Southern
Research Station

Welcome to the Southern Research Station

We are a dedicated group of research scientists, leaders, and support staff – all focused on southern forests and the many products, services, and benefits they provide. Some of our research priorities include fire, water, products and markets, restoration, and forest health.

Our research projects touch all the diverse ecosystems across the South, and our work wouldn’t be possible without collaboration with and support from partners at other federal agencies, non-government organizations, state agencies, universities, and beyond.

Take a look around. I hope you’ll find research on relevant topics and the information you need to connect with our researchers and other employees.

— Toral Patel-Weynand, Station Director

Our Mission

Our mission is to create the science and technology needed to sustain and enhance southern forest ecosystems and the benefits they provide.

The Southern Research Station is part of the Nation's largest forestry research organization—USDA Forest Service Research and Development—the leading organization for research on natural resource management and sustainability in the United States. Headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, the Southern Research Station serves 13 southern states and beyond. Its staff of 130 scientists is organized into Research Work Units, with science technicians and other support personnel who work at various locations throughout the region: federal laboratories, universities, and experimental forests.

Since the beginning of the 20^th century, the Southern Research Station's researchers have excelled in studies on temperate and tropical forests, forest resources, and forest products. These studies provide a wealth of long-term datasets and conclusions on the dynamics of tree plantations and natural stands, watersheds, and wildlife habitats.

Science is our business; we are dedicated to scientific discovery, to developing and applying new techniques and technologies, and to meeting the needs of our customers. We believe that an emphasis on sustainability is the key to successful natural resource management and that human considerations are a part of every resource issue and opportunity.

Watch this video highlighting some of the people and science that makes the Southern Research Station part of the leading organization for research on natural resource management and sustainability in the United States.