Project Number: WVA00083
CRIS Number: 0179458
PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF A COOPERATIVE FOREST RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR WEST VIRGINIA
Investigators: Mcneel, J. F.
Performing Department: Forestry -- 1240
Start Date: 10/01/1998
Termination Date: 09/30/2003
Reporting period: 01/01/2001 to 12/31/2001
Progress Report:
Over the past year, I have worked to promote cooperative forestry research in the state. Some of the highlights associated with this effort include the following: * Development of a formal liaison position between the WV Division of Natural Resources (DNR) and the WVU Division of Forestry. The position is envisioned as one that will promote more cooperative research between our two programs. The current plan is to house the Liaison at the Division of Forestry for three days a week and develop strong ties between this person and all programs in the Division. * Development of a formal liaison position between the WV Division of Forestry (DoF) and the WVU Division of Forestry. The position has been informally established for almost a year, but we are working to develop a formal relationship. We have been able to develop a number of research based initiatives such as the inventory of several state forests and conversion of the DoF inventory system to a GIS based program. * Interactive work with the WV Forestry Association (WVFA) to develop a web based interactive database to track safety performance of loggers enrolled in the WVFA Logging Safety Initiative. We plan to share the safety data, the first of it's kind, with the National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) to develop a study of the impacts associated with safety training on the logging workforce in WV. * The WVU Division of Forestry sponsored the 24th annual Council on Forest Engineering (COFE)meeting at Snowshoe Resort this summer. The meeting was attended by almost 100 forest engineers and others associated with forest operation/engineering. Attendees came from several countries (France, Belgium, and New Zealand), as well as from across the US. * I made a presentation to the Forest Products Society at the national meeting of the FPS in Baltimore, MD this past June. The topic of the presentation focused on information planning and management. The paper resulted from a collaborative effort with researchers from the forest products industry to analyze production by mechanized and semi-mechanized logging crews in Appalachia. Trends were discussed and suggestions made on ways to improve logging production in the region. Other efforts over the past year included the following: Attended the Westvaco Wildlife & Ecosystem Research Findings Meeting Attended the annual A.B. Brooks Symposium held by WVFA. Visited the College of Forestry at Oregon State University and the Weyerhaeuser Foundation to discuss possible funding opportunities. Attended the National Forest Resources Association Meeting. Spoke (Keynote Address) at the WV Woodland Owners Association. Attended and participated in the Agenda 2020 program review and development effort in Atlanta, GA, sponsored by the American Forest and Paper Association.
Publications:
McNeel, J.F., 2001. Co-editor, Proceedings of the 24th Annual Meeting of the Council on Forest Engineering, held July 15-19, 2001 at Snowshoe, WV. 213 pp.
Impact:
Increased research opportunities for research in critical forestry related areas, increased liaison between the WVU Division of Forestry and state agencies, increased collaboration between the Division and federal agencies, greater recognition of the Division in the Appalachian region for research, teaching, and service based efforts, increased undergraduate and graduate student enrollment.