play an integral role in collecting data and conducting related research throughout the country. Results from this research will guide future land management practices domestically and abroad.

Other current research projects