United States Government Accountability Office

GAO Report to Congressional Requesters

WOOD UTILIZATION

Federal Research and 

Product Development 

Activities, Support, 

and Technology 

Transfer 

June 2006 

 

GAO-06-624 
What GAO Found

United States Government Accountability Office

Why GAO Did This Study

Highlights

Accountability Integrity Reliability

June 2006

WOOD UTILIZATION

Federal Research and Product 

Development Activities, Support, and 

Technology Transfer 

Highlights of GAO-06-624, a report to 

congressional requesters 

More wood is consumed every year 

in the United States than all metals, 

plastics, and masonry cement

combined. To maximize their use 

of wood, forest product companies 

rely on research into new methods

for using wood. At least 12 federal 

agencies have provided support to

wood utilization research and 

product development activities,

including the U.S. Department of

Agriculture’s Forest Service and

Cooperative State Research, 

Education, and Extension Service 

(CSREES)-funded wood utilization 

research centers, which historically

have specifically targeted support 

to these activities. 

GAO was asked to identify (1) the 

types of wood utilization research

and product development activities

federal agencies support and how 

these activities are coordinated; (2) 

the level of support federal 

agencies made available for these 

activities in fiscal years 2004 and

2005, and changes in the level of

support at the Forest Service and at 

the CSREES-funded wood 

utilization research centers for 

fiscal years 1995 through 2005; and 

(3) how the federal government

transfers the technologies and 

products from its wood utilization 

research and product development 

activities to industry. 

GAO provided a draft of this report 

to the 12 federal agencies for 

review and comment. Some of the 

agencies provided technical

comments, which were

incorporated as appropriate. 

Federal wood utilization research and product development span a broad 

spectrum of activities. These activities fall into five categories: harvesting, wood 

properties, manufacturing and processing, products and testing, and economics 

and marketing. Of the 12 federal agencies that provided support to wood

utilization research and product development, only the Forest Service and the

CSREES-funded wood utilization centers had activities in all five categories; 

although all the agencies had activities in manufacturing and processing. 

Coordination of these activities is both informal and formal. Scientists 

informally coordinate their activities by conferring with each other and sharing

information at conferences and professional meetings and through publications. 

In some cases, coordination occurs through more formal mechanisms, such as

cooperative arrangements and other joint ventures.

During fiscal years 2004 and 2005, the 12 federal agencies made available at least 

$54 million annually for wood utilization research and product development 

activities, measured either in budget authority or expenditures. (Dollars are 

reported in either budget authority or expenditure data, depending on the 

availability of agency data.) The Forest Service made available about half of 

these funds. In addition, the Forest Service—the only agency that directly

employs scientists and support staff to conduct wood utilization research and 

product development—reported having almost 175 full-time equivalent scientists 

and support staff in each of these years. For fiscal years 1995 through 2005, the

Forest Service’s budget authority for wood utilization research and product 

development activities fluctuated moderately from year-to-year (in inflationadjusted dollars). In contrast, overall, CSREES’ budget authority for the wood 

utilization research centers increased over the period (in inflation-adjusted

dollars), in part because of the addition of four new wood utilization research

centers between fiscal years 1999 and 2004. 

 

To transfer technologies and products to industry, federal agencies generally 

rely on scientists and technology transfer specialists, who use methods such as 

information sharing, technical assistance, and demonstration projects. For

example, applying research from the Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service

technology transfer specialists assisted a small forest products company in

producing flooring from small trees by, among other things, providing solutions 

to product imperfections like warping and discoloration. 

www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-624.

To view the full product, including the scope 

and methodology, click on the link above. 

For more information, contact Robin Nazzaro 

at (202) 512-3841 or nazzaror@gao.gov. 
Contents 

Letter 1

Results in Brief 4

Background 5

Federal Wood Utilization Research and Product Development 

Activities Fall into Five Categories and Are Coordinated Both

Informally and Formally 14 

Federal Agencies Made Available at Least $54 Million Annually for 

Wood Utilization Research and Product Development in Fiscal 

Years 2004 and 2005; Forest Service Support Fluctuated 

Moderately, and CSREES Support Increased Over 10 Years 22 

Federal Agencies Rely on Scientists and Specialists to Transfer 

Technology Through a Variety of Methods 33 

Agency Comments 43 

Appendix I Objectives, Scope, and Methodology 44 

Appendix II Forest Service’s Conducted and Planned Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development 50 

Appendix III CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers, Fiscal 

Years 1995-2005 96 

Appendix IV Budget Authority for the Forest Service’s Research 

Work Units and for the CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers 113 

Appendix V GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments 118 

Tables 

Table 1: Federal Agencies That Support Wood Utilization Research 

and Product Development, Principal Authorizing 

Legislation, and Description of Selected Programs 11 

Page i GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Table 2: Selected Laws That Support Technology Transfer for 

Wood Utilization Research and Product Development 13 

Table 3: Categories of Major Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development Activities 15 

Table 4: Agencies’ Wood Utilization Research and Product 

Development Activities and Examples of These Activities 17 

Table 5: Federal Financial Support in Wood Utilization Research 

and Product Development, by Agency, Fiscal Years 2004-

2005 23 

Table 6: FTE Staff for Wood Utilization Research and Product 

Development at the Forest Service, Fiscal Years 2004-2005 25 

Table 7: Forest Service Budget Authority for Wood Utilization 

Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-

2005 26 

Table 8: Forest Service FTE Staff for Wood Utilization Research 

and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 26 

Table 9: The Forest Products Laboratory’s Budget Authority for 

Wood Utilization Research and Product Development, 

Fiscal Years 1995-2005 28 

Table 10: The Forest Products Laboratory’s FTE Staff for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal 

Years 1995-2005 28 

Table 11: The Forest Products Laboratory’s Operating Budget, 

Fiscal Years 1995-2005 30 

Table 12: CSREES Budget Authority for Wood Utilization Research 

Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 31 

Table 13: Total Budget Authority for CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 33 

Table 14: Conducted and Planned Activities for the Forest Service’s 

Research Work Units at the Forest Products Laboratory 50 

Table 15: Conducted and Planned Activities for the Forest Service’s 

Research Work Units Associated with Research Stations 82 

Table 16: University of Alaska Wood Utilization Research Center—

Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization 

Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 2000-

2005 96 

Table 17: Inland Northwest Forest Products Research 

Consortium—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal 

Years 1999-2005 98 

Table 18: University of Maine Wood Utilization Research Center—

Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization 

Page ii GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-

2005 99 

Table 19: Michigan State University Wood Utilization Research 

Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal 

Years 1995-2005 101 

Table 20: University of Minnesota, Duluth, Wood Utilization 

Research Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for 

Wood Utilization Research and Product Development, 

Fiscal Years 1995-2005 104 

Table 21: Mississippi State University Wood Utilization Research 

Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal 

Years 1995-2005 105 

Table 22: North Carolina State University Wood Utilization 

Research Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for 

Wood Utilization Research and Product Development, 

Fiscal Years 1995-2005 107 

Table 23: Oregon State University Wood Utilization Research 

Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal 

Years 1995-2005 109 

Table 24: University of Tennessee Wood Utilization Research 

Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal 

Years 1999-2005 110 

Table 25: University of West Virginia Wood Utilization Research 

Center—Activities Conducted Under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal 

Years 2004-2005 112 

Table 26: The Forest Service’s Wood Utilization Research Work

Units’ Budget Authority, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 113 

Table 27: FTE Scientists and Support Staff in the Forest Service’s 

Wood Utilization Research Work Units, Fiscal Years 1995-

2005 114 

Table 28: Budget Authority for the CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 117 

Figures 

Figure 1: Wood Utilization Activities from Harvesting through 

Recycling 6

Page iii GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Figure 2: Total Budget Authority for Forest Service Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, and FTE 

Staff, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 27 

Figure 3: Total Budget Authority for the Forest Products 

Laboratory’s Wood Utilization Research and Product 

Development, and FTE Staff, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 29 

Figure 4: The Forest Products Laboratory’s Operating Budget, 

Fiscal Years 1995-2005 30 

Figure 5: Total Budget Authority for CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 32 

Abbreviations 

CCA chromated copper arsenate 

CNC computer-numeric controlled 

CRADA cooperative research and development agreement 

CRIS Current Research Information System 

CSREES Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 

 Service 

FTE full-time equivalent 

GPR ground-penetrating radar

HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development 

OSB oriented strandboard 

RPA The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning 

 Act of 1974 

SBIR Small Business Innovation Research

STTR Small Business Technology Transfer 

TMU Technology Marketing Unit 

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture 

VOC volatile organic compound 

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Page iv GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
United States Government Accountability Office

Washington, DC 20548 

June 15, 2006 

The Honorable Saxby Chambliss 

Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry 

United States Senate 

The Honorable Richard G. Lugar 

United States Senate 

The Honorable Thad Cochran 

United States Senate 

More wood is consumed every year in the United States than all metals, 

plastics, and masonry cement combined. In residential construction, for 

instance, wood accounts for about 90 percent of structural framing and 

sheathing, as well as large portions of other wood products, including 

cabinets, doors, windows, moldings, millwork, sub-flooring, and finished 

flooring. Despite the nation’s significant use of wood products, some 

segments of the U.S. forest products industry, such as furniture 

manufacturing, have declined. Over the past 10 years, forest products 

companies have consolidated, in part by closing or idling mills, to reduce 

costs and remain competitive with foreign companies. 

More wood is consumed every year in the United States than all metals, 

plastics, and masonry cement combined. In residential construction, for 

instance, wood accounts for about 90 percent of structural framing and 

sheathing, as well as large portions of other wood products, including 

cabinets, doors, windows, moldings, millwork, sub-flooring, and finished 

flooring. Despite the nation’s significant use of wood products, some 

segments of the U.S. forest products industry, such as furniture 

manufacturing, have declined. Over the past 10 years, forest products 

companies have consolidated, in part by closing or idling mills, to reduce 

costs and remain competitive with foreign companies. 

The forest products industry is made up of a few large multinational 

companies and many medium and small companies.1

 To remain 

competitive, these companies have had to become more efficient and 

adapt to changing wood resources. For example, wood product companies 

had primarily used large trees, but these trees are now becoming scarce.

At the same time, the supply of small-diameter trees has increased, in part 

because of federal, state, and local efforts to thin forests of these trees and 

therefore reduce the buildup of fuels that could contribute to large forest 

fires. To maximize their use of small-diameter trees and other wood 

resources, such as sawdust, companies rely on research into new methods 

of using wood. However, only a few large companies conduct wood 

utilization research and develop new products. 

The forest products industry is made up of a few large multinational 

companies and many medium and small companies.

 

1

 To remain 

competitive, these companies have had to become more efficient and 

adapt to changing wood resources. For example, wood product companies 

had primarily used large trees, but these trees are now becoming scarce.

At the same time, the supply of small-diameter trees has increased, in part 

because of federal, state, and local efforts to thin forests of these trees and 

therefore reduce the buildup of fuels that could contribute to large forest 

fires. To maximize their use of small-diameter trees and other wood 

resources, such as sawdust, companies rely on research into new methods 

of using wood. However, only a few large companies conduct wood 

utilization research and develop new products. 

1

Environmental Protection Agency, Profile of the Pulp and Paper Industry, 2nd edition, 

EPA/310-R-02-002 (Washington, D.C.: Nov. 2002), and Environmental Protection Agency, 

Profile of the Lumber and Wood Products Industry, EPA/ 310-R-95-006 (Washington, D.C.: 

Sept. 1995). 

Page 1 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Federal research and product development in wood utilization helps 

provide the science and technology needed to conserve the nation’s forest 

resources, supply the demand for wood products, and support forest 

management and restoration activities. At least 12 federal agencies 

support wood utilization research and product development. These 

include the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Cooperative State 

Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), Forest Service, 

and Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Department of Defense’s 

(Defense) Army, Army Corps of Engineers, and Office of Naval Research; 

the Department of Energy; the Department of Homeland Security’s Coast 

Guard; the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the 

Department of the Interior’s (Interior) Bureau of Indian Affairs; the 

National Science Foundation; and the Department of Transportation. 

However, historically, only two of these agencies—the Forest Service and

CSREES—have had significant funds specifically targeted to wood 

utilization research and product development. The other agencies do not 

have defined programs for wood utilization research and product 

development but provided support through various mechanisms, such as 

grants. 

Most of the Forest Service’s wood utilization research and product 

development is conducted at its Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, 

Wisconsin, which is the agency’s national laboratory for these activities; 

five of its regional research stations also conduct wood utilization 

research and product development. CSREES focuses on wood utilization 

research and product development through a grant directed by

congressional committee (committee-directed grant) to 10 wood 

utilization research centers in 12 universities around the country. 

Although many agencies have provided support for wood utilization 

research and product development, the Forest Service has the most 

experience in this area—it has been conducting wood utilization research 

and product development since 1910 and is a key player in carrying out 

these research and product development activities. However, a 2002 

National Academy of Sciences report showed a nearly 30-percent decline 

in the Forest Service’s budget authority for forest products research since 

1980 (in inflation- adjusted dollars), and a loss of about 46 percent in 

Forest Service research scientists from 1985 to 1999.2

 2

National Research Council, National Capacity in Forestry Research (Washington, D.C.:

National Academy of Sciences, 2002). 

Page 2 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
In this context, you asked us to review the status of federal agencies’ 

support for wood utilization research and product development. For this 

report, we identified (1) the types of wood utilization research and 

product development activities supported by federal agencies and how 

these activities are coordinated; (2) the level of support federal agencies 

made available for these activities in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and the 

changes in the level of support at the Forest Service and at the CSREESfunded wood utilization research centers from fiscal years 1995 through 

2005; and (3) how the federal government transfers the technologies and 

products from its wood utilization research and product development 

activities to industry. 

To collect and catalogue the types of wood utilization research and 

product development activities federal agencies conduct and the amount 

of financial and personnel support they provide for these activities, we 

collected and analyzed activity, budget authority, and expenditure data in 

agency databases and files. For purposes of our review, wood utilization 

research and product development refers to the activities that occur from 

harvesting wood through recycling wood and paper products. We 

collected financial data for fiscal year 2004 for each agency and for fiscal 

year 2005, if available. In some cases, these data were expenditure data, 

and in other cases, they were budget authority data.3

 In addition, we 

collected data for 11 fiscal years, 1995 through 2005, for the two agencies

that historically have had funds dedicated to wood utilization research and 

product development—the Forest Service and CSREES’ wood utilization 

research centers. We analyzed these data in both nominal dollars and 

dollars adjusted for inflation.4

 CSREES also provides funding for wood 

utilization research and product development as part of other research 

and development grant programs; we collected these data only for fiscal 

year 2004 because 2005 data were not available for these grant programs. 

We collected information on full-time equivalent (FTE) staff from the 

Forest Service for fiscal years 1995 through 2005; the Forest Service is the 

only agency that employs full-time scientists and support staff to conduct 

 3

Dollars are reported in either budget authority or expenditure data, depending on the 

availability of agency data. Most agencies and programs allocate a portion of their budget 

authority for wood utilization, in part in response to direction contained in appropriations 

committee reports. Those budget authority amounts are reported when available. However, 

the only data available for some CSREES programs and for the National Science 

Foundation were expenditure data. 

4

We adjusted nominal dollars using the Department of Commerce’s Fiscal Year ChainWeighted Price Index for the Gross Domestic Product with 2004 as the base year. 

Page 3 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
wood utilization research and product development. We reviewed the 

reliability of agencies’ budget and expenditure data and determined that 

the data were sufficiently reliable for the purposes of this review. We also 

interviewed scientists, university researchers, technology transfer 

specialists, and industry officials around the nation to obtain information 

on wood utilization research and product development activities, financial 

and personnel support, and technology transfer efforts. In addition, we 

conducted site visits at a limited number of federal, university, and 

industrial facilities that focus on wood utilization research and product 

development—the Forest Products Laboratory; Forest Service facilities in 

Virginia, West Virginia, and Oregon; the wood utilization center at Oregon 

State University; and a Weyerhaeuser Company research laboratory in 

Washington State. Among other things, we asked these officials how 

federal agencies transfer technologies and products to industry and asked

them for examples of successful federal technology transfer efforts. We 

performed our work between February 2005 and May 2006, in accordance

with generally accepted government auditing standards. Appendix I 

provides a more detailed description of our scope and methodology. 

Federal wood utilization research and product development span a broad 

spectrum of activities, and coordination of these activities is both informal 

and formal. These activities fall into five categories: harvesting, wood 

properties, manufacturing and processing, products and testing, and 

economics and marketing. For example, with respect to manufacturing 

and processing, ongoing research in log scanning technology and 

equipment focuses on detecting knots and rot in a log in order to cut it for 

maximum use. Research in this area also examines the manufacturing of 

high-performance products from wood previously considered too small or 

unusable. Of the 12 federal agencies, only the Forest Service and the 

CSREES-funded wood utilization research centers had activities in all five 

categories; in contrast, all the agencies had activities in manufacturing and 

processing. Informally, scientists coordinate their activities by conferring 

with each other and sharing information at conferences and professional 

meetings and through publications. However, in some cases, more formal 

mechanisms have been established through legislative provisions, agency

rulemaking, memorandums of understanding, and other joint ventures. For 

example, HUD has a partnership with the leaders of the home building, 

product manufacturing, insurance, and financial industries; and 

representatives of six federal agencies to develop technologies for 

improving the quality, durability, energy efficiency, and affordability of 

residential building materials, which includes wood. 

Results in Brief 

Page 4 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
During fiscal years 2004 and 2005, the 12 federal agencies made available

at least $54 million annually for wood utilization research and product 

development, measured either in budget authority or expenditures. 

(Dollars are reported in either budget authority or expenditure data,

depending on the availability of agency data.) The Forest Service made 

available about half of these funds. In addition, the Forest Service—the 

only agency that directly employs scientists and support staff to conduct 

this research—reported having almost 175 FTE scientists and support staff 

in each of these years. For fiscal years 1995 through 2005, the Forest 

Service received total budget authority of $268 million for wood utilization 

research and product development (or $289 million in 2004 inflationadjusted dollars), while CSREES’ budget authority was about $51 million 

(or $55 million in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars). For fiscal years 1995 

through 2005, the Forest Service’s budget authority for wood utilization 

research and product development activities fluctuated moderately from 

year-to-year (in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars). In contrast, overall, 

CSREES’ budget authority for the wood utilization research centers 

increased over the period (in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars), in part 

because of the addition of four new wood utilization research centers 

between fiscal years 1999 and 2004. 

To transfer technologies and products to industry, federal agencies 

generally rely on scientists and technology transfer specialists, who use 

such methods as information sharing, technical assistance, and 

demonstration projects. In terms of providing technical assistance, for 

example, federal scientists helped a small company that produces flooring 

for the National Collegiate Athletic Association improve its manufacturing 

efficiency. In addition, the Forest Service has a dedicated technology 

transfer unit—the Technology Marketing Unit (TMU)—that has four 

technology transfer specialists with expertise in wood utilization and 

product development. These specialists work to improve the use of wood 

by transferring technologies developed by the Forest Service to industry 

and others. For example, applying Forest Products Laboratory research, 

these specialists assisted a small forest products company in producing 

flooring from small trees by, among other things, providing solutions to 

product imperfections like warping and discoloration. 

The unique characteristics and relative abundance of wood have made it a 

natural material for a variety of uses, including homes and other 

structures, furniture, tools, vehicles, and decorative objects. Because 

wood varies in characteristics and volume by species, it may be heavy or 

light, stiff or flexible, and hard or soft. Federal agencies conduct research

Background 

Page 5 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
on the range of processes that occur between the time a tree is grown in 

the forest to the time it becomes a wood product and then is recycled. For 

purposes of our review, wood utilization research and product 

development refers to the activities that occur from harvesting the wood

through the recycling of wood and paper products. (See fig. 1.) 

Figure 1: Wood Utilization Activities from Harvesting through Recycling 

Source: Dr. Glenn Murphy, Oregon State University, 2005. 

Tree planting, growing, 

and tending

Harvesting and 

wood optimization 

Wood transport 

Wood conversion 

and processing

Product development 

and marketing

Recovery and recycling

Wood utilization 

Page 6 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
According to the North American Industry Classification System,5

 the U.S. 

forest products industry is divided into two sectors: wood product 

manufacturing and pulp and paper manufacturing. The wood product 

manufacturing sector comprises small companies, while the pulp and 

paper manufacturing sector tends to have fewer, larger companies. 

The Forest Products 

Industry 

The wood product manufacturing sector can be broken into three subsectors: (1) primary producers—sawmills and plywood mills; (2) 

secondary producers—millwork, cabinet, and furniture manufacturers; 

and (3) structural and reconstituted products producers—oriented 

strandboard (OSB), I-Joist, laminated veneer lumber, medium density 

fiberboard, and particleboard. The United States is the world’s leading

producer of lumber and wood products used in residential construction 

and in commercial wood products. According to 2004 data (the most 

recent data available), the wood product sector employed 535,000 workers 

nationwide and produced shipments valued at $103 billion.6

The pulp and paper manufacturing sector includes two industry groups: 

(1) manufacturers of pulp and paper and (2) manufacturers of products 

made from purchased paper and other materials, such as paper bags or 

tissues. The vast majority of the raw material for making paper is the 

residue from other mills—primarily chips from sawmills. The United 

States is also a leader in the pulp and paper business, producing about 28 

percent of the world’s pulp and 25 percent of the total world output of 

paper and paperboard. In 2004 (the most recent data available), the paper 

manufacturing sector employed 440,000 workers nationwide and produced 

shipments valued at $154 billion. 

According to a federal government report, the U.S. forest products 

industry faces increasing competition from its traditional competitors 

(Canada, the Scandinavian countries, and Japan), as well as from emerging 

competitors (Brazil, Chile, and Indonesia).7

 Domestic purchases of paper 

and paperboard declined from 2000 to 2002, but have begun to rebound 

 5

A business classification system, adopted in 1997, developed by the U.S., Mexican, and

Canadian governments to provide comparable statistics across the three countries. It 

classifies business into sectors, subsectors, and industry groups. 

6

U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics for Industry Groups and Industries, Annual Survey;

MO4(AS)-1 (Washington, D.C.: Dec. 2005). 

7

U.S. Department of Energy, Forest Products Industry of the Future, Fiscal Year 2004 

Annual Report (Washington, D.C.: Feb. 2005). 

Page 7 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
since then.8

 Approximately 120,000 jobs were lost in the paper 

manufacturing sector from 1999 to 2004, representing a 21.5-percent loss. 

Sectors of the wood product manufacturing industry have also declined. 

According to a 2003 Forest Service report, during the last decade, the 

wood household furniture industry lost approximately one-third of its 

market share to imports. China now accounts for one-third of U.S. 

imports, up from none a decade ago.

9

Federal Agencies Support 

Wood Utilization Research 

and Product Development 

Federal research and product development in wood utilization helps 

provide the science and technology needed to conserve the nation’s forest 

resources, supply the demand for wood products, and support forest 

management and restoration activities. At least 12 federal agencies 

support wood utilization research and product development activities, but

only 2 of these agencies—the Forest Service and CSREES—have programs 

targeted for these activities. 

For the Forest Service, the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 

Act of 1978 is the primary legislation authorizing the Secretary of 

Agriculture to implement a comprehensive research program for forest 

and rangeland renewable resources, including wood utilization, and to 

disseminate the results.10 Other relevant legislation includes the following: 

Primary Agencies—Forest 

Service and CSREES’ Wood 

Utilization Research Centers 

• The Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000, which requires the 

secretaries of Agriculture and of Energy to cooperate on policies and 

procedures that promote research and development leading to the 

production of fuels and biobased products; the act also established the 

Biomass Research and Development Initiative.11

 8

Ince, Peter J.; Akim, Edward; Lombard, Bernard; and Parik, Tomas; Chapter 8, “Higher 

demand and production in 2004, but growth wavers in 2005: Markets for paper, paperboard

and woodpulp, 2004-2005. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Forest 

Products Annual Market Review, 2004-2005. Timber Bulletin Vol. LVIII (2005). 

9

Schuler, Albert; and Buehlmann, Urs; Identifying Future Competitive Business Strategies

for the U.S. Residential Wood Furniture Industry: Benchmarking and Paradigm Shifts, 

U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, report NE-304. 

10Pub. L. No. 95-307 (1978) (as amended). 

11Pub. L. No. 106-224, tit.III (2000). 

Page 8 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
• The Energy Policy Act of 2005 established technical areas for focusing 

research under the Biomass Research and Development Initiative.12

• The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 established a grant program 

to encourage the commercialization of woody biomass.13

The Forest Service’s research and development organization establishes 

research work units in the field by developing formal mission statements, 

which must be approved by the Deputy Chief for Research and other 

senior managers.14 A team from the Deputy Chief’s Office and station 

directors’ office formally reviews these mission statements and the unit’s

work at least every 5 years, and the review often includes input from the 

public and private sectors. 

The Forest Service’s wood utilization research and product development is

carried out by scientists and professional support staff in 27 research work 

units around the country that were operating at the time of our review. 

Most of the Forest Service’s wood utilization research and product 

development takes place at 16 research work units in the Forest Products 

Laboratory, which conducts research of national and international scope. 

The other 11 research work units are located in the Forest Service’s 

Northeastern, Southern, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Southwest, and Rocky 

Mountain Research Stations, and these units mostly focus on regional 

wood utilization issues.15 For example, research work unit 4104 of the 

Southern station focuses on managing Southern pine ecosystems, whereas 

research work unit 4701 of the Northeastern station focuses on efficiently 

using northern forest resources. These research work units produce 5-year 

research work plans that identify the mission, the problem to be solved 

through research, the proposed research approach, planned 

accomplishments, and staffing needs. 

 12Pub. L. No. 109-58, § 941 (e)(2), 119 Stat. 875-76 (2005). 

13Pub. L. No. 108-148, § 203, 117 Stat. 1901 (2003). 

14These include the headquarters office’s topic area staff director, and research stations’ 

directors and assistant directors. 

15The Northeastern Research Station is located in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; Pacific 

Northwest, in Portland, Oregon; Pacific Southwest, in Albany, California; Rocky Mountain, 

in Fort Collins, Colorado; and Southern, in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Page 9 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
CSREES provides support for wood utilization research and product 

development through several grant programs. CSREES awards committeedirected grants to 10 designated wood utilization research centers at 12 

universities. The first three centers were established in fiscal year 1985 at

Oregon State University, Mississippi State University, and Michigan State 

University. These three centers were established to support wood 

utilization and harvesting research on western conifers, southern pine, and 

eastern hardwoods, respectively. In fiscal year 1993, three centers with 

specific research focuses were added at the University of Maine, the 

University of Minnesota at Duluth, and North Carolina State University. In 

fiscal year 1999, the University of Tennessee and the Inland Northwest 

Forest Products Research Consortium were added. The consortium 

consists of the universities of Idaho and of Montana, and Washington State 

University. The most recent additions are the University of Alaska 

Southeast, in fiscal year 2000, and West Virginia University, in fiscal year 

2004. Every year each center submits a grant proposal, reviewed by 

CSREES staff, containing information on proposed research activities, 

budgets, and progress to date. Funding supports scientists and graduate 

students and helps to pay for new equipment, supplies, and travel. 

In addition, CSREES provides grants to state-supported colleges and 

universities that can be used for, but are not specifically focused on, wood 

utilization research and product development through the following: 

• The McIntyre–Stennis Act, a formula grant program, for forestry research, 

including two of eight potential funding areas focused on wood utilization 

and product development.16

• The Hatch Act, a formula grant program, designed to fund a number of 

broad agricultural research areas.17

 16Formula grants are grants distributed to state and local governments using formulas that

are based on data such as state population and personal income. Under the McIntyre–

Stennis Act, CSREES apportions funds among participating states, considering factors such

as nonfederal expenditures for forestry research by state-certified eligible institutions, 

areas of nonfederal commercial forest land, and the volume of timber cut annually. States, 

in turn, determine the proportionate amounts of assistance to be extended to these 

qualified state-supported institutions. 

17Act of March 2, 1887, ch. 314, 24 Stat. 440 (as amended). 

Page 10 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
• The National Research Initiative,18 a competitive grant program with 

several research areas, including biobased products and energy. Wood 

utilization research and product development grants have been awarded 

under this initiative, as well as under CSREES’ Small Business Innovation 

and Research grants and other small grants programs. 

Ten other agencies also support wood utilization research and product 

development. Table 1 provides information on these agencies’ principal 

authorizing legislation and a description of the programs that have 

supported wood utilization research and product development, and the 

mechanisms used for program delivery. 

Other Agencies That Support 

Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Table 1: Federal Agencies That Support Wood Utilization Research and Product Development, Principal Authorizing 

Legislation, and Description of Selected Programs 

Federal agency Principal authorizing legislationa

 Program description 

USDA—National Resource 

Conservation Serviceb

Biomass Research Development Act of 

2000, Title III of the Agricultural Risk 

Protection Act of 2000 

(Pub. L. No. 106-224) 

Administers and funds grants for the Biomass 

Research and Development Initiative, under which 

competitively awarded grants, contracts, and

financial assistance are provided to, or entered into 

with, eligible entities to carry out research on—and

development and demonstration of—biobased

fuels and biobased products (including woody

biomass), and the methods, practices, and 

technologies, for their production. 

Defense—Army, Corps of 

Engineers, Office of Naval 

Research

2005 Defense Appropriations Act Provides committee-directed grants or contracts to 

specific universities to conduct wood utilization 

research and product development. 

Department of Energy Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Pub. L. No. 102-

486), Biomass Research Development Act of 

2000 (Pub. L. No. 106-224, tit.III (2000) 

Enters into cost-share cooperative agreements 

and contracts with its national laboratories, private 

industry, and universities to conduct research on 

energy-efficient processes in energy-intensive

industries, including the pulp, paper, and wood 

products manufacturing industries. Also develops 

technology for converting biomass into energy and 

chemicals. 

Department of Homeland 

Security—Coast Guard

2002 Department of Transportation 

Appropriations Act (Pub. L. No. 107-87) 

Provides a committee-directed contract to conduct 

wood utilization research and product development 

at a specific university. 

HUD Housing and Urban Development Act of 

1970 (Pub. L. No. 91-609) 

Administers the Partnership for Advancing 

Technology in Housing program, an interagency 

partnership that provides grants and financial

assistance for research on residential housing

materials, which includes wood. 

 18E.g., Pub. L. No. 89-106, § 2, Aug. 4, 1965, 79 Stat. 431 (1965) (as amended). 

Page 11 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Federal agency Principal authorizing legislationa

 Program description 

Interior—Bureau of Indian 

Affairs 

Snyder Act of 1921 Can award grants to support wood product 

development. 

Department of Transportation Section 1039 of the Intermodal Surface 

Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (Pub. 

L. No. 102-240, § 1039, 23 U.S.C. 144 nt); 

Section 401 of the Pipeline Safety Act of 

1992 (49 U.S.C 112), Transportation Equity 

Act for the 21st Century (Pub. L. No. 105-

178) 

The Federal Highway Administration has awarded 

grants for research to increase the usage of timber 

and wood products in highway bridges, including 

improving the design and performance of timber 

structures and developing engineering design

criteria for structural wood products for use in

highway bridges.

c

The Research and Innovative Technology 

Administration established centers of excellence 

and provides grants to advance technology and 

expertise in all areas of transportation, including 

transportation structures made from wood. 

National Science Foundation National Science Foundation Act of 1950 

(Pub. L. No. 81-507) 

Funds basic research at universities, small 

businesses, and other organizations. Wood 

utilization research could be funded under the 

National Science Foundation’s broad research 

categories of engineering, chemistry, biology, 

social science, and education. Does not target 

wood utilization research and does not fund

product development. 

Sources: Legislation and agency documents.

a

All laws cited are as amended. 

b

In 2006, USDA’s Rural Development Agency assumed responsibility for this grant program from the 

Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

c

There was no new funding for this program in fiscal year 2004, according to Department of 

Transportation officials. 

Technology Transfer The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer defines 

technology transfer as “the process by which existing knowledge, facilities 

or capabilities developed under federal research and development funding 

are utilized to fulfill public and private needs.”19 Since 1978, Congress has 

enacted a series of laws to promote technology transfer and to provide 

technology transfer mechanisms and incentives. Table 2 presents selected 

laws that support technology transfer for wood utilization research and 

product development. 

 19The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer is a nationwide network of 

federal laboratories that provide the forum for developing strategies and opportunities that

link technology with laboratory missions and the marketplace. It was organized in 1974 and 

formally chartered by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 to promote and to

strengthen technology transfer nationwide.

Page 12 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Table 2: Selected Laws That Support Technology Transfer for Wood Utilization Research and Product Development 

Laws supporting technology transferaDescription

General technology transfer laws 

The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 

1980 (Pub. L. No. 96-480) 

Enacted to stimulate improved utilization of federally funded technology 

developments—including inventions, software, and training technologies—by 

state and local governments and the private sector. 

The Patent and Trademark Law Amendments Act of 

1980 (Bayh-Dole Act, Pub. L. No. 96-517) 

Allowed universities, not-for-profit corporations, and small businesses to patent 

and commercialize their federally funded inventions. 

The Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (Pub. 

L. No. 99-502) 

Authorized federal agencies to permit the directors of government-owned

laboratories to enter into cooperative research and development agreements 

(CRADA) and to negotiate licensing agreements for inventions created in the 

laboratories. 

The Technology Transfer Commercialization Act of 

2000 (Pub. L. No. 106-404) 

Broadened CRADA licensing to authorize federal laboratories to grant licenses 

to federally owned inventions for which a patent application was filed before the 

CRADA was signed. 

Laws for research and development conducted

by small businesses, which can include wood 

products companies

Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 

(Pub. L. No. 97-219) 

Established the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, requiring 

federal agencies to reserve a portion of their research and development effort 

for awards to small businesses. 

Small Business Research and Development

Enhancement Act of 1992 (Pub. L. No. 102-564) 

Extended the SBIR program, increased the percentage of an agency’s budget 

to be devoted to SBIR, and established the Small Business Technology 

Transfer Program (STTR), a program under which a portion of a federal 

agency’s extramural research or research and development effort is reserved 

for awards to small businesses. 

Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000,

enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations 

Act for Fiscal Year 2001(Pub. L. No. 106-554)

Directed the Small Business Administration and participating agencies to, 

among other things, expand the scope of publicly available information on

specific grants, and to annually report on their SBIR programs. 

Laws focused on natural resources, including

wood and its uses 

Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (Pub. 

L. No. 95-313)

Authorized the Forest Service to carry out a program of technology 

implementation to ensure that new technology is introduced and forest 

resources research findings are made available to state forestry personnel, 

private landowners, wood processors, forest operators, and others. 

The National Forest-Dependent Rural Communities 

Economic Diversification Act of 1990, enacted as 

part of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and 

Trade Act of 1990 (Pub. L. No. 101-624) 

Created the Economic Action Program to upgrade existing industries to use 

natural resources (including wood) more efficiently, and to expand the 

economic base of rural communities to alleviate or reduce their dependence on 

National Forest System land resources. 

Source: GAO analysis of laws and regulations. 

a

All laws are as amended. 

In addition to these laws, Executive Order 12591 (“Facilitating Access to 

Science and Technology”) directs federal agencies to encourage and 

facilitate collaboration among federal laboratories, state and local 

governments, universities, and the private sector—particularly small 

Page 13 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
business—in order to assist in the transfer of technology to the 

marketplace. 

Technology transfer is also carried out through the nation’s extension 

system, established by the Smith-Lever Act in 1914,20 to assist in the 

development of practical applications of research knowledge in 

agriculture, including wood utilization. Under this system, thousands of 

county and regional extension specialists bring university expertise to the 

local level. Funding is provided by CSREES through annual formula grants 

to supplement state and county funds for extension services. The funds 

can be used for natural resources, including forestry or wood utilization, 

depending upon the priorities of the university. 

The Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 created the Renewable 

Resources Extension Program.21 Under this program, CSREES provides 

funds to 72 universities, which use these funds, along with state, local, and

institutional funds, to deliver educational programs to forest and 

rangeland owners and managers. The program also provides guidance to 

states in developing their general extension programs for, among other 

things, timber utilization, harvesting, and marketing; wood utilization; and 

wood products marketing. These efforts have included wood utilization 

extension services, usually through extension specialists. 

Wood utilization research and product development conducted by 12 

federal agencies span a broad spectrum of activities, and coordination of 

these activities is both formal and informal. These activities fall into five

broad categories: (1) harvesting, (2) wood properties, (3) manufacturing 

and processing, (4) products and testing, and (5) economics and 

marketing. 

Federal Wood 

Utilization Research 

and Product 

Development 

Activities Fall into 

Five Categories and 

Are Coordinated Both 

Informally and 

Formally 

 20Act of May 8, 1914. 

21Pub. L. No. 95-306 (1978). 

Page 14 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
We grouped the wood utilization research and product development 

activities that the 12 agencies conduct into five broad categories: 

harvesting, wood properties, manufacturing and processing, products and 

testing, and economics and marketing. Table 3 shows the definitions we 

used for the five categories and provides examples of the types of the 

research and product development activities that fall into each of these 

categories. 

Federal Wood Utilization 

Research and Product 

Development Activities 

Can Be Grouped into Five 

Broad Categories 

Table 3: Categories of Major Wood Utilization Research and Product Development Activities 

Category Definition Examples of research and development activities 

Harvesting Using scientific and engineering principles to

ensure cost-effective, environmentally 

acceptable, and safe forest operations, 

including planning, road building, harvesting,

handling and processing, and transportation 

• constructing forest roads 

• providing safety training 

• developing equipment to reduce soil compaction 

• using equipment to remove trees at the stump 

Wood properties Studying the basic and applied physical, 

chemical, and mechanical properties of wood

and wood fiber to determine the suitability of 

this material for various uses, from pulp to 

structural beams to recycled composite 

products 

• examining the basic surface properties of different wood 

and wood-based materials to determine interaction with 

contaminants in water for improved water repellency 

• examining reactions to mold, mildew, fungi, and various 

temperatures 

• research on reactions to moisture 

• research on the suitability of dead or dying trees for use 

in several new and emerging wood-processing 

technologies 

Manufacturing and 

processing

New and better manufacturing ways to extract, 

reduce, and convert virgin wood raw materials 

to useful products and the development of 

technology to allow the re-use of materials and

products to the maximum extent possible 

• examining the process for removing moisture from wood 

and the impact of the drying processes on the strength, 

durability, and color of the wood 

• studying and developing log scanning technology and 

equipment to detect knots and rot 

• examining the manufacturing of high-performance 

products from wood previously considered too small, 

unsuitable, or defective, and from recycled wood 

• using ultrasound to detect internal defects in wood 

• improving paper manufacturing technologies to reduce 

energy consumption and improve paper quality 

• improving bonding of particles, flakes or fibers, and 

adhesives in the manufacturing of composite wood 

products, such as oriented strandboard (OSB)a

 

Page 15 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Category Definition Examples of research and development activities 

Products and 

testing

Developing test methods and gathering and 

evaluating data on the differing uses of wood

and wood fiber products 

• testing chemical and other treatments designed to 

prevent the deterioration or destruction of wood or to 

extend its service life 

• studying the long-term durability, safety, and structural 

performance of adhesively bonded wood assemblies and 

the development of better testing methodologies for the 

durability of wood products, such as composite siding 

• testing to develop a performance-based moisture design 

approach for wood frame buildings that includes interior 

moisture design, exterior moisture design, and 

performance of wood products under various moisture 

and temperature regimes 

• developing analytical computer programs and other 

methods to assess the potential moisture accumulation in

building components 

Economics and 

marketing

Evaluating and tracking (1) domestic and 

international supply and demand trends, trade 

policies, and markets, including market 

opportunities; and (2) harvesting and production 

costs for alternative material and energy inputs 

and processing options 

• describing the cost and price effects of changes in forest 

management practices and forest sector policies 

• analyzing factors affecting the near- and long-term 

outlook for supply and demand

• analyzing broad-scale trends in trade and investment and 

their effects on forest products industries and firms 

• analyzing marketing and distribution patterns in 

international trade for furniture, lumber, and other raw 

materials 

• analyzing the stages of the manufacturing process to 

reduce the cost of finished wood products 

Sources: GAO’s analysis of agencies’ activities and consultation with Forest Service officials. 

a

OSB is a composite wood product made of layered wood strands, often used as an alternative to 

plywood. 

Table 4 shows the types of research and product development activities 

and examples of these activities by agency. All 12 agencies had activities in 

the manufacturing and processing category. 

Page 16 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Table 4: Agencies’ Wood Utilization Research and Product Development Activities and Examples of These Activities 

Federal agency 

Research and product 

development categories of

activities Examples of research and product development activities 

USDA 

Forest Service • Harvesting 

• Wood properties 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• Products and testing 

• Economics and marketing

• examine and improve a variety of different types of machinery for tree 

removal and processing and high-technology computers to measure trees 

as they are processed 

• understand factors that lead to poor wood surface quality and their 

influences on wood bonding 

• optimize how wood, woody biomass, and recycled and nonwood materials

are converted into durable cost-effective, high-performing, and longservice-life products 

• conduct fundamental research in the areas of solid wood products, 

composites, and paper manufacture 

• evaluate the effects of technology trends and market changes on forest 

management 

CSREES • Harvesting 

• Wood properties 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• Products and testing 

• Economics and marketing

• new equipment that reduces soil compaction and increases timber 

production 

• wood preservative technologies that result in longer product life 

• improved machining technologies to increase the speed of manufacturing 

wood products at lesser cost 

• automated lumber grading and machining systems using optical scanners, 

machine vision, and radio frequency fields to detect and cut around defects 

in lumber 

• recycling processes for converting newsprint into composite board 

Natural Resources 

Conservation 

Servicea

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• adding value to woody biomass by processing material into lumber and 

poles 

• using woody biomass as fuel for electricity generation 

• using biomass for wood-burning facilities to cogenerate power and steam

Defense 

Army • Wood properties 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• studying the use of composite materials to construct modular ballistic 

protective shelters, which include the development of ballistic panels with a 

wood layer in the panel design

Army Corps of 

Engineers 

• Wood properties 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• examining the use of wood composite materials in constructing temporary 

facilities and quarters that are lightweight, affordable, rapidly erectable, 

modular, protective, and blast or ballistic resistant 

Office of Naval 

Research

• Wood properties 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• developing low-cost and stronger wood composite materials to replace 

Navy wood structures, such as pier components (e.g., decking and fender

components) 

Department of 

Energy 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• reducing the energy intensity of manufacturing processes in the pulp and 

paper and wood products industries 

• studying drying technologies to reduce the energy required to remove 

water from the pulp used to make paper 

Page 17 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Federal agency 

Research and product 

development categories of

activities Examples of research and product development activities 

Department of 

Homeland 

Security—Coast 

Guard

• Wood properties 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• designing, building, and demonstrating a pier made of wood composite 

HUD • Wood properties 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• study of insulated composite wood panels in residential construction 

Interior—Bureau of

Indian Affairs 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• studying the feasibility of developing wood products using woody biomass 

• studying the feasibility of using woody biomass to generate electricity and 

heat greenhouses 

Department of 

Transportation 

• Wood properties 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• studying preservatives and coatings for structural wood products for 

highway bridges

• studying wood composite materials for transportation

National Science 

Foundation 

• Wood properties 

• Manufacturing and 

processing 

• Products and testing 

• studying the mixing of plastics with wood fibers to create wood-composite 

products that are used in doors, windows, decks siding, and roofs 

• improving the conversion of wood chips and other biomass to paper fibers

Source: GAO analysis of agency documents.

a

In 2006, USDA’s Rural Development Agency assumed responsibility for this research effort from the 

Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

The Forest Service and CSREES were the only two agencies that had 

wood utilization research and product development activities in all five 

categories. According to our analysis of the Forest Service’s 27 research

work units’ plans covering fiscal years 1995 through 2005, over 80 percent 

of wood utilization research and product development occurred in three 

categories: wood properties, products and testing, and manufacturing and 

processing. In addition, CSREES wood utilization research centers’ annual 

research proposals for the same period showed that about 70 percent of 

their activities occurred in the following three categories: wood 

properties, manufacturing and processing, and economics and marketing. 

According to a CSREES official, the CSREES wood utilization research 

centers are allowed by law to use the funding to conduct technology 

transfer activities, which are reflected in the economics and marketing 

category. 

Appendixes II and III, respectively, provide detailed information on wood 

utilization research and product development activities for the Forest 

Service, for multiyear periods (beginning in the late 1980s) to the present;

and CSREES, for fiscal years 1995 through 2005. 

Page 18 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
We found instances of both informal and formal coordination of federal 

activities for wood utilization and product development. According to 

many scientists at the Forest Service, informal coordination occurs among 

the relatively small wood utilization research and product development 

community of scientists, and these scientists are often aware of related 

scientific research. Scientists share information at scientific and industry 

conferences and professional meetings and through publications, and in 

some cases work informally to share staff and equipment. Specific 

examples include the following: 

Federal Wood Utilization 

Research and Product 

Development Activities 

Are Coordinated Both 

Informally and Formally 

• One Forest Service scientist associated with the Southern Research 

Station—with 30 years of experience in wood utilization research on 

Douglas Fir—shares resources and expertise with the Pacific Northwest 

Research Station on the plantation growth of this species. 

• Forest Service scientists in the Southern Research Station have 

collaborated with colleagues in Australia, Denmark, Japan, and New 

Zealand on using wood from southern forests to develop wood composite 

products. These collaborative efforts were established primarily through 

professional relationships. 

• A Forest Service scientist at the Pacific Northwest Research Station told 

us that scientists use annual professional meetings, such as those held by 

the Forest Products Society and the Society of Wood Science and 

Technology, as important mechanisms for coordinating their work and 

broadening the scope of their research area. 

The CSREES wood utilization research centers reported that they have 

more informal than formal coordination mechanisms with other wood 

utilization research centers and federal agencies. Like the Forest Service, 

these informal mechanisms include sharing information with their 

colleagues through professional meetings, publications, and newsletters. 

We also identified some formal mechanisms to coordinate wood utilization 

research and product development that are set up through legislative 

provisions, agency rulemaking, memorandums of understanding, 

cooperative arrangements, and other joint ventures. Specific examples 

include the following: 

• The Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 requires USDA and 

the Department of Energy to carry out a Biomass Research and 

Development Initiative under which competitively awarded grants, 

Page 19 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
contracts, and financial assistance are provided to eligible entities to carry 

out research on fuels and products derived from biomass, including woody 

biomass. The agencies work together on developing grant solicitations, 

reviewing grant proposals, and selecting recipients. The act also created a 

Biomass Research and Development Board, co-chaired by the Department 

of Energy and USDA, to coordinate programs within the federal 

government for promoting the use of biobased fuels and products. The 

board’s mission is to maximize the benefits from federal grants and 

assistance by promoting collaboration and avoiding duplication of effort 

through strategic planning on biomass research. The board has approved 

the formation of a federal Woody Biomass Working Group to coordinate 

and focus federal efforts on woody biomass utilization. 

• For 40 years, Forest Service wood utilization scientists have had standing 

annual meetings with representatives from both the paper and pulp and 

solid wood industries to present research results and obtain input and 

review from industry. When updating their research work unit plans every 

5 years, these scientists also seek advice from outside sources, including 

industry representatives, academics, and environmental groups. 

• Scientists also participate in research consortiums or cooperative 

arrangements with industry. For example, scientists in the Forest Service’s 

Southern Research Station participate in a consortium studying wood 

quality that has members from nine companies, including Weyerhaeuser 

and Georgia Pacific. CSREES wood utilization research centers also form 

cooperative arrangements. According to an Oregon scientist, these 

research cooperatives typically consist of 10 to 12 partners. The 

cooperatives set a research agenda and formally coordinate research 

through annual meetings and reports; each university, as well as 

government agencies, are asked to contribute funding annually. For 

example, scientists at the University of Minnesota wood utilization 

research center formed a productivity cooperative that includes state, 

county, university, and industry members (such as International Paper) to 

continue to strengthen applied forestry concepts and ensure the 

sustainability of Minnesota’s forest products industry. 

• The Forest Service’s Northeastern Research Station formed the Furniture 

Steering Committee, which is composed of furniture manufacturers, 

consultants, equipment manufacturers, state economic development 

agencies, and universities to provide guidance on furniture research 

programs at the station and elsewhere. The steering committee 

recommended research on more efficient manufacturing and “just-in-time” 

training, which has been integrated into the research work unit’s plan. 

Page 20 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
• HUD’s Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing is a voluntary 

partnership between leaders of the home building, product manufacturing, 

insurance, and financial industries; and representatives of six federal 

agencies concerned with housing.22 These six agencies work with HUD to

develop technologies to improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, 

and affordability of residential building materials; these materials could 

include wood. For example, with the partnership’s support, the Forest 

Service’s wood chemistry research work unit has been able to work 

cooperatively with laboratories in Japan, Sweden, and Finland on 

developing coatings to protect wood from the effects of weathering. 

• Forest Service scientists at the Southern Research Station’s Utilization of 

Southern Forest Resources work unit have a memorandum of 

understanding with the Chinese government to host post-doctoral students 

from China; the station has hosted 25 students in the past 5 years. These 

students serve as additional staff resources to help the research work unit 

carry out its research activities. 

• To construct a forest biomass life cycle assessment model, several 

partners established a joint venture: the Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest 

Research Station; the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest 

Energy Research Program; the University of California at Davis; several 

state and federal agencies; and energy, forestry, and environmental 

consultants. Partners will use the model to identify and analyze the social, 

economic, and environmental costs and benefits of using forest biomass to 

generate electrical power. This research project is planned in three phases

over a 3- to 5-year period. Each participant shares in the cost of the 

venture. 

 22The six agencies are the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the

Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Commerce’s National Institute 

of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, and USDA. In fiscal years

2004 and 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management 

Agency, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology did not support wood

utilization research and product development. 

Page 21 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
The 12 federal agencies we reviewed made available at least $54 million 

annually in financial support for wood utilization research and product 

development activities in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, measured either in 

budget authority or expenditures.23 Furthermore, the Forest Service 

employed almost 175 scientists and support staff in each of these two 

fiscal years. From fiscal years 1995 through 2005, the Forest Service 

received total budget authority of $268 million for wood utilization 

research and product development (or $289 million in 2004 inflationadjusted dollars) while CSREES’ budget authority for the wood utilization 

research centers was about $51 million (or $55 million in 2004 inflationadjusted dollars). For fiscal years 1995 through 2005, the Forest Service’s 

budget authority for wood utilization research and product development 

activities fluctuated moderately from year-to-year (in 2004 inflationadjusted dollars). Over the same period, overall, CSREES’ budget 

authority for the wood utilization research centers increased (in 2004 

inflation-adjusted dollars), in part because four new wood utilization 

research centers were added during fiscal years 1999, 2000, and 2004. 

The 12 federal agencies we identified as supporting wood utilization 

research and product development made available at least $54.4 million in 

financial support for this work, measured in either budget authority or 

expenditures,24 in fiscal year 2004, the year with the most complete data

available. For fiscal year 2005, the agencies made available at least $54.3 

million. Our data for fiscal year 2005 are complete except for data for the 

CSREES grants funded under the McIntyre-Stennis Act and the Hatch Act;

the National Research Initiative; Small Business Innovation Research 

grants; and other small grants. See table 5. 

Federal Agencies 

Made Available at 

Least $54 Million 

Annually for Wood 

Utilization Research 

and Product 

Development in Fiscal 

Years 2004 and 2005; 

Forest Service 

Support Fluctuated 

Moderately, and 

CSREES Support 

Increased Over 10 

Years

The Forest Service 

Provided Most of the 

Support for Wood 

Utilization Research and 

Product Development in 

Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 

 23See footnote 3. 

24See footnote 3. 

Page 22 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Table 5: Federal Financial Support in Wood Utilization Research and Product 

Development, by Agency, Fiscal Years 2004-2005 

Dollars in thousands 

Department 2004 financial

support

a

2005 financial

 support

a

USDA 

Forest Service $28,251b$27,179b

CSREES 8,710c,d5,820b,e

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 5,269b

4,627b

Defense 

Army Research 25b1,050b

Army Corps of Engineers 0 2,395b

Office of Naval Research 1,459f1,424f

Department of Energy 7,419b,g 6,233b,g

Department of Homeland 

Security—Coast Guard 442f

351f

HUD 0 225b

Interior—Bureau of Indian Affairs 486b276b

Department of Transportation 63b441b

National Science Foundation 2,270f4,242f

Total $54,394 $54,263

Sources: Agency documents, CSREES’ Current Research Information System, and National Science Foundation’s Project Reports 

Summary and Search and Awards databases. 

a

Financial data are presented in either budget authority or expenditures, as indicated.

b

Budget authority. 

c

Includes both budget authority and expenditures. 

d

Includes $5.67 million for wood utilization research centers and $3.04 million for the other CSREES 

grants funded under the McIntyre-Stennis Act and the Hatch Act; the National Research Initiative; 

Small Business Innovation Research Grants; and other small grants. 

e

Data for other CSREES grants were not available for 2005. 

f

Expenditures. 

g

Budget authority for the Industrial Technologies Program. 

As table 5 shows, the Forest Service made available about half of the 

financial support for conducting wood utilization research and product 

development. In fiscal year 2004, the Forest Service made available about 

52 percent of the $54.4 million, while four other agencies—CSREES, the 

Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service—made available about 44 percent of the 

Page 23 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
support; the remaining seven agencies together made available about 5 

percent of the $54.4 million. 

Of the $54.4 million made available in fiscal year 2004, about $34 million 

($28.3 million for the Forest Service and $5.7 million for the CSREES 

wood utilization research centers) was directly targeted to wood 

utilization research and product development. In addition, $1.9 million of 

other support targeted for wood utilization research and product 

development was made available by the Army, the Coast Guard, and the 

Office of Naval Research through committee-directed funding to specific 

universities to conduct research on wood composites. 

The remaining $18.5 million of the $54.4 million was made available in 

fiscal year 2004 from grant programs not targeted to wood utilization 

research and product development. That is, wood utilization research and 

product development was not the sole purpose of the grant or program. 

The Department of Energy made available the largest amount of this 

nontargeted support—$7.4 million. CSREES provided $3.0 million in fiscal

year 2004 to support other wood utilization research and product 

development through grant programs authorized under the McIntyreStennis Act and the Hatch Act; the National Research Initiative; Small 

Business Innovation Research grants; and other small grants. The Natural

Resources Conservation Service made available grant funding to promote 

greater innovation and development in all forms of biomass—including 

agricultural and woody biomass—with $5.3 million targeted to woody 

biomass research, under the Biomass Research Development Act of 2000. 

The other agencies made available the remaining $2.8 million.

Of the 12 agencies, only the Forest Service directly employs full-time 

scientists and support staff to conduct wood utilization research and 

product development. Most of these employees work at the Forest 

Products Laboratory, as shown in table 6. 

Page 24 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Table 6: FTE Staff for Wood Utilization Research and Product Development at the Forest Service, Fiscal Years 2004-2005 

 FTE scientists FTE support staff Total FTE staff 

Forest Service unit (2004) (2005) (2004) (2005) (2004) (2005)

Forest Products

Laboratory 62.8 59.6 58.3 57.3 121.1 116.9

Northeastern 

Research Station 9 9 11 10 20 19

Pacific Northwest 

Research Station 9 9.3 4.5 7 13.5 16.3

Pacific Southwest 

Research Station 1 1 0 2 1 3

Rocky Mountain 

Research Station 0.1 0.1 0 0 0.1 0.1

Southern Research 

Station 8.7 8.7 9.3 9.8 18 18.5

Total 90.6 87.7 83.1 86.1 173.7 173.8

Source: Forest Service documents. 

The other 11 agencies we reviewed do not have full-time federal scientists 

dedicated to wood utilization research and product development, and 

were unable to provide information on scientists and support staff 

working on federal wood utilization research and product development 

activities. 

From Fiscal Years 1995 

through 2005, Forest 

Service Budget Authority 

for Wood Utilization 

Research and Product 

Development Fluctuated 

Moderately from Year-toYear 

For fiscal years 1995 through 2005, the Forest Service received total 

budget authority for wood utilization research and product development 

of $268 million (which is equivalent to $289 million in 2004 inflationadjusted dollars). As table 7 shows, during this 11-year period, the annual 

budget authority ranged between $24.2 million and $28.2 million (in 2004 

inflation-adjusted dollars), with moderate fluctuations from year-to-year. 

Page 25 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Table 7: Forest Service Budget Authority for Wood Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Dollars in thousands 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total

Nominal 

dollars $23,727 $20,873 $21,416 $21,616 $22,196 $23,195 $26,041 $26,726 $27,246 $28,251 $27,179 $268,465

2004 

dollars $28,037 $24,201 $24,404 $24,336 $24,666 $25,264 $27,711 $27,907 $27,899 $28,251 $26,451 $289,128

Source: Forest Service documents. 

Note: Totals may not add due to rounding. 

Table 8 shows the total FTE scientists and support staff for the Forest 

Service’s wood utilization research work units, from fiscal years 1995 

through 2005. 

Table 8: Forest Service FTE Staff for Wood Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Scientists 98.2 98.3 90.6 85.0 82.8 84.2 86.6 84.1 86.1 90.6 87.7

Support staff 109.0 101.5 88.5 87.4 86.4 87.8 89.8 89.3 88.3 83.1 86.1

Total 207.2 199.8 179.1 172.4 169.2 172.0 176.4 173.4 174.4 173.7 173.8

Source: Forest Service documents. 

As figure 2 shows, over the period, the levels of budget authority (adjusted 

for inflation) and FTE staff for wood utilization research and product 

development at the Forest Service fluctuated moderately. From fiscal year 

1995 to fiscal year 1996, both budget authority (in 2004 inflation-adjusted 

dollars) and FTE staff at the Forest Service decreased by 14 percent and 4

percent, respectively. After 1996, budget authority for the most part 

increased through 2004 and then decreased in 2005. 

FTE staff continued to decrease through 1999, increased in 2000, and 

thereafter remained relatively stable. (See app. IV for information on 

changes in FTE Forest Service scientists and support staff for wood 

utilization research work units for each year from fiscal year 1995 through

2005.) 

Page 26 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Figure 2: Total Budget Authority for Forest Service Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development, and FTE Staff, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

0 

5 

10 

15 

20 

25 

30 

Budget authority

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 

0 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

300 

Personnel (FTEs) 

Year 

Dollars in millions (2004 inflation-adjusted) Total FTEs

Source: GAO analysis of Forest Service documents.

During the 11-year period, the Forest Products Laboratory’s budget 

authority also fluctuated moderately. Between fiscal years 1995 and 2000,

the budget authority declined by 17 percent (in 2004 inflation-adjusted 

dollars), from $20.8 million to $17.3 million; it increased again from fiscal 

years 2001 through 2004, but was still lower in 2005 than in 1995. (See 

table 9.) 

Page 27 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Table 9: The Forest Products Laboratory’s Budget Authority for Wood Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal 

Years 1995-2005 

Dollars in thousands 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total

Nominal 

dollars $17,596 $15,800 $15,800 $15,726 $15,850 $15,850 $17,924 $18,551 $19,088 $20,025 $19,213 $191,423

2004 

dollars $20,792 $18,319 $18,004 $17,705 $17,614 $17,265 $19,074 $19,370 $19,545 $20,025 $18,698 $206,411

Source: Forest Service documents. 

Table 10 shows the total FTE scientists and support staff for the Forest 

Products Laboratory’s wood utilization research work units, from fiscal 

years 1995 through 2005.

Table 10: The Forest Products Laboratory’s FTE Staff for Wood Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 

1995-2005 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Scientists 67.2 69.0 64.3 60.6 56.4 55.8 59.0 58.5 57.2 62.8 59.6

Support Staff 78.0 73.5 61.5 60.4 61.9 60.3 62.3 61.5 62.0 58.3 57.3

Total 145.2 142.5 125.8 121.0 118.3 116.1 121.3 120.0 119.2 121.1 116.9

Source: Forest Products Laboratory. 

The number of FTE Forest Products Laboratory scientists and support 

staff generally declined from fiscal years 1995 through 2000; then it 

fluctuated moderately. Figure 3 shows the changes in budget authority and

FTE scientists and support staff at the Forest Products Laboratory. See 

appendix IV for funding and FTE staff, by research work unit, at the Forest 

Products Laboratory and at the research stations for fiscal years 1995 

through 2005. 

Page 28 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Figure 3: Total Budget Authority for the Forest Products Laboratory’s Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, and FTE Staff, Fiscal Years 1995-

2005 

0 

5 

10 

15 

20 

25 

30 

Budget authority

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 

0 

50 

100 

150 

200 

250 

300 

Personnel (FTEs) 

Year 

Dollars in millions (2004 inflation-adjusted) Total FTEs

Source: GAO analysis of Forest Service documents.

While financial support for wood utilization research and product 

development at the Forest Service has fluctuated moderately during the 

past 11 years, Forest Service scientists and managers expressed concerns 

about resource constraints. They noted that increases in budget authority 

cover salary increases and other fixed costs, but that these increases may 

not be enough to cover increases in the costs of other operating 

expenses—such as purchasing or calibrating equipment, obtaining 

laboratory supplies, and traveling for research. The Forest Products 

Laboratory’s operating budget authority declined by about 67 percent 

between fiscal years 1995 and 1998 (in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars), 

from about $1.95 million to $650,000; it also fluctuated within a narrow 

range from fiscal years 1999 to 2005, ending with $630,000. (See table 11.) 

Page 29 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Table 11: The Forest Products Laboratory’s Operating Budget, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Dollars in thousands 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total

Nominal dollars $1,651 $1,337 $ 901 $577 $630 $613 $672 $642 $636 $647 $647 $8,953

2004 dollars $1,951 $1,550 $1,027 $650 $700 $668 $715 $670 $651 $647 $630 $9,859

Source: Forest Service documents. 

Figure 4 shows changes in the dollars available for operating expenses 

(adjusted to 2004 dollars) in fiscal years 1995 through 2005 at the Forest 

Products Laboratory. 

Figure 4: The Forest Products Laboratory’s Operating Budget, Fiscal Years 1995-

2005 

0 

0.5 

1.0 

1.5 

2.0 

2.5 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 

Year 

Dollars in millions (2004 inflation-adjusted)

Source: GAO analysis of data from Forest Service documents. 

Many of the scientists with whom we spoke cited instances in which fewer 

resources had diminished their ability to conduct research. For example, 

according to one scientist, he is spending less time in the laboratory 

because he is devoting more time to obtaining outside funding for his 

research work unit. Another scientist told us that his research work unit 

must now limit the number of wood samples from private sources that the 

unit has time to analyze, which it did not need to do in the past. According 

Page 30 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
to Forest Service officials, due in part to funding constraints, as well as to 

better serve the scientific community, the Forest Products Laboratory has 

developed a strategic plan, and is in the process of reorganizing and 

consolidating its research work units and reducing the number of 

scientists and support staff.25

From Fiscal Years 1995 

through 2005, CSREES’ 

Wood Utilization Research 

Centers’ Budget Authority 

and the Number of Centers 

Increased 

Table 12 shows that the total budget authority for fiscal years 1995 through 

2005 for CSREES’ wood utilization research centers was about $51.2 

million (which is equivalent to $54.8 million in 2004 inflation-adjusted 

dollars), and figure 5 illustrates that, overall, CSREES’ budget authority 

(adjusted for inflation) for the wood utilization research centers increased 

over the period. The increase in budget authority was due in part to the 

addition of four new wood utilization research centers, particularly when 

two new centers were added in fiscal year 1999; new centers were added 

again in fiscal years 2000 and 2004. 

Table 12: CSREES Budget Authority for Wood Utilization Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Dollars in thousands 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total

Nominal dollars $3,530 $3,532 $3,305 $3,305 $4,805 $4,805 $5,400 $5,304 $5,730 $5,670 $5,820 $51,206

2004 dollars $4,172 $4,095 $3,766 $3,721 $5,340 $5,234 $5,747 $5,538 $5,867 $5,670 $5,664 $54,814

Source: CSREES documents. 

 25USDA, Strategic Framework of Forest Products and Utilization Research and

Development (FPURD), (Washington, D.C.: Feb. 2006) 

Page 31 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Figure 5: Total Budget Authority for CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers, 

Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Dollars in millions (2004 inflation-adjusted)

Source: GAO analysis of data from CSREES documents.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

While the increase in the number of wood utilization research centers 

would suggest an increased commitment to wood utilization research and 

product development, after adjusting for inflation, most of the centers, 

individually, experienced a downward trend in budget authority, as table 

13 shows. (See app. IV for wood utilization research centers’ budget 

authority in nominal dollars over the period.) 

Page 32 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Table 13: Total Budget Authority for CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Dollars in thousands (2004 inflation-adjusted)

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Wood utilization research

centers

Maine $889 $872 $802 $793 $916 $797 $877 $843 $827 $736 $698

Michigan 889 873 802 793 916 797 877 843 827 736 698

Minnesota 275 270 249 246 284 247 272 261 252 228 216

Mississippi 889 872 802 793 916 797 877 843 1,290a 1,154a 1,148a

North Carolina 342 336 309 305 353 307 338 325 313 283 269

Oregon 889 872 802 793 916 797 877 843 814 736 698

Consortiumb572 497 547 526 523 460 496

Tennessee 468 407 448 430 422 376 406

Alaska 588 634 622 599 543 586

West Virginia 418 451

Total $4,172 $4,095 $3,766 $3,721 $5,340 $5,234 $5,747 $5,538 $5,867 $5,670 $5,664

Source: CSREES documents. 

a

The large increase in Mississippi grants in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 occurred because of an

additional committee-directed grant for a special statewide forest resources inventory. 

b

The Inland Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium consists of the universities of Idaho and 

of Montana, and Washington State University. 

Note: Totals may not add due to rounding. 

The 12 federal agencies generally rely on scientists and technology 

transfer specialists to transfer technologies to industry through a variety of 

methods,26 such as information dissemination, technical assistance, 

demonstration projects, and patents and licensing. While federal scientists

are involved in some technology transfer, their primary responsibility is 

research; in contrast, specialists are responsible solely for technology 

transfer. In addition, the Forest Service has a unit dedicated to transferring 

the results of wood utilization research and product development: the 

Forest Service’s TMU. We identified a number of examples of activities 

that have occurred using each of the technology transfer methods, mostly 

from the Forest Service and CSREES wood utilization research centers. 

Federal Agencies Rely 

on Scientists and 

Specialists to Transfer 

Technology Through a 

Variety of Methods 

 26For the purposes of this report, the term “technology transfer specialist” includes

marketing and utilization specialists and university extension specialists.

Page 33 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Scientists and Technology 

Transfer Specialists 

Disseminate Information 

Scientists are expected to transfer the results of their work and primarily 

disseminate information through publications—particularly those in peerreviewed journals—which help establish the validity of their research 

results. The Forest Service counts the number of articles published in 

these journals to assess scientists’ performance and reports this 

information as a performance measure for research in its annual report to 

Congress.27 Furthermore, according to Forest Service scientists, some 

industry officials may also read and use these journals. For example, a 

window and door manufacturer used the information from a journal 

article on the characteristics of wood from smaller trees for use in 

composites to develop a new and higher-value use for this wood. Instead 

of burning the wood as waste, the manufacturer now uses it in his 

products. 

Scientists also disseminate research results to industry through a variety 

of other methods, including publications that are not peer reviewed, Web 

sites, presentations of their work at professional meetings, and 

workshops. Specific examples include the following: 

• Publications that are not peer reviewed include the Forest Service’s onepage information sheets, TechLines; technical reports; industry magazines; 

trade journals; and training manuals. For example, one training manual 

was developed after industry representatives asked a Forest Service 

scientist to create a publication on avoiding accidents caused by 

improperly constructed logging trails. Scientists also contribute to user 

manuals that are important to the building industry and homeowners, such 

as Finishes for Exterior Wood—20,000 copies sold in the past 10 years; 

and the Wood Mold Maintenance Manual—10,000 copies in circulation. 

• Most of the Forest Service’s wood utilization research work units maintain 

Web sites that list articles or provide links to articles and contact 

information. For example, a research work unit in the Southern Research 

Station reported that 18,335 distinct users—approximately 1,528 per 

month—accessed its Web site in 2004, downloading 37,376 publications. 

Some of CSREES’ wood utilization centers also have Web sites, and some 

scientists have their own Web sites devoted to their wood utilization 

research and product development. 

• The Forest Service’s State and Private Forestry’s Wood Education and 

Resource Center in West Virginia offers a grant program to transfer 

 27Forest Service Performance and Accountability Report, Fiscal Year 2004, p. 208 

Page 34 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
research results. In one instance, grant funds helped support the issuance 

of three newsletters informing pallet producers, shippers, and technical 

assistance personnel of the latest developments in implementing new 

international regulations. These regulations require that all pallets crossing 

international boundaries be treated to prevent the spread of invasive 

species. Additionally, three technical bulletins summarizing the results of 

the center’s applied research in this area were developed and distributed 

to an international audience. 

• Workshops conducted by scientists for industry include the University of 

Minnesota’s industry-specific training on streamlined manufacturing 

procedures to over 75 companies, which has resulted in partnerships with 

15 of them. University of Minnesota scientists reported that these 

partnerships have led to productivity improvements of 50 to 75 percent 

and cost reductions of 25 to 50 percent, with estimated financial impacts 

of over $750,000. 

• Forest Service scientists have shared information through broadcasts. A 

radio host in Arkansas has a weekly show on forestry issues, and scientists

from the Southern Research Station have discussed their research. 

• The Forest Products Laboratory conducts “Entrepreneur Tours” in which 

small- to medium-size mill operators from western states tour the Forest 

Products Laboratory to learn about current research and how they can use 

it. 

Technology transfer specialists—at the Forest Service’s State and Private 

Forestry program and extension specialists and programs at universities—

also play a key role in disseminating information to industry. As of 

February 2006, the Forest Service employed nine technology transfer 

specialists, who also provide other types of assistance to small businesses. 

Like scientists, specialists reach industry and other users through Web 

sites and publications—particularly those that are not peer reviewed, like 

trade journals, newsletters, and industry magazines. Specialists sometimes 

work directly with scientists to disseminate research to targeted users. For 

example, technology transfer specialists at Louisiana State University’s 

extension program publish the Dry Kiln Club newsletter, which provides 

updated research results from the university’s scientists on wood-drying 

and moisture-related wood decay to an audience of over 1,000. 

Extension specialists also disseminate information through targeted group 

education to industry and other users. This education includes short 

courses, continuing education courses, and workshops. Specialists often 

Page 35 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
develop these courses using the results of research conducted at their 

university and other universities, the Forest Service, and other federal and

state agencies. Specific examples include the following: 

• Extension specialists at Virginia Tech University offered 27 short courses 

to industry in calendar year 2004. In one of these courses, they combined 

research from the College of Business with their own knowledge of wood

science to teach methods for selling wood products. 

• Extension specialists in Ohio taught a multiweek course to landowners on 

how to prune and manage their trees and market their products. The 

course was designed to help the landowners take advantage of a new 

pallet plant soon to be opening in their area. 

• Extension specialists at Mississippi State’s wood utilization research 

center have provided logger education to over 3,000 logger firms during 

the past 10 years. 

• Extension specialists at West Virginia University’s Appalachian Hardwood 

Center have conducted technology transfer and outreach efforts for the 

past 15 years. For example, in October 2004, the center hosted a logsawing and grading workshop that focused on the efficient grading and 

recovery of lumber for low-grade logs. 

• To enhance competitiveness in the region’s forest products industry, the 

University of Tennessee’s Forest Products Center has a wood products 

extension specialist who conducts workshops, issues newsletters, and 

takes other actions to transfer information from the CSREES wood 

utilization research center to industry. 

Technology transfer specialists also attend industry and professional 

conferences and meetings, where they present information and meet with 

industry representatives to build their networks. In addition, they 

disseminate information by creating directories that provide contact 

information for wood industries in their state. 

Both scientists and technology transfer specialists provide technical 

assistance through (1) telephone calls; (2) hands-on technical assistance; 

and (3) software development. 

Both scientists and technology transfer specialists respond to telephone 

calls requesting assistance from industry, consumers, and homeowners. 

Technical Assistance Is an 

Important Tool for 

Transferring Technology to 

Industry 

Page 36 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
For example, one scientist at Oregon State University estimated receiving

over 200 calls per year; another scientist estimated receiving over 400. 

Forest Products Laboratory managers estimated that they receive 4,000 

such calls per year. 

Scientists and technology transfer specialists also provide industry and 

others with hands-on technical assistance. Examples include the 

following: 

• Forest Products Laboratory scientists provided technical assistance to 

help a small company improve its manufacturing efficiency by applying

research on the fasteners and connectors used to assemble and 

disassemble portable flooring. This company produces flooring for the 

National Collegiate Athletic Association. 

• Forest Products Laboratory scientists helped a large drumstick 

manufacturer solve a durability problem by developing a way to inject 

drumsticks with a polymer to strengthen them.

• Forest Products Laboratory scientists provide technical assistance by

identifying wood samples for companies, as well as for private citizens. As

part of this wood identification, they assist manufacturers in resolving 

problems they have in using different types of woods with different 

finishes. In 2004, they identified 600 specimens for industry, 350 specimens

for government agencies, and 370 specimens of wood for the general 

public. 

• For 12 years, the University of Minnesota has worked with a company to 

provide support in material selection, prototyping, performance testing,

and market assessment and development. These efforts have helped the

company introduce several new product lines in office furniture, store 

fixtures, and cabinet components; expand from 30 to 450 employees; and

increase the company’s sales from $5 million to $50 million annually over 

the period. 

• The Department of Energy offers energy assessments of facilities that 

manufacture wood products or produce pulp and paper, although the 

department requires a substantial cost investment from the company. 

According to the Department of Energy, these assessments have resulted 

in an annual savings of up to $9 million for some companies. 

Agencies also develop software and make it available, often for free, on 

Web sites. For example, a Forest Service computer program developed by

researchers at the Forest Service’s Northeastern Research Station 

Page 37 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
provides a realistic simulation model that allows industry to identify more 

efficient strategies to reduce waste in the manufacturing process. More 

than 700 computer program packages have been sent to industry, and 

follow-up telephone calls by Forest Service scientists indicate that the 

program is being used in planning and optimization activities by many of 

the recipients. Similarly, the Department of Energy’s Industrial 

Technologies Program provides free software tools to the forest products 

industry to improve energy efficiency in industry processes. 

Agencies also transfer research results through demonstration or pilot 

projects in mills, plants, and on-site at research locations. Specific 

examples include the following: 

Demonstration Projects 

Can Highlight the 

Application of Wood 

Utilization Research and 

Product Development • The Forest Products Laboratory built a research demonstration house in 

2001 on-site. The research in the demonstration house focuses on 

improving the use of traditional wood products, recycled and engineered 

wood composites, natural disaster resistance, energy efficiency, and 

indoor air quality. Features include a permanent wood foundation and 

engineered wood composites in the roof. 

• In cooperation with the homebuilding and forest products industries, the 

Forest Products Laboratory constructed a house on the Washington, D.C.,

mall as part of the 2005 annual Smithsonian festival. The house showcases 

new technologies developed by the Forest Products Laboratory and 

cooperators, such as manufacturers of structural insulated panels. The 

house was visited by several thousand people over the course of the 10-

day festival.

• Forest Products Laboratory scientists helped a company implement a 

demonstration project in its saw mill. The project showed that, with 

improvements to the company’s machinery for determining lumber quality, 

the company could increase efficiency by as much as 12 percent—thus 

adding an estimated $1.2 million annually in profit. 

• Scientists at West Virginia University’s wood utilization research center 

have developed a new technology for using oak as a raw material in the 

manufacture of OSB. The Weyerhaeuser Company and other industry 

partners are testing the process and the produced strands in test runs to 

verify the results. If successful, the research work unit anticipates lower 

raw material costs and increased use of oak as an engineered wood 

product component. Success could lead to new or expanded OSB 

manufacturing facilities, and new jobs, in the Appalachian region. 

Page 38 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
• Forest Service scientists at the Southwest Wildland/Urban Interface and 

Forest Health Restoration research work unit, in Flagstaff, Arizona, have

joined with Northern Arizona University on framing techniques using 

small-diameter logs. This partnership has led to a demonstration project 

with the Navajo Nation to develop hogans using small-diameter wood. 

Hogans are traditional housing structures tribes still use, and are typically 

built with more costly wood from larger trees. 

• HUD, through its Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing 

program, helped a builder in North Carolina to demonstrate the durability 

and cost of various building materials (including insulated composite 

wood panels) in four residential duplex units. The builder agreed to build

each duplex out of a different building material, and HUD is evaluating the 

materials’ performance at this site. 

• The Office of Naval Research has several demonstration projects in place

using wood-plastic composite materials to replace wooden pier 

components, such as deck boards and fendering components. Such 

demonstrations help Navy engineers become familiar with new 

technologies and their benefits before the technologies are widely 

available. 

• The Coast Guard, in a contract with the University of Maine for composite 

wood research, requires the university to demonstrate that the composite 

structures it developed could be used in a marine environment and be 

more durable than traditional structures. The university will build a dock 

for the Coast Guard to demonstrate the use of the composite material it 

has developed. 

Page 39 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Technology can also be transferred to industry through licensing and 

patenting. The Forest Service employs one full-time patent attorney, 

stationed at the Forest Products Laboratory, to assist scientists in 

patenting inventions they create as part of federally sponsored research 

projects; industry can then license these patents.28 The Forest Service 

Patent and Licensing Program handles all aspects of patents and licensing,

including reviewing invention disclosures, filing and prosecuting patent 

applications, negotiating patent licenses and other technology transferrelated agreements. Between January 1, 1995, and December 3, 2005, a 

total of 58 patents were issued, and 12 applications related to wood 

utilization are currently pending, according to the Forest Service. 

Scientists at the CSREES wood utilization centers also obtain patents on 

processes and products they have developed. For example, scientists at 

the University of Minnesota’s wood utilization research center have 

obtained over 20 patents that they have then licensed to private industry.

These patents include those for extracting chemicals from birch bark that 

can be used in medicine, in manufacturing absorbent panels, and in a 

foam-and-wood composite log used for siding. They also reported having a 

number of pending patent applications in the areas of housing systems and 

the extraction of natural chemicals from birch bark waste products. 

The Forest Service has a unit dedicated to transferring the results of wood 

utilization research and product development activities—the TMU, part of 

the State and Private Forestry Program, located at the Forest Products 

Laboratory. TMU’s mission is to improve wood utilization by transferring 

technologies developed primarily by the Forest Products Laboratory and 

other Forest Service research units. As of February 2006, TMU employed 

four technology transfer specialists with expertise in wood utilization and 

product development. These specialists collaborate with Forest Service 

scientists, primarily at the Forest Products Laboratory, to provide 

technical assistance to local governments, private landowners, rural 

Results of Wood Utilization 

Research and Product 

Development Can Be 

Patented and Then 

Licensed to Industry 

The Forest Service Has a 

Unit Dedicated to 

Transferring Wood 

Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

 28Since 1980, the Bayh-Dole Act and subsequent executive actions have generally given 

federal contractors, grantees, and cooperative agreement funding recipients the option to 

retain ownership rights to, and profit from, commercializing the inventions they create as 

part of federally sponsored research projects. In return for these rights, these recipients are 

required to file for patent protection, pursue commercialization of the inventions, give 

preferences to small businesses in licensing, ensure that any products resulting from the 

inventions are substantially manufactured in the United States, and comply with certain 

reporting requirements. 

Page 40 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
communities, and forest industries to ensure the ready adoption of 

technologies based on forest materials. 

Like scientists and other technology transfer specialists, TMU’s specialists 

disseminate research results through publications, conferences, and 

workshops. Specific examples include the following: 

• In fiscal years 2004 and 2005, TMU reported distributing 40,000 and 6,900

publications, respectively.29 For example, TMU’s newsletter, the Forest 

Products Conservation and Recycling Review, has a circulation of over 

800. In fiscal year 2005, it published 19 issues of TechLines on topics 

ranging from the outdoor performance of wood-plastic composites; to 

wood flooring and roofing; to using waste wood for filtering water. 

• TMU participated in 45 workshops, conferences, presentations, training 

sessions, and exhibits in fiscal year 2004 that were attended, in total, by

over 5,000. 

• In 2004, TMU cosponsored the SmallWood conference in Sacramento, 

California, that was attended by over 350, including harvesting 

contractors, rural development officials, community leaders, forest 

products business owners, environmental groups, and tribes.

• TMU provided an updated software tool that allows users to compare the

unit costs of various heating fuels—the Fuel Value Calculator—allowing 

wood to be compared to conventional fossil fuels, such as natural gas or 

fuel oil. The calculator is available on TMU’s Web site.30

In addition, since TMU’s technology transfer specialists are located on-site 

with Forest Products Laboratory scientists, they have an opportunity to 

learn about the research from its early stages. Furthermore, when a 

technology is developed, the specialists can work with the scientists to 

conduct a market analysis to determine potential applications. For 

example, in 2004, TMU published Assessing the Market Potential of 

 29The higher number in 2004 is due to distribution of 30,000 copies of a special publication,

“Better Rural Places.” 

30http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu/

Page 41 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Roundwood Recreational Buildings,

31 which provides information on the 

applicability of the Forest Products Laboratory’s research on roundwood. 

TMU also transfers technology to users by providing technical assistance 

directly to industry, communities, and individuals nationwide, as well 

conducting demonstration projects. Specifically, TMU specialists perform 

the following activities: 

• Answer numerous phone inquiries and letters, and host visitors—over 

2,000 in both fiscal years 2004 and 2005. Specialists provide answers to 

technical questions, point a user to key information sources, or provide a 

link and contact information to researchers working in a user’s area of 

interest. 

• Travel to facilities to provide hands-on advice and answer questions.

For example, TMU assisted a remote California logging community hardhit by mill closures to create over 100 new jobs through a small forest 

products company and a nonprofit training center. Applying Forest 

Products Laboratory research, TMU specialists helped the company 

specialize in producing flooring from small-diameter trees by, among other 

things, providing solutions to product imperfections like warping and 

discoloration. 

• Work with companies and communities in implementing research 

results or new technology through pilot and demonstration projects. For 

example, TMU staff are working with the Department of Energy’s National 

Renewable Energy Laboratory on a project testing small-scale biomass 

modular units, called “BioMax 15s,” that use wood chips to create 

electricity. The technology is still in the pre-commercial phase, so the 

department and the TMU are using a demonstration program at several 

sites around the country, including a high school in Walden, Colorado, and

a furniture-making business at the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. 

In addition to its technology transfer responsibilities, in fiscal year 2005,

the unit led the evaluation of proposals for USDA’s Woody Biomass Grant 

Program. This program made available over $4 million in grants designed 

to increase the utilization of woody biomass from or near National Forest 

System lands. The program is designed to improve forest restoration 

activities by using and creating markets for small-diameter material and

 31Paun, Dorothy; Randall Cantrell, and Susan LeVan-Green. Forest Products Lab, FPL-GTR144. 

Page 42 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
low-valued trees that were removed during activities to reduce hazardous 

fuels. Grants could range in value from $50,000 to $250,000. 

We provided a draft of this report for review and comment to USDA’s 

CSREES, Forest Service, and Natural Resources and Conservation Service; 

Defense; Department of Energy; Department of Homeland Security; HUD; 

Interior; Department of Transportation; and the National Science 

Foundation. The Forest Service, DOT, Energy, and Interior provided 

technical comments, which we incorporated as appropriate. CSREES, 

Natural Resources and Conservation Service, Defense, Department of 

Homeland Security, HUD, and the National Science Foundation did not 

have comments on the draft report. 

As agreed with your offices, unless you publicly announce the contents of

this report earlier, we plan no further distribution until 7 days after the 

date of this letter. At that time, we will send copies of this report to 

interested congressional committees; the Secretaries of Agriculture, 

Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, 

Interior, and Transportation; the Director of the National Science 

Foundation; the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and 

other interested parties. We will also make copies available to others upon 

request. In addition, the report will be available at no charge on the GAO 

Web site at http://www.gao.gov. 

If you have any questions about this report, please contact me at (202) 512-

3841 or nazzaror@gao.gov. Contact points for our Offices of Congressional 

Relations and of Public Affairs may be found on the last page of this 

report. GAO staff who made major contributors to this report are listed in

appendix V.

Robin M. Nazzaro 

Director, Natural Resources 

 and Environment 

Agency Comments 

Page 43 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology 

Methodology 

This report describes (1) the types of wood utilization research and 

product development activities supported by federal agencies and how 

these efforts are coordinated; (2) the level of support federal agencies 

made available for these activities in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and

changes in the level of support at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

Forest Service and at the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 

Extension Service (CSREES)-funded wood utilization research centers 

from fiscal years 1995 through 2005; and (3) how the federal government 

transfers technologies and products from its wood utilization research and 

product development activities to industry. 

For this review, we defined wood utilization research and product 

development as those activities that occur from harvesting the wood 

through the recycling of wood and paper products. To better understand 

the focus of the federal research and development efforts in wood 

utilization, we worked with Forest Service and CSREES program officials 

to develop the following five broad categories: (1) harvesting—using 

scientific and engineering principles to ensure cost-effective,

environmentally acceptable, and safe forest operations, including 

planning, road building, harvesting, handling and processing, and 

transportation; (2) wood properties—studying the basic and applied 

physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of wood and wood fiber to 

determine the suitability of this material for various uses, from pulp to 

structural beams to recycled composite products; (3) manufacturing and 

processing—new and better manufacturing ways to extract, reduce, and 

convert virgin wood raw materials to useful products and the development 

of technology to allow the re-use of materials and products to the 

maximum extent possible; (4) products and testing—developing test 

methods and gathering and evaluating data on the differing uses of wood 

and wood fiber products; and (5) economics and marketing. This final 

category includes evaluating and tracking domestic and international 

supply and demand trends, and trade policies, and markets, including 

market opportunities; and harvesting and production costs for alternative 

material and energy inputs and processing options. 

We performed our work at 12 federal agencies that support wood 

utilization research and product development activities. These include 

CSREES, the Forest Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation 

Service; the Department of Defense’s (Defense) Army, Army Corps of 

Engineers, and the Office of Naval Research; the Department of Energy; 

the Department of Homeland Security’s Coast Guard; the Department of 

Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the Department of the Interior’s 

Page 44 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and 

Methodology 

(Interior) Bureau of Indian Affairs; the National Science Foundation; and

the Department of Transportation. 

To answer the first objective—describing the types of wood utilization 

research and product development activities supported by federal 

agencies and how these efforts are coordinated—we collected information 

on research and product development activities at the 12 agencies for 

fiscal years 2004 and 2005 and worked with the Forest Service and 

CSREES to place these activities into one of the five categories we had 

developed. Because certain Forest Service research work units and 

CSREES-funded wood utilization research centers are specifically 

dedicated to wood utilization research and product development, we 

collected data on research activities for fiscal years 1995 through 2005 to

understand how these activities changed over time. At the Forest Service, 

we used a data collection instrument to systematically gather data on the

27 research work units’ plans for wood utilization research and product 

development, covering fiscal years 1995 through 2005. Because these plans 

span multiple years, some dated back as far as 1988. In total, we examined 

the 71 plans for the 16 research work units at the Forest Products 

Laboratory and 11 research work units that were associated with other 

research stations within the Forest Service—4 in the Northeast, 4 in the 

South, 1 in the Pacific Northwest, 1 in the Pacific Southwest, and 1 in the 

Rocky Mountains. From these plans, we collected information on each 

research work unit’s mission, research problems, and selected research 

activities. (See app. II.) We also interviewed each research work unit’s 

project leader on the unit’s wood utilization research and product 

development activities. 

For CSREES, we examined the 10 wood utilization research centers at 12 

universities that receive congressional committee-directed grants for 

wood utilization research and product development. Nine of these centers 

are at the universities of Alaska Southeast, Minnesota-Duluth, Maine, and 

Tennessee; Michigan State University, Mississippi State University, North 

Carolina State University, Oregon State University, and West Virginia 

University; and the tenth center is divided among three universities—

Idaho State, Montana State, and Washington State—that participate in the

Inland Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium. To identify these 

centers’ wood utilization research and product development activities, we 

obtained copies of the research proposals that the centers submit annually 

to CSREES. We used a data collection instrument to (1) systematically 

review the 88 proposals for fiscal years 1995 through 2005; (2) obtain 

information on the research objectives, approach, and description of wood 

utilization research and product development activities; and (3) 

Page 45 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and 

Methodology 

summarize selected activities for reporting purposes. We also obtained 

information on the centers’ research activities from CSREES’ Current 

Research Information System (CRIS) to obtain concise, nontechnical 

descriptions of selected activities and to ensure that the CRIS summary 

reflected the information in the CSREES proposals. We interviewed 

knowledgeable agency officials regarding the reliability of data we used 

from CSREES’ CRIS database and compared selected CRIS data with grant 

files. We used the data from CSREES for descriptive purposes only, and 

determined that the data were sufficiently reliable for these purposes. For 

reporting purposes, we primarily relied on the CRIS summary information 

to describe the selected research activities presented in appendix III. 

To identify other CSREES wood utilization research and product 

development activities in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, CSREES officials 

queried the CRIS database using key search codes to identify the wood 

utilization research and product development activities being conducted 

under other CSREES-funded grant programs. At the time of our review, 

the CRIS database did not contain complete information for fiscal year 

2005. We reviewed the grant projects—104—that fell within our definition

of wood utilization research and product development. 

To collect information on wood utilization research and product 

development from the remaining 10 agencies, we interviewed agency

officials and reviewed and summarized available information on the 

research activities for fiscal years 2004 and 2005.

To obtain information on the coordination of wood utilization and product 

development activities among the 12 federal agencies, we interviewed 

agency officials to obtain their views on the use of informal and formal 

coordination mechanisms. For all agencies, we obtained this information 

through interviews with program officials and scientists. In the case of 

CSREES wood utilization research centers, we obtained this information 

through a data collection instrument sent to the program leader at each 

center. In addition, we obtained documents on selected formal 

coordinating mechanisms, such as interagency agreements. We also 

attended the “Agenda 2020” meeting sponsored by the Forest Service in

2005, which is held annually to exchange information between industry 

and Forest Service scientists performing wood utilization research and 

Page 46 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and 

Methodology 

product development activities.1 The Forest Service uses these meetings to

seek industry views on research results and future research needs. We also 

examined relevant laws, regulations, and agency polices related to 

coordination for wood utilization research and product development. 

To address the second objective—describe the level of support federal 

agencies made available for wood utilization research and product 

development activities in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and changes in the 

level of support at the Forest Service and CSREES wood utilization 

research centers from fiscal years 1995 through 2005—we collected 

budget authority or expenditure information from the 12 agencies for 

fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and from the Forest Service and CSREES’ 

wood utilization centers for fiscal years 1995 through 2005. We reported

dollars in either budget authority or expenditure data, depending on the 

availability of agency data. We analyzed these data in both nominal 

(actual) dollars and dollars adjusted for inflation (real).2

 Most agencies 

and programs received congressional committee-directed budget authority 

for wood utilization research and product development or allocated a 

portion of their budget authority for these activities. Those budget 

authority amounts are reported when available. However, the only data 

available for the other CSREES grants and for the National Science 

Foundation were expenditure data.

For information on CSREES’ budget authority for the wood utilization 

research centers for fiscal years 1995 to 2005 for the grants awarded to the 

wood utilization research centers, the CSREES official explained how the 

funds were allocated across the 10 wood utilization research centers over 

the 11-year period. These data were used to show the historical trends of

investment dollars for wood utilization research and product development 

over the past 11 years. (See app. IV.)

In addition to the budget authority for the CSREES wood utilization 

research centers, we obtained expenditure data for the wood utilization 

research and product development activities conducted under the 

authority of the McIntyre–Stennis Act, the Hatch Act, the National 

 1

 The official title of this meeting is “Forest Industry and Forest Service Research Liaison 

Meeting.” The meeting was held at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, 

May 10-11, 2005. 

2

 We adjusted nominal dollars using the Department of Commerce’s Fiscal Year ChainWeighted Price Index for the Gross Domestic Product with 2004 as the base year. 

Page 47 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and 

Methodology 

Research Initiative, the Small Business Innovation Research Grants, and 

other small grants, which can fund wood utilization research and product 

development. We obtained specific expenditure amounts for these 

activities for fiscal year 2004 from the CRIS database system. Fiscal year 

2005 data were not available for these CSREES activities. 

For the Forest Service, we obtained information on budget authority from 

an internal agency review of research stations and research work units. 

We used this information to provide an overview of the changes in budget 

authority for wood utilization research and product development for fiscal 

years 1995 through 2005. See appendix IV for the budget authority for each 

research work unit over this period. In addition, we interviewed Forest 

Service budget officials in headquarters, the Forest Products Laboratory, 

and the State and Private Forestry Program on budget and other funding 

issues, such as the allocation of funds and setting of research funding 

priorities. We concluded that the data provided in the agency survey were 

sufficiently reliable for the purposes of our review. 

We also reviewed and summarized information from Forest Service 

documents on the number of scientists and research support staff at the 

Forest Service—the only agency that has full-time federal employees who 

directly conduct wood utilization research and product development 

activities. We reported the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff at 

each of the 27 research work units that conducted research on wood 

utilization and product development for fiscal years 1995 through 2005. 

(See app. IV.)

To collect funding information from the remaining agencies, we asked 

budget and program officials for budget authority or expenditure 

information for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for wood utilization research 

and product development. Specifically, the National Science Foundation 

provided us with expenditure information from its Project Reports 

Summary and Search and Awards databases because that is the only way it

could identify the amounts devoted to wood utilization research and 

product development. We interviewed knowledgeable agency officials 

regarding the reliability of these data. We used the data for descriptive 

purposes only, and determined that the data were sufficiently reliable for 

these purposes. 

The funding for Defense’s Army, Corps of Engineers, and Office of Naval 

Research; and the Department of Homeland Security’s Coast Guard were 

congressional committee-directed funds or budget authority. However, for 

the Office of Naval Research and the Coast Guard, we reported 

Page 48 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and 

Methodology 

expenditures because those amounts were applicable to our time period—

fiscal years 2004 and 2005. 

To respond to objective three—how the federal government transfers 

technologies and products from its wood utilization research and product 

development activities to industry—we obtained and reviewed relevant

legislation and policies and procedures on federal technology transfer 

activities. At the Forest Service, we interviewed and obtained examples of 

successful technology transfer from project leaders at the 27 research 

work units that are responsible for wood utilization research and product 

development; a patent attorney; technology transfer program managers at 

the Technology Marketing Unit located at the Forest Products Laboratory; 

and technology transfer specialists in the State and Private Forestry 

Program. At CSREES, we had discussions with program research officials 

and extension specialists. In addition, we sent a short data collection 

instrument to the 10 wood utilization research centers to obtain 

information on how they transfer the results of their research to industry, 

as well as to obtain examples of successful transfer efforts. We did not 

assess the success of these agencies’ reported efforts, nor did we try to 

quantify the results of these efforts. 

We also conducted site visits at a limited number of federal, university, 

and industrial facilities—the Forest Products Laboratory; Forest Service 

facilities in Virginia, West Virginia, and Oregon; the wood utilization 

research center at Oregon State University; the Western Wood Producers 

Association; the APA Engineered Wood Association; and a Weyerhaeuser 

Company research laboratory in Washington State. We also visited a 

sawmill, a manufacturer of wooden steps and stair posts, a manufacturer 

of engineered products, and a cabinet maker, and attended the 2005 

Northeast Utilization and Marketing Council’s conference. We performed 

our work between February 2005 and May 2006, in accordance with 

generally accepted government auditing standards. 

Page 49 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

This appendix presents examples of work conducted and planned for the 

Forest Service’s research work units at the Forest Products Laboratory 

(table 14), and in work units associated with five research stations: 

Northeastern, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Southwest, Rocky Mountain, and 

Southern (table 15). 

Table 14: Conducted and Planned Activities for the Forest Service’s Research Work Units at the Forest Products Laboratory 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

4502 

Biodeterioration of Wood, 

1991-97 

Biodeterioration of Wood, 1997-2002 Biodeterioration of Wood, 2002-

07 

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Mission To increase wood efficiency 

and serviceability through 

basic and applied research on

the nature and control of 

biodeterioration of wood in

use. 

To increase wood efficiency, protection, and 

serviceability through basic and applied 

research on the nature and control of 

biodeterioration within the context of 

changing environmental needs. 

To increase wood efficiency of use, 

protection, and serviceability 

through basic and applied research 

on the nature and control of 

biodeterioration within the context 

of changing environmental needs. 

Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Page 50 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Lack of 

understanding of the 

biosynthetic and degradative 

pathways that can be targeted

to achieve improved methods 

for controlling decay. 

Activities: Study the induction 

and repression of degradative

enzymes in order to learn 

what parameters prevent their

formation. 

Problem: Lack of 

understanding in detecting 

incipient decay and in-situ 

treatments to protect wood. 

Activities: Investigate the 

presence of decay in a 

particular wood structure to 

determine conditions 

promoting such decay and, 

where necessary, the 

microorganisms responsible 

for the decay. 

Problem: Lack of 

understanding in how to 

enhance nondecay 

microorganisms to prevent 

fungal attack of wood. 

Activities: Identify potential 

antagonists by laboratory 

screening and select the most

promising control agents by 

applying them to wood blocks 

for exposure to important 

wood-attacking fungi. 

Problem: Need to identify new biochemical 

processes of wood decay fungi that can be

inhibited to achieve improved methods for 

controlling decay. 

Activities: Determine efficacy against decay 

fungi of inhibitors to targets identified from 

mechanistic studies. 

Problem: Need to identify in-situ modes of 

antagonism of nondecay microorganisms 

required to enhance their establishment in 

wood to prevent fungal attack in order to 

develop new and effective biocontrol agents.

Activities: Identify microorganisms with 

improved biocontrol qualities. 

Problem: Need to determine the conditions 

required for bioremoval of metals from 

chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated 

wood waste in order to dispose of CCAtreated wood without damaging soils and 

watersheds. 

Activities: Develop a fuller understanding of 

the microbial degradation of CCA-treated 

wood wastes and the conditions required for 

remediation, recycling, or composting. 

Problem: Need to identify new

specific biochemical processes of 

wood decay fungi and mold that 

can be inhibited to achieve 

improved methods for controlling 

decay. 

Activities: The recent sequencing of 

the entire genome of an important 

decay fungus presents many 

opportunities for research on the 

mechanism of decay, including the 

possibility of rapidly correlating

specific enzymes of the fungus with 

the corresponding genes. 

Problem: Need to determine the 

conditions required for bioremoval 

and recycling of preservatives from 

preservative-treated wood waste in 

order to safely dispose of 

preventative-treated wood without 

damaging soils and watersheds. 

Activities: Develop a fuller 

understanding of the microbial

remediation and degradation of 

preservative-treated wood wastes 

and the conditions required for 

remediation, recycling, or 

degradation (composting). 

Problem: Need to develop rapid 

detection methods and the 

conditions required for mold growth 

in order to prevent mold growth in 

housing. 

Activities: Develop improved 

moisture control parameters to 

prevent the establishment of mold 

and spread of mold spores. 

4701 

Center for Wood Anatomy

Research, 1992-98 

Center for Wood Anatomy Research, 

1998-2003 

Center for Wood Anatomy

Research, 2003-08 

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Page 51 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Mission To accumulate and make 

known information on the 

anatomical and other 

characteristics of woods of 

the world that may affect their 

utilization potential, and to 

develop new and improved 

techniques for their 

identification. 

To accumulate and disseminate information

on the anatomical, biochemical, and physical

characteristics of wood species that may 

affect their utilization and decay, and to 

develop new and improved techniques for 

wood identification. 

To develop, accumulate, and 

disseminate information on the 

anatomical, biochemical, and 

physical characteristics of wood 

species that may affect their 

utilization and wood quality, and to 

develop new and improved 

techniques for wood identification. 

Page 52 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Need to develop a 

complete body of fundamental

knowledge on the macro- and 

microscopic structures and 

other characteristics for wood 

to better understand, utilize, 

and identify lesser-known and

lesser-used woods, especially

tropical woods. 

Activities: Data-gathering and 

analysis that is directed 

toward the development of 

descriptions and keys for 

commercially important and 

emerging tropical groups. 

Problem: Need to investigate 

new and improved 

nonanatomical techniques 

and methodologies for wood 

identification for more 

accurate and reliable 

identifications. 

Activities: New and novel 

approaches to the separation 

of similar woods must be 

developed. One of the first 

techniques to be studied will

be unique chemical tests that 

might aid in identifying woods 

at the work site. 

Problem: Need to accumulate 

common and scientific 

names, origin, physical and 

strength properties, uses, and 

other information on tropical 

species in databases to assist

in organizing and 

disseminating information to 

customers. 

Activities: Gather information

on properties, uses, and other 

data on native and tropical 

species, convert it to a 

standard format, and develop 

database structures that can 

readily retrieve selected 

information in an orderly and 

efficient manner. 

Problem: Need to better understand the 

macro- and microscopic anatomy of wood 

and develop new techniques and 

methodologies for wood identification. 

Activities: Data-gathering and analysis that 

is directed toward the development of 

descriptions and keys for commercially 

important and emerging tropical groups. 

Problem: More information is needed to 

understand the interrelationships between 

specific anatomical and chemical features 

and the mechanisms of decay and natural 

durability. 

Activities: Identify and test selected wood 

species for the ability to resist decay and 

discoloration by brown-rot, white-rot, and 

soft-rot fungi. Emphasis will be given to 

laboratory testing of selected temperate and 

tropical species. 

Problem: Need to understand the 

relationships between wood anatomical 

characteristics and wood quality. 

Activities: In the past, several characteristics 

(mostly anatomical) have been investigated

as predictors of wood quality. These include 

growth rate (ring width), density/specific 

gravity, percentage of latewood, tracheid 

length, cell diameter, cell wall thickness, and

cellulose microfibril angle. Cellulose 

microfibril angle contributes to many wood 

properties, such as modulus of elasticity, 

creep, shrinkage, and maximum crushing 

strength. 

Problem: Need to better 

understand the macro- and 

microscopic anatomy of wood and 

to develop new techniques and

methodologies for wood 

identification. 

Activities: Data-gathering and 

analysis that is directed toward the 

development of descriptions and 

keys for commercially important 

and emerging tropical groups.

Problem: Need to understand the 

relationships between wood

anatomical characteristics and

wood quality. 

Activities: Develop better methods 

for delineating juvenile zones, and 

conduct closer comparisons of

juvenile and mature wood anatomy 

and properties to better assess the 

impact of juvenile wood on overall 

wood quality. 

Page 53 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

4703 

Wood Adhesives Science 

and Technology, 1994-99

Wood Adhesives Science and

Technology,1999-2004 

Wood Adhesives Science and

Technology, 2004-09 

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Mission Improve the utilization of 

wood through a combination 

of basic and applied research 

that will ensure adequate 

future supplies of durable, 

environmentally acceptable 

adhesives, and improve the 

applicability, efficiency, and 

durability of adhesives for 

bonding wood-to-wood and 

wood-to-nonwood materials.

Improve the utilization of wood through a 

combination of basic and applied research 

that seeks to ensure more efficient 

fabrication and performance of bondedwood products. 

Improve the utilization of wood

through a combination of basic and 

applied research that ensures more 

efficient fabrication and 

performance of bonded-wood 

products. 

Page 54 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Need to develop 

durable wood adhesives from

renewable resources. 

Activities: Utilize the chemical 

constituents that occur in 

wood and other biomass (or 

compounds derived from 

these constituents) for 

obtaining adhesive systems 

suitable for bonding wood 

products. 

Problem: Need to eliminate 

chemical and physical 

barriers to bonding woodbased materials. 

Activities: Identify and 

develop means to overcome 

chemical and physical 

barriers to bonding and woodbased materials that have 

been chemically or physically 

altered through treating or 

processing, among other 

things. 

Problem: Need to improve the

environmental acceptability of 

wood adhesives through the 

modification of conventional 

adhesives and the 

development of new 

adhesives. 

Activities: Quantify the 

magnitude of the 

environmental impact of 

composite wood panel 

production and use and 

develop methods to decrease

the environmental impact of 

the composite products. 

Problem: Need to determine 

the behavior of adhesives and

the performance of adhesivebonded assembly joints in 

wood structures used for 

construction. 

Problem: Need to improve the properties 

and performance of wood adhesive systems.

Activities: Demonstrate the use of 

computational chemistry methods to develop

a better fundamental understanding of the 

chemistry involved in the synthesis and cure 

of existing adhesive systems. 

Problem: Need to improve the adhesion of 

adhesives to wood and nonwood substrates.

Activities: Understand the factors that lead to 

poor wood-surface quality and their 

influence on wood bonding so that the most 

efficient, cost-effective bonding solutions can

be determined. 

Problem: Need to improve the durability, 

safety, and structural performance of 

adhesively bonded wood assemblies. 

Activities: Determine the mechanical 

behavior of adhesives within bonded 

materials and develop new information on

the mechanical properties of adhesively 

bonded joints. 

Problem: Need to understand the 

environmental acceptability of wood 

adhesives and composite wood panels. 

Activities: Develop information on volatile 

organic compounds (VOC) emitted from 

wood products. Successful completion of 

this component will provide the information 

needed by other researchers,

manufacturers, and regulatory agencies to 

determine the impacts that wood products 

have on indoor air quality, and to develop 

strategies to control or prevent exposure to 

VOCs. 

Problem: Need to improve the

durability, safety, and structural 

performance of adhesively bonded 

wood assemblies. 

Activities: Develop a methodology 

to understand where and why

failure is taking place when 

bondline failure occurs. 

Problem: Need to better 

understand the adhesion of 

adhesives to wood and nonwood 

substrates. 

Activities: Understand the factors 

that lead to poor wood-surface 

quality and their influence on wood 

bonding so that the most efficient, 

cost-effective bonding solutions

can be determined. 

Problem: Need to improve the

properties and performance of

wood adhesive systems. 

Activities: Determine the 

mechanical properties of existing 

adhesive systems. 

Problem: Need to utilize more 

environmentally acceptable wood 

adhesives in wood composite 

panels. 

Activities: Evaluate the VOC 

emissions from composite wood 

products. 

Page 55 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Activities: Develop knowledge

that will support and 

encourage the use of 

adhesives in building 

construction, opening the way

for improvements in the use 

of wood and the performance 

of wood structures. 

4706 

Performance Designed

Composites, 1993-97 

Performance Designed Composites, 

1997-2002 

Performance Designed

Composites, 2002-07 

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Mission To develop the capabilities in 

processing technology to 

improve the value and yield of 

existing (and new) 

lignocellulosic-based

composites. 

To conserve wood and other renewable fiber 

resources, this research unit determines the 

relationship between alternative resource

options, processing technologies, and 

composite performance levels to improve 

the value and yield of existing and new 

lignocellulosic-based composites. 

To conserve wood, alone or in 

combination with other renewable 

fiber resources, fundamental

relationships between base 

materials and product performance 

are defined and then processes are 

derived to engineer reliable, highperformance composites from 

wood- and wood-lignocellulosics, 

including new hybrid composites 

melding wood and alternative

materials. 

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Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: There is a lack of 

knowledge that relates the 

resource and processing

variables to composite 

product performance. 

Activities: Study alternative 

material options and 

fabrication techniques that 

result in flat or shaped 

products that can either span 

distances of 4 feet or more or 

that possess other unique 

properties. 

Problem: There is a lack of 

information available on how 

to economically produce and 

characterize the performance 

of inorganic bonded structural

composites in adverse

environments. 

Activities: Develop a broad 

database of processing and 

performance information, 

which will make possible the 

introduction of economically 

produced and performancecharacterized inorganic 

bonded composites into the 

U.S. marketplace. 

Problem: There is a lack of 

information to allow the 

development of processing

methodology for the 

production of highperformance composites from 

virgin and recycled 

lignocellulosic, plastic, and 

other nonwood materials. 

Activities: Develop technology

to convert recycled biofibers 

and nonwood materials into 

durable, long-service-life 

products that are recyclable 

and otherwise 

environmentally friendly, and 

will effectively remove raw 

materials from the waste 

stream. 

Problem: Knowledge is needed to 

characterize, assess, and prepare 

alternative raw materials for processing into 

value-added composite products. 

Activities: Develop correlations between raw 

material influences, composite design, the 

physical properties of the constituent 

biomass components, adhesive bonding 

mechanisms, and the manipulative variables 

of product fabrication. 

Problem: Need to develop new composite 

processing technologies and to refine 

existing technologies to ensure that the 

composite raw materials of the future are 

optimally assembled to achieve maximum 

performance at minimum cost. 

Activities: Develop a database of information

to define and characterize various raw 

materials and processing options that can 

affect the performance of alternative 

composites. 

Problem: Information is needed to 

characterize, predict, and correlate 

composite performance based on raw 

material, processing, and structure 

considerations.

Activities: Develop technology to convert 

wood and woody biomass, recycled, and 

nonwood materials into durable, costeffective, high-performing and long-servicelife products that are recyclable and 

otherwise environmentally friendly. 

Problem: It is necessary to 

understand the fundamental 

relationships between wood-, 

natural-fiber- and alternative 

materials and use this knowledge 

to optimize composite processing 

and performance. 

Activities: Develop correlations 

between raw material influences, 

composite design, the physical 

properties of the constituent 

biomass components, adhesive 

bonding mechanisms, and the 

manipulative variables of product 

fabrication. 

Problem: Need to improve the

performance, durability and value 

of existing composites and define 

the next generation of hybrid 

composites made from natural

fiber(s) and alternative materials. 

Activities: Build upon the 

fundamental knowledge gained in 

the above activities to develop a 

database of information to define 

and characterize various raw 

materials and processing options 

that can improve the performance 

of traditional composites (or define 

new composites). 

Problem: Need to develop tools to 

address resource sustainability, 

enhance recyclability, and minimize 

the environmental impacts of 

composite processing. 

Activities: Optimize how wood and 

woody biomass, recycled and

nonwood materials are converted 

into durable, cost-effective, highperforming, and long-service-life 

products that are recyclable and 

otherwise environmentally friendly. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

4707 

Wood Surface Chemistry, 

1994-99 

Wood Surface Chemistry, 1999-2004 Wood Surface Chemistry, 2004-

09 

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Mission To determine the basic 

mechanisms of wood surface 

deterioration outdoors—and 

innovative products and 

processes—for modifying

wood surfaces to enhance 

finishability and gluability and

to improve properties of wood

and nonwood composites. 

To determine the basic mechanisms of 

deterioration of wood and wood-based 

composites used outdoors and develop 

innovative technologies for modifying wood 

surfaces to enhance durability. 

To improve the durability of wood 

and wood-based composites.

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Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Rapid changes in 

wood and wood-based 

materials, products used on 

these materials, and the 

environment, have led to 

premature failure of many 

wood products used outdoors. 

Activities: Address chemical 

changes on the surface of 

wood and between the paint 

and wood interface and 

evaluate paint adhesion so 

that the chemical changes 

can be linked to measurable 

paint performance 

parameters. 

Problem: Inadequate wetting 

and penetration of wood 

finishes, adhesives, and other

treatments cause decreased 

service life of many wood 

products. 

Activities: Research will 

concentrate on the basic 

surface properties of wood

and wood-based materials as

they relate to interaction with 

liquids. 

Problem: Chemical 

incompatibilities at the 

wood/nonwood interface do 

not permit the development of

high-performance 

composites. 

Activities: Attempt to elucidate 

the complex chemical 

structure of wood/nonwood 

interphases and to modify the

chemistry of the wood surface

to achieve better bonding 

between wood and nonwood 

materials. 

Problem: Premature weathering and decay 

of wood products used outdoors causes an

unnecessary drain on our forest resource. 

Activities: Address chemical changes on the 

surface of wood and at the paint/wood 

interface and evaluate paint adhesion so 

that the chemical changes can be linked to 

measurable paint performance parameters. 

Problem: Water-based water-repellent 

preservatives are not protecting products as 

well as traditional solvent-based 

formulations. 

Activities: Research will concentrate on the 

basic surface properties of wood and woodbased materials as they relate to interaction 

with liquids. 

Problem: Incompatibility of surface 

interactions between wood and other 

materials impedes the development of 

advanced wood-based composites. 

Activities: Attempt to elucidate the complex 

chemical structure of wood/nonwood

interphases and to modify the chemistry of 

the wood fiber surface to achieve better 

bonding between wood and nonwood 

materials. The major emphasis of this 

research is the measurement of wood 

surface properties critical to good bonding. 

Problem: Wood and wood-based 

materials used in residential 

construction are not performing as 

expected because of inadequate 

understanding of the mechanisms 

by which they are failing and 

inadequate methods for predicting 

their service life. 

Activities: Address chemical 

changes on the surface of wood 

and at the interface with other 

materials and also evaluate 

adhesion so that the chemical

changes can be linked to 

measurable performance 

parameters. 

Problem: Lack of understanding of 

the surface interactions between 

water and wood or other 

lignocellulosic materials limits their 

use in many traditional and new 

applications. 

Activities: Research will 

concentrate on the basic surface 

properties of wood and woodbased materials as they relate to 

interaction with liquids and 

solutions. 

Problem: Inadequate 

understanding of the surface 

chemistry of wood and the 

mechanism by which other 

materials bond to wood impedes 

the development of advanced

wood-based composites. 

Activities: Elucidate the complex 

chemical structure of 

wood/nonwood interphases and 

develop processes to modify the 

chemistry of the wood fiber surface 

to achieve better bonding between 

wood and nonwood materials.

4709 

Chemistry and Pulping,

1991-97 

Chemistry and Pulping, 1997-2002 Chemistry and Pulping, 2002-07 

Page 59 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Mission To combine state-of-the-art 

knowledge in wood chemistry 

and chemical engineering 

science in developing 

environmentally benign 

processes for the production

and utilization of wood pulp 

fibers and the chemical

byproducts of pulping 

processes. The new 

processes will seek to 

conserve forest and water 

resources, avoid adverse

effects on air quality and the 

global ecosystem, and reduce

capital investment in order to 

enhance the competitiveness

of U.S. pulp and paper 

products in world markets. 

To develop environmentally benign and 

resource-conserving processes for the 

production and utilization of wood pulp 

fibers, and of the chemical byproducts of 

wood and pulp processing, and to improve 

our understanding of the molecular and 

physical characteristics of wood and wood

pulp in order to achieve a sustainable basis 

for the production of U.S. pulp and paper 

products to meet the needs of the American 

people. 

To develop more efficient, 

environmentally benign, and 

resource-conserving processes for 

the conversion of wood to fibers 

and chemicals, and to improve our 

understanding of the chemical,

molecular, and physical 

characteristics of wood and fibers 

to provide a basis for sustainable 

conversion of wood into valueadded products. 

Page 60 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Need to develop 

new bleaching technologies. 

Activities: Identify the major 

barriers to developing 

alternative bleaching systems 

(to chlorine-based systems), 

and target fundamental

research programs to 

overcome these barriers. 

Problem: Brightness reversion 

in high-yield pulps. 

Activities: Develop information

to provide a basis for 

addressing the problem of 

brightness reversion and 

address the gap in knowledge

about the phenomena

responsible for reversion. 

Problem: New pulping 

concepts. 

Activities: Seek systems 

which rely on catalysts to 

break down the lignin, rather 

than requiring severe thermal

and chemical environments 

implicit in high-temperature 

alkaline pulping, and 

developing systems that are 

based on simulating the 

action of biological systems 

that break down lignin. 

Problem: Recycling. 

Activities: Research programs 

addressing the problem of 

surface hardening will need to

focus on new approaches to 

reactivating the surface to 

enhance interfiber bonding. 

Problem: High-value 

chemicals from wood. 

Problem: New technologies are needed to 

deliqnify wood for the production of pulp in 

ways that will eliminate contamination of our

air and waterways. 

Activities: Continue to define the 

fundamental science and engineering that 

must be understood in order to fully develop 

the potential of polyoromeralate 

delignification for effluent-free oxygen

bleaching. 

Problem: Need for improved papermaking

properties of high-yield mechanical and 

chemi-mechanical pulps, which makes more 

efficient use of our wood resource; increase 

public acceptance of, and build markets for 

papers, produced from these pulps. 

Activities: Develop information to provide a 

basis for addressing the problem of 

brightness reversion and to develop 

brightness-stabilizing procedures. 

Problem: Need for increased understanding 

of the biogenesis and molecular architecture

of wood cell walls, their response to 

environmental stresses, and their 

transformation in the course of industrial 

processing to improve forest health, utilize 

mixed species of uneven acres, and 

increase efficiency of conversion. 

Activities: Studies of the molecular 

architecture of cell walls in wood and the 

manner in which it is transformed by the 

various biological and industrial processes 

that break down the native structures. 

Problem: New technologies are 

needed to fractionate wood for the 

production of pulp in ways that will 

eliminate contamination to our air 

and waterways.

Activities: Further develop the 

potential of polyosometalate 

delignification to provide solutions 

to the environmental problems 

currently associated with

delignification processes. 

Problem: Need to improve 

papermaking of high-yield 

mechanical and chemi-mechanical

pulps, which make more efficient 

use of our wood resources, to 

increase public acceptance of and 

build markets for papers produced 

from these pulps. 

Activities: Develop information to 

provide a basis for addressing the 

problem of brightness reversion 

and to develop brightnessstabilizing approaches. 

Problem: Need for new and 

innovative methods to convert 

wood and other lignocellulosics into 

fibers and chemicals. 

Activities: Develop technologies for 

biorefining wood into ethanol and 

other chemicals, fiber, and 

structural materials in much higher 

yields than are currently possible. 

Problem: Need for increased

understanding of the biogenesis 

and molecular architecture of wood 

cell walls, their response to 

environmental stresses, and their 

transformation in the course of

industrial processing to improve 

forest health, utilize mixed species 

of uneven age, and increase 

efficiency of conversion. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Activities: Continue some 

efforts directed at the 

development of analytical 

procedures currently 

underway and develop a new 

effort with a focus on the 

problem of color in certain 

products. 

Problem: Characterization of 

wood components. 

Activities: Studies of the 

molecular architecture of cell 

walls in wood, and the 

manner in which it is 

transformed by the various 

biological and industrial 

processes which break down 

the native structures using 

novel methods for 

characterizing the solid state 

and states of molecular 

aggregation. 

Activities: Studies of the molecular 

architecture of cell walls in wood 

and its relationship to the process 

of biogenesis. 

4710 

Fiber Processes and

Products, 1990-97

Fiber Processing and Paper 

Performance, 1997-2002 

Fiber Processing and Paper 

Performance, 2002-07 

Areas of

research

applicability 

National National National

Mission To improve the efficiency with 

which pulps derived from the 

nation’s wood and recycled 

fiber resources are converted 

to fiber-based products. 

To conserve fiber resources by developing 

the knowledge and technology needed to 

better utilize a fiber supply from a wide 

range of biomass resources, increase the 

use of recycled fiber, improve paper 

performance, and address environmental 

concerns. 

To conserve forest resources 

through paper performance 

research aimed at increasing the 

use of small-diameter and 

underutilized tree species, recycled 

fiber, and a wide range of biomass 

resources addressing 

environmental and energy 

concerns. 

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Appendix II: Forest Service’s Conducted and 

Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Need to improve 

papermaking processing to 

reduce fiber needs and 

increase the use of 

underutilized fiber sources. 

Activities: Develop ways to 

permit basis weight to be 

reduced without decreasing 

strength and opacity. An 

approach to this problem 

would be to apply pressdrying principles. 

Problem: Need to develop the

technologies to increase the 

use potential of high-yield 

mechanical pulps from a wide 

variety of hardwood and 

softwood species. 

Activities: Research will be 

conducted to minimize 

reduction in optical properties 

whenever strength properties

are increased. 

Problem: Need to develop the

technologies to increase the 

use of recycled wastepaper. 

Activities: Use a materialsscience approach to develop 

a better understanding of the 

role of solid-liquid interfacial

phenomena in separation of 

synthetic adhesive 

contaminants from 

wastepaper pulp slurries. 

Problem: Need to improve 

product performance of paper 

and the efficient use of fiber 

resources through chemical

treatments and incorporation

on nonwood components. 

Activities: Part of the solution 

to the problem of insufficient 

opacity of low-basis weight 

papers involves the use of 

nonfiber components as fillers 

and opacifiers. 

Problem: New technologies are needed to 

better utilize fiber from a wide range of 

biomass resources for pulp and 

papermaking to improve forest health and 

conditions to utilize wood now going to 

waste streams.

Activities: Mechanical pulps are currently 

made from a small number of select 

softwood species, and only one or two lowdensity hardwoods. There are some 

indications that juvenile wood, which 

predominates in thinnings and smalldiameter trees, might be advantageous for 

mechanical pulp production. 

Problem: New technologies are needed to 

overcome undesirable environmental

impacts in converting wood to paper and 

paperboard. 

Activities: Investigate the use of fungal 

pretreatment for kraft pulping. Fungal 

pretreatment of the wood chips enhances 

the strength properties of the paper while 

reducing the toxicity of the waste stream for 

mechanical and sulfite pulping, as well as 

reducing the consumption of mechanical

pulping energy. 

Problem: New recycling technologies are 

needed to overcome barriers to increased 

use of wastepaper. 

Activities: The technology for using 

enzymes to remove ink from toners needs 

to be transferred to industrial practice. The 

recycling of paper into pulp suitable for 

papermaking requires numerous steps of 

several unit operations to produce an

acceptable product. 

Problem: Greater knowledge is needed to 

overcome limits in our fundamental 

understanding of the relationship between 

fiber properties and paper performance to 

optimize fiber use and extend forest 

resources. 

Activities: An improved understanding of 

how the performance of corrugated 

containers relates to paper properties can 

provide the rationale to differentiate among 

alternative fiber sources. 

Problem: Basic knowledge and 

technology is needed to increase the 

use of small-diameter and 

underutilized tree species for pulp and 

paper products to improve forest 

health and reduce fire risk. 

Activities: Substituting mechanical pulp 

for chemical pulp is one way to extend 

the current wood supply. There are 

some indications that juvenile wood, 

which predominates in thinnings and 

small-diameter trees, might be 

advantageous for mechanical pulp 

production. 

Problem: New high-yield pulping 

technologies are needed to reduce 

energy consumption, improve paper 

quality, and overcome undesirable 

environmental impacts in converting 

wood to paper and paperboard. 

Activities: Investigate enzyme-assisted 

grafting of carboxylic acid groups on 

the surface of lignin-containing pulp 

fibers as a post treatment for 

biotreated thermal-mechanical pulps. 

Problem: New technologies are 

needed to overcome barriers to 

increased recycling of recovered 

papers. 

Activities: New approaches are needed 

to better use fibers from recovered 

paper and paper mill residues. The 

major contaminant categories are inks, 

adhesives, plastics, and inorganic 

materials. 

Problem: Need for a fundamental 

understanding of the relationship 

between fiber properties and paper 

performance to optimize fiber use and 

extend forest resources. 

Activities: An improved understanding 

of how the performance of corrugated

containers relates to paper properties 

can provide the rationale to 

differentiate among alternative fiber 

sources. 

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Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

4712

Institute for Microbial and

Biochemical Technology,

1991-97 

Institute for Microbial and Biochemical 

Technology, 1992-2002 

Institute for Microbial and

Biochemical Technology, 2002-

07 

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Mission To explore, through basic and

applied research, the 

potentials of biotechnology in 

wood conversions. 

To explore, through basic and applied 

research, the potentials of biotechnology in 

wood conversions, and to better understand 

the roles of such conversions in enhancing 

our environment. 

Develop biotechnology for wood 

and fiber conversion through 

fundamental and applied research 

that contributes to efficient 

utilization and improved health of 

our forests. 

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Need to understand 

the aromatic-mineralizing 

system of lignin-degrading 

fungi to permit its use in many

applications, as well as its 

appreciation as a key 

component of the earth’s 

carbon cycle. 

Activities: Basic investigations 

into the mechanism of lignin 

degradation by selected fungi.

Problem: Need for a greater 

understanding of the 

biochemistry, physiology, and 

engineering of xenobiotic 

degradation by lignindegrading fungi to allow use 

of these organisms in 

bioremediation technologies. 

Activities: Gain an 

understanding of fungal 

physiology, fungal ecology, 

and microbial engineering. 

Problem: Need to identify the 

best enzymes and necessary 

conditions for their action to 

permit their use in improving 

properties of virgin and 

recycled fibers.

Problem: Need to better understand 

oxidative systems in wood decay fungi to 

permit their use in many applications, 

including improvement of forest health. 

Activities: Basic investigations into the 

mechanisms of lignin and cellulose 

degradation by selected white rot and brown 

rot fungi. 

Problem: Research is needed to provide 

basic information and operating conditions 

for enzymatic processing of wood fiber. 

Problem: Need for technologies for 

efficient and economical 

bioconversion of forest thinnings, 

unmerchantable timber and mixed 

species to produce a full array of 

wood-based materials ranging from 

fiber to constitutive polymers and 

chemicals. 

Activities: Increase the efficiency of 

bioconversion to ethanol by 

engineering the metabolic 

pathways for sugar utilization and 

fermentation. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Activities: Basic and applied 

studies on the use of 

microbial enzymes to treat 

virgin and recycled fibers. 

Problem: Need to evaluate 

completely the promising 

concept of biopulping to 

determine its technical 

feasibility. 

Activities: Biopulping research

is divided into research

teams, each charged with a 

specific part of the overall 

effort: fungal, pulp and paper, 

engineering and scale-up, 

enzyme, and molecular 

genetics teams.

Problem: Need to develop 

fundamental knowledge 

concerning the molecular 

genetics of ligninolytic fungi 

for biotechnical exploitation. 

Activities: Elucidate the 

structure, organization, and 

regulation of fungal genes 

involved in lignocellulose 

degradation. 

Problem: Lack of fundamental

knowledge of the enzymes 

and conditions necessary for 

producing fermentable 

hydrolystes; and need to 

improve microbial strains 

before fermentation of the 

principal hemicellulosic 

sugars is economical. 

Activities: Examine the effects 

of microbial cellulases and 

hemicellulases on pretreated

wood and lignocellulosic 

residues with the objective of 

maximizing sugar yields and 

concentrations. 

Activities: Basic and applied studies on the 

discovery and use of microbial and lowgrade enzymes to treat virgin and recycled 

fibers, wood residues from timber harvest, or 

excess growth. 

Problem: Need fundamental knowledge of 

the molecular genetics of lignocellulosedegrading fungi for their optimal 

biotechnological use. 

Activities: Identify and characterize key 

genes involved in the degradation of lignin 

and related aromatic hydrocarbons, 

cellulose, and hemicellulose.

Problem: Need to improve processing and 

fermentation technology to convert lowgrade lignocellulosic materials into fuels and

chemicals. 

Activities: Examine the effects of microbial 

cellulases and hemicellulases on pretreated

wood and lignocellulosic residues with the 

objective of maximizing sugar yields and 

concentrations.

Problem: Need to identify and 

understand the oxidative systems 

of wood decay fungi to increase the 

efficacy of these naturally occurring 

organisms in bioconversion

technologies, devising new 

environmentally sound ways to 

protect wood in use, and 

accelerating decomposition of 

forest litter. 

Activities: Basic investigations into 

the mechanisms of lignin and 

cellulose degradation by selected 

white rot and brown rot fungi. 

Problem: Need to develop basic 

information and operating 

conditions for efficient and effective 

enzymatic and microbial 

processing of wood and wood fiber.

Activities: Basic and applied 

studies on the discovery and use of 

microorganisms and enzymes to 

treat virgin fibers, recycled fibers, 

and wood residues. 

Problem: Need to understand the 

functional genomics of 

lignocellulose-degrading fungi to 

optimize these organisms for 

bioprocessing and bioconversion of 

wood. 

Activities: Identify and characterize 

key genes involved in the 

degradation of lignin and related 

aromatic hydrocarbons, cellulose, 

and hemicellulose. 

4714 

Engineering Properties of

Wood, 1991-98

Engineering Properties of Wood, 1998-

2004 

Engineering Properties and

Structures, 2004-09

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Mission To establish methods and 

data for the improved

characterization of the 

physical and mechanical

properties of wood that are 

important in engineering 

design. 

As part of the Forest Products Laboratory’s 

mission to conserve wood and forest 

resources, the mission of the research work 

unit is to establish methods and gather data 

for the improved characterization of the 

mechanical and physical properties of solid 

sawn and composite structural products that

are important in engineering design. 

To contribute to the conservation 

and productivity of the nation’s

forest resources by establishing 

methods and gathering data for the 

improved characterization of the 

mechanical and physical properties 

of solid sawn and composite 

structural products that are 

important in engineering design 

and to foster their efficient 

utilization in wood building 

systems. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Physical and 

mechanical properties of clear

wood. 

Activities: Investigate wood 

quality effects on properties 

and broadening of 

fundamental property data 

required as input for analytical

modeling of material or 

structural performance. 

Problem: Properties of 

commercial lumber. 

Activities: Focus over the next

2 years on getting the last of 

the descriptive information 

published. 

Problem: Principles of grading

and property assignment for 

solid sawn and composite 

lumber. 

Activities: Develop optimum 

techniques for sorting lumber,

predicting its mechanical

properties, and assuring the 

reliability of these products in 

practice. 

Problem: Processing, treating,

and environmental influences 

on design properties of 

lumber. 

Activities: Develop scientific 

and technical understanding 

of the effects of processing, 

treating, and environmental

factors of the mechanical

properties of lumber. 

Problem: Properties and grading of solidsawn lumber. 

Activities: Extend the nation’s forest 

resource by developing and applying better 

grading procedures to structural lumber. 

Problem: Properties of structural composite 

products. 

Activities: Extend the nation’s forest 

resources by developing analytical models 

and gathering data for predicting the enduse performance of composite structural 

products. 

Problem: Serviceability of solid and 

composite products. 

Activities: Extend the nation’s forest 

resource by developing better methods for 

characterizing the end-use performance of 

structural lumber products as a function of 

environmental and industrial treatment 

processes. 

Problem: Fundamental research. 

Activities: Develop data and procedures for 

characterizing the fundamental physical and 

mechanical properties of wood as a basis for 

use in other problems, and for use by 

researchers outside the work unit. 

Problem: Properties and grading of 

solid-sawn products. 

Activities: Promote public safety 

and support management of the 

nation’s forest resources by 

developing and applying better 

grading and property assignment 

procedures for solid-sawn 

structural wood products. 

Problem: Properties of structural 

composite products. 

Activities: Promote public safety 

and support management of the 

nation’s forest resources by 

developing better methods for 

predicting the field performance of 

engineered wood composites as a 

function of their constitutive 

components. 

Problem: Serviceability of solid 

sawn and composite wood 

products. 

Activities: Improve public safety 

and support management of the 

nation’s forest resources by 

developing better methods for 

characterizing the end-use 

performance of structural products 

as a function of environmental

change, time-dependent behavior, 

and industrial treating processes. 

Problem: Wood drying and heat 

sterilization. 

Activities: Develop economical 

wood drying strategies aimed at 

promoting value-added uses for 

small-diameter softwood and lowvalue, underutilized hardwood 

timber, with both the established 

lumber industry and small, rural, 

community-based businesses as 

the targeted users of the 

technology. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Problem: Properties of 

nontraditional wood products used 

in structural applications. 

Activities: Characterize the 

properties of wood products for 

safe and efficient design of 

structures and efficient use of the 

wood resource. 

Problem: Structural performance of 

wood-building systems. 

Activities: Better understand the 

structural performance of woodbuilding systems to better 

understand the use of traditional 

materials in residential, 

commercial, and industrial 

buildings and provide a better basis 

for using wood composites, reused, 

and recycled materials. 

Problem: Performance of wood

transportation systems. 

Activities: Improve existing wood 

transportation structures, develop 

new systems that conserve and 

improve wood use and improve the 

adequacy and condition of the U.S. 

transportation infrastructure. 

Problem: Fundamental research. 

Activities: Develop data and 

procedures for characterizing the 

fundamental physical and 

mechanical properties of wood as 

required for use in the other 

problem areas, and for use by

researchers outside of the work

unit. 

4716

Engineered Wood Products 

and Structures, 1992-99 

Engineered Wood Products and 

Structures, 1999-2005 

Building Moisture and Durability,

2005-10 

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Mission To extend the wood resource

through engineering 

technology for effective 

design and use of wood and 

wood-based materials in

structures. 

To conserve the wood resource through 

engineering technology and contribute to 

effective design and use of wood and woodbased materials in structures. 

To extend the service life of wood 

products in buildings through 

improved building design and 

operation. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Engineered wood 

products. 

Activities: Gain the knowledge

necessary to use reliabilitybased design, which primarily

involves structural properties; 

however, the effect of 

moisture content changes on 

dimensional stability is also a 

concern with some types of 

engineered wood products. 

Problem: Engineered wood 

subsystems. 

Activities: Formulate 

technology for characterizing

the structural performance of 

light-frame subsystems in 

terms of the properties of the 

lumber, panel products, and 

connections used in their 

construction. 

Problem: Engineered building 

systems. 

Activities: Relate the 

performance of major 

components—floors, walls, 

and roof—to the performance 

of the entire structure. 

Develop computer programs 

that can be used by 

engineers. 

Problem: Engineered timber 

bridge systems.

Activities: Develop new 

technology for engineered 

timber bridge systems to 

provide economical 

alternatives to bridges of 

other materials and assist in 

implementing the technology 

in national design standards. 

Problem: Properties of engineered wood

products. 

Activities: Characterize the properties of 

engineered wood products for safe, efficient 

design of structures, and efficient use of the 

forest resource by determining the suitability

of various materials and designs and their 

performance characteristics in engineered 

wood products. 

Problem: Structural performance of woodbuilding systems. 

Activities: Create new technologies, 

guidelines, and knowledge that improve the 

quality, safety, durability and reliability of 

buildings, particularly housing.

Problem: Moisture control in buildings. 

Activities: Create new technologies and 

guidelines that minimize the potential for 

moisture damage to the structure while 

maintaining the energy efficiency of the 

building and indoor air quality for the 

occupants. 

Problem: Performance of wood

transportation structures. 

Activities: Improve existing wood 

transportation structures and develop new 

systems that conserve and improve wood 

use, and improve the adequacy and 

condition of the U.S. transportation 

infrastructure. 

Problem: Building moisture design 

methodology. 

Activities: Develop a performancebased moisture design approach 

for wood frame buildings that is 

firmly based on technical

information and engineering 

principles. 

Problem: Wetting and drying of 

wood-frame buildings and building 

components. 

Activities: Provide information to 

better predict the potential for mold 

and decay in wood building 

components. 

Problem: Moisture and thermal 

properties of wood products. 

Activities: Build a database for

wood products, with a special 

emphasis on wood composites. 

Make the Forest Products 

Laboratory a center for collecting 

and documenting reliable, unbiased

property data for use in 

hygrothermal models and building 

design. 

Problem: Durability of composite 

wood products. 

Activities: Industry needs 

assistance in the development of 

better industrywide standards and 

testing methods (for hardboard and 

oriented strandboard (OSB) siding, 

and more recently, with OSB 

sheathing) that would provide a 

more consistent product with 

greater durability. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Problem: In-place evaluation 

of structures. 

Activities: Improved methods 

are needed to determine the 

in-place capacity of existing 

structures in order to extend 

their life. 

Problem: Moisture 

management in buildings. 

Activities: Develop better 

criteria for the design and 

operation of energy-efficient 

wood buildings for satisfactory 

performance with regard to 

moisture. 

Research work 

unit and plan

components

4719 

Wood Processing and 

Drying Systems, 1993-98 

Wood Engineering and Drying Systems

Design Criteria, 1998-2004 

Condition Assessment and 

Rehabilitation of Structures, 

2004-05 

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Mission Develop primary wood 

processing systems that have

minimum impact on our 

environment and enhance the 

value and yield of products 

obtained from forest 

resources. 

Develop nondestructive evaluation 

technologies, engineering design criteria, 

and drying systems that facilitate use of 

underutilized materials and help conserve

the forest resource. 

Develop nondestructive evaluation 

technologies, structural analysis 

procedures, inspection methods, 

and rehabilitation procedures for 

wood structures. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Need to develop 

analytical tools to define 

product recovery. 

Activities: Development of a 

series of computer models of 

key processing subsystems. 

These models will be

developed by using existing 

processes and quality control 

information supplemented

with mill product yield 

information. 

Problem: A lack of 

understanding of the dynamic 

variables of sawing hinders 

improvements in sawing

technology. 

Activities: Basic research 

aimed at developing an 

understanding of the primary 

dynamic variables in sawing, 

and the means to control 

them. 

Problem: There is a need for 

improved technology and 

techniques for manufacturing 

and drying quality veneer. 

Activities: The Modular 

Veneer Press dryer has 

demonstrated the capability of 

reducing buckling when 

drying fine hardwood veneers.

Final engineering design 

efforts will lead into 

commercial development. 

Problem: There is a need for 

better drying techniques, 

appropriate pre-sorting 

technology, and tools to better 

predict and control the 

response of lumber to kiln 

drying. 

Problem: Need to develop drying 

technologies for economical use of the 

changing resource base while reducing 

energy costs and environmental concerns. 

Activities: Work toward developing new 

strategies by, among other things, 

estimating changed or previously unknown 

drying characteristics and developing 

fundamental heat and mass transfer 

information with an eye toward computer 

simulations of kiln drying. 

Problem: Need to develop engineering 

design analysis methods and information for 

designing efficient wood structures. 

Activities: Establish methods and data for 

designing efficient and reliable wood

structures. Applicable to building codes to 

(1) ensure adequate design for high winds 

and earthquakes, and (2) allow for new 

wood-based materials and design 

efficiencies. 

Problem: Need to develop and evaluate new

nondestructive technologies for assigning 

engineering properties. 

Activities: Develop nondestructive 

techniques that provide information 

regarding the properties of wood products 

used in a wide variety of applications and 

under a wide range of environmental

conditions. 

Problem: Need to develop new design 

procedures for repairing components, 

assemblies, and systems. 

Activities: Provide fundamental knowledge of 

how to assess the condition of a structure, 

how the decay and defects affect the 

strength and reliability of the structure, and 

how to repair the structure. 

Problem: Need to develop baseline 

analysis methods and information 

for designing and inspecting wood 

structures. 

Activities: Establish baseline 

analysis methods for design and 

inspection of wood structures.

Research will be applicable to 

building codes to allow for new

wood-based materials, advanced 

connections, and inspection

efficiencies. 

Problem: Need to develop and 

evaluate new nondestructive 

technologies for assigning 

engineering properties to wood

products and structural systems. 

Activities: Develop nondestructive 

evaluation and assessment 

technologies and to understand the 

influence of environmental 

variables on their reliability. 

Problem: Need to develop new 

procedures for in-place 

assessment and new methods of 

field repair to extend service life of 

timber bridges.

Activities: Despite technological 

gains for the inspection of other 

materials, inspection methods and 

equipment for timber transportation 

structures have remained virtually 

unchanged for the past 50 years. 

Problem: Need to develop new 

design procedures for repairing 

components, assemblies, and

systems. 

Activities: Provide fundamental

knowledge of how to assess the 

condition of a structure, how the 

decay and defects affect the 

strength and reliability of the 

structure, and how to repair the 

structure. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Activities: Develop physical 

property data and analytical 

methods to predict the 

response of wood to drying in 

terms of drying time, moisture 

content gradients, and stress; 

and establish relationships 

between these responses and

relevant material and process 

variables. 

Problem: There is a need for 

better information on 

environmental aspects of 

wood drying and 

environmentally appropriate 

drying technology. 

Activities: Develop and 

transfer information and 

readily applied technology to 

promote environmentally 

responsible lumber-drying 

technologies. 

4722 Modification of

Lignocellulosics for 

Advanced Materials and

New Uses, 1993-97 

Modified Lignocellulosic Materials, 1997-

2002 

Modified Lignocellulosic

Materials, 2002-07 

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Mission To develop advanced paperbased products and 

composite materials based on

sustainable property 

enhanced bio-fibers alone or 

in combination with other 

resources. 

To develop advanced environmentally 

friendly composite materials from chemically 

and physically modified wood-based

resources alone or in combination with other

resources to extend the use of our forest 

resources. 

To develop advanced

environmentally friendly composite 

materials from chemically and

physically modified wood-based 

resources alone or in combination 

with other materials to extend the 

use of our forest resources. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Need to understand 

chemical and physical 

properties of lignocellulosics 

to identify new sources of 

polymeric feedstocks and 

advanced composite 

materials. 

Activities: Determining 

chemical and physical 

properties of the wide 

varieties of biobased fibers 

that can be used in 

combination with wood-based

fiber for composite materials. 

Problem: Need to understand 

chemical and morphological

modifications of

lignocellulosics to improve 

properties and to maximize 

end-use performance of 

paper-based products and 

biobased materials. 

Activities: Chemically modify 

biobased resources to 

enhance properties such as 

dimensional stability and to 

characterize the resistance of 

wood composites after 

modification when they are 

exposed to adverse 

environments. 

Problem: Improved 

methodologies are needed for 

the development of 

ligocellulosic and 

nonlignocellulosic composites

by understanding the 

materials science and the 

matrix/interface morphology 

of these resources. 

Activities: Provide data for 

industry to produce a whole 

new line of value-added 

products taking advantage of 

the properties of many 

different types of resources. 

Problem: Need to understand the 

relationship between the chemical and 

physical properties of wood-based materials 

and final composite properties to identify 

new sources of polymeric feedstocks and 

advanced composite materials. 

Activities: Determining chemical and 

physical properties of the wide varieties of 

lignocellulosic-based fibers that can be used

in combination with wood fiber for composite 

materials. 

Problem: Need chemical and structural 

modifications of wood-based materials to 

improve properties and to maximize end-use 

performance of biobased composite 

materials. 

Activities: Chemically modify lignocellulosic 

resources to enhance properties such as 

dimensional stability and to characterize the

resistance of wood composites after 

modification when they are exposed to 

adverse environments. 

Problem: Improved techniques are needed 

for better understanding of the interface and

interphase chemistry between wood-based

resources and other resources to improve 

surface interactions. 

Activities: Provide data for industry to 

produce a whole new line of value-added 

products taking advantages of the properties 

of many different types of resources. 

Problem: Environmentally friendly 

technologies are lacking for the development

of new wood-based composite materials that

will lead to more efficient use of our forest 

resources. 

Activities: Develop technology that results in

environmentally friendly lignocellulosic 

composite materials. 

Problem: Need to understand the 

relationship between the chemical 

and physical properties of woodbased materials and final 

composite properties to identify 

new sources of polymeric 

feedstocks and advanced 

composite materials. 

Activities: Determine chemical and 

physical properties of the wide

varieties of lignocellulosic-based 

fibers that can be used in 

combination with other materials to 

produce new generations of 

composite materials. 

Problem: Need for chemical and 

structural modifications of woodbased materials to improve 

properties and to maximize enduse performance of biobased

composite materials. 

Activities: Chemically modify 

lignocellulosic resources to 

enhance properties such as water 

repellency, and to characterize the 

resistance of wood composites

after modification when they are 

exposed to adverse environments. 

Problem: Improved techniques are 

needed to convert forest biomass 

into geotextiles and filters and to 

maximize effectiveness in soil 

stabilization and removal of 

contaminates from water. 

Activities: Use small-diameter

trees, waste biomass from our 

forests and agricultural land, break 

them down into usable particles

and fibers, and form geotextiles 

and filters. 

Problem: Improved technologies 

are needed to understand nature’s 

chemical and biological

degradation mechanisms and to 

interfere with these degradation 

processes to extend the useful life 

of a biobased composite. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Activities: Develop an 

understanding of the chemistries 

involved in the degradation of wood 

and use that information to develop 

new durable products that are

environmentally friendly. 

4723 

Wood Preservation, 1994-97 Wood Preservation and Fire Research, 

1997-2002 

Wood Preservation and Fire

Safety Engineering, 2002-05

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

Mission To enhance the durability of 

wood through the 

development of

environmentally innocuous 

products and technologies. 

To develop fire safety and wood 

preservation data, methodologies, and 

technologies that improve or facilitate valueadded utilization and recycling of wood 

products. 

To improve the durability and fire 

safety of forest products in the 

context of changing environmental 

and societal needs, thereby 

sustaining forests, the economy, 

and the quality of life. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Need to develop 

innovative, environmentally 

preferable preservative 

systems for the production of 

durable wood products. 

Activities: Identify and 

develop preservative 

treatments to provide wood

products that meet multiple 

performance requirements 

(such as durability) while also 

satisfying such requirements 

as environmental safety, ease

of disposal, and recycling. 

Problem: Need to develop 

new methodologies for 

abbreviating the time 

necessary to perform 

evaluations of the long-term 

performance of wood 

preservatives. 

Activities: Develop 

methodologies that will permit 

the rapid and quantitative 

evaluation of long-term 

preservation performance. 

Problem: Lack of adequate 

knowledge of preservative 

processing technologies for 

producing durable products 

from our changing forest 

resources. 

Activities: Research will 

address solid and composite 

wood products and will 

include investigations of 

treatments for softwood and 

hardwood species that are 

currently underutilized. 

Problem: Need to develop new 

environmentally preferable preservative

systems for durable wood products. 

Activities: Identify and develop treatments to 

provide wood products that meet multiple 

performance requirements such as 

durability, while also satisfying such 

requirements as environmental safety, ease 

of disposal, and recycling. 

Problem: Need to develop methodologies for

the accurate prediction of long-term 

performance of durable wood species and 

treatments. 

Activities: Develop methodologies that 

permit rapid and quantitative evaluation of 

long-term preservative performance. 

Problem: Need to improve the treatability 

and durability of underutilized species and 

new wood composites and the recycling of 

existing treated materials. 

Activities: Research will address solid and 

composite wood products and will include 

investigations of treatments for softwood and

hardwood species that are currently 

underutilized. 

Problem: Need to develop information and 

methodologies that will improve the service 

life of wood structures in the wildland-urban 

interface. 

Activities: Research efforts will emphasize 

the responsibility of homeowners and supply 

guidelines concerning the structure and 

immediate surrounding areas.

Problem: Need to develop fire safety data 

and methodologies to preserve or expand 

the use of wood products that conserve our 

wood resources and use new timber 

resources. 

Activities: Research emphasis will be on the

ability of wood products to contribute to fire 

growth. 

Problem: Need to develop the data 

and models for fire safety 

engineering of forest products in a 

performance-based building code 

environment. 

Activities: Obtain property and

validation data and simulate fullscale fire scenarios with computer 

fire models. Primary emphasis will 

be the growth of a fire from ignition 

to “flashover.” 

Problem: Need to document and 

optimize fire safety of engineered 

wood products in structural 

applications. 

Activities: Obtain data on the 

components of the engineered

wood products, develop models to 

better understand their fire 

performance, and develop 

recommendations on how to 

optimize their fire performance. 

Problem: Need to improve the

survivability of wood structures in 

the wildland-urban interface. 

Activities: Reduce the fire hazards 

in the wildland-urban interface by 

improving the quality and flexibility 

of fire safety recommendations for 

wood structures. Such 

recommendations are part of the 

National Fire Plan community 

assistance programs. 

Problem: Improved methods of 

evaluation and analysis of test 

samples and data are needed for 

timely and accurate prediction of 

long-term performance of durable 

forest products. 

Activities: Methodologies for 

evaluating the durability of forest 

products include the soil bottle test, 

the larger-scale fungal cellar, and 

the field plots. We anticipate 

assessing potential improvements 

to all these levels of evaluations. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Problem: Need to reduce 

environmental impact of treated 

forest products. This problem area 

will have two main elements: new, 

more environmentally compatible 

treatments for wood protection and 

assessment, and reduction of

preservative chemicals released 

into the environment. 

Activities: Investigate various 

methods for reducing the levels of 

preservative chemicals in the 

wood. 

Problem: Need to improve ability to 

treat a diverse range of species 

and underutilized small-diameter 

materials for treated wood 

applications. 

Activities: Efforts to evaluate both 

conventional and alterative 

preservatives in a wide range of 

hardwood and softwood species 

will continue. 

4724 

Statistical Methods in Wood and Fiber

Research, 1998-2004 

Statistical Methods in Wood and 

Fiber Research, 2004-05 

Area of research

applicability 

National National

Mission To enhance the integrity and efficiency of 

the Forest Products Laboratory’s research 

efforts through the development, evaluation, 

and promotion of modern statistical 

methods. 

To enhance the integrity and 

efficiency of the Forest Products 

Laboratory’s research efforts 

through the development, 

evaluation, and promotion of 

modern statistical methods. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Need to enhance the quality of 

wood utilization research and economic 

assessments. 

Activities: Enhancing the Forest Products 

Laboratory’s research through collaborative 

research with other laboratory scientists, 

professional support to the scientists, and 

the transfer of research-derived technology 

in the form of user-friendly computer 

programs that provide new capabilities to the

scientists. 

Problem: Need to improve the statistical 

modeling of properties, processing, and the 

performance of wood, fiber, and composites.

Activities: Develop improved statistical 

modeling methodology needed by the Forest 

Products Laboratory’s research programs. 

Problem: Need to enhance the 

quality of wood utilization research 

and economic assessments. 

Activities: Enhancing the Forest 

Products Laboratory’s research 

through collaborative research with 

other laboratory scientists, 

professional support to the 

scientists, and the transfer of 

research-derived technology in the 

form of user-friendly computer

programs that provide new 

capabilities to the scientists. 

Problem: Need to improve 

statistical modeling of properties, 

processing and performance of

wood, fiber, and composites. 

Activities: Research efforts focus 

on developing the improved 

statistical modeling methodology 

needed by the Forest Products

Laboratory’s research programs 

and the evaluation of existing

statistical methods. 

4725 (new

research work 

unit Dec. 2003) 

Fire Safety, 2003-04

Area of research

applicability 

National

Mission To develop data, methodologies, 

and technologies needed to ensure 

that wood products and woodbased structures do not adversely 

contribute to the loss of life and 

property in fires. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Data and models are 

required for fire safety engineering 

of forest products in a 

performance-based building code 

environment. 

Activities: Obtain property and

validation and simulate full-scale 

fire scenarios with computer 

models. Primary emphasis will be 

the growth of a fire from ignition to 

a flashover. 

Problem: Need to document and 

optimize fire safety of engineered 

wood products in structural 

applications. 

Activities: Obtain data on the 

components of the engineered

wood products, develop models to 

better understand their fire 

performance, and develop 

recommendations on how to 

optimize their fire performance. 

Problem: Need to improve 

survivability of wood structures in 

the wildland-urban interface. 

Activities: Developing improved 

safety recommendations will 

include databases of material 

properties, investigations of 

potential fire scenarios, and 

identification of design changes to 

reduce hazards. 

4851 Timber Demand and 

Technology Assessment 

Research, 1994-97 

Timber Demand and Technology

Assessment Research, 1997-2002 

Timber Demand and Technology

Assessment Research, 2002-04 

Area of research

applicability 

National National National

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Mission To develop long-term 

projections of consumption, 

production, price, 

manufacturing costs, and 

conversion yields for pulp and

paper, fuel wood, hardwood 

lumber, and nonstructural 

panel markets; and 

manufacturing cost and 

conversion yields for softwood

lumber and structural panel 

markets; to assess new 

technologies for converting

timber into new or improved 

paper and wood products. 

To provide economic information, analysis, 

and projections indicating (1) how wood is 

used in the economy, (2) how and why wood

use changes over time, (3) changes in the 

kinds and amounts of wood and fiber needs,

(4) natural resources management needs, 

(5) market equilibrium quantities and prices, 

and (6) selected environmental impacts. 

To provide economic information, 

analysis, and projections indicating 

how and why the markets and 

technologies for wood products

change over time, implications for 

natural resources management, 

and selected broad environmental 

and social impacts. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Improvements in the 

Forest Products Laboratory’s 

Pulpwood Model are needed 

to provide long-term 

projections of production, 

consumption, price, costs, 

and conversion yields for the 

pulp and paper market. 

Activities: Research will 

provide long-term projections 

of regional consumption, 

production, and price in North

America for pulpwood and 

recycled fiber, wood, pulp, 

and paper and board. 

Problem: New economic 

models are needed to provide 

long-term projections of 

production, consumption, 

price, installation costs, and 

conversion yields for 

residential and industrial 

wood energy markets. 

Activities: Economic models 

will be developed to produce 

long-term projections of 

installation costs and factors 

for converting fuel wood to 

energy. 

Problem: Economic models 

are needed to provide longterm projections of 

production, consumption, 

price, costs, and coercion 

yields/for lumber and panel 

markets. 

Activities: Provide long-term 

projections on regional 

consumption in North America

for timber consumed in the 

manufacture of hardwood 

lumber and nonstructural 

panels. 

Problem: There is a lack of understanding of

the effects of long-range market equilibria, 

production, and technological changes on 

the pulp and paper industry. 

Activities: Improving modeling and analysis 

with the North American Pulp and Paper 

model for the Forest and Rangeland 

Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 

(RPA) assessments requires a range of 

research studies and collaboration with

research partners. 

Problem: There is a lack of understanding of

long-range production and technological 

changes in the solid wood industries and 

solid wood end-use industries.

Activities: Provide a model of the solid wood 

sector to project interaction of end-use 

demand, technology change, and supply 

sources to determine wood and fiber 

requirements. 

Problem: There is a lack of readily available,

consistent information on timber, wood 

products, and paper products industries for 

forestry and forest industry strategic 

planning. 

Activities: Maintain national data series 

using most appropriate sources, and 

develop new data series, in cooperation with

users, to show new industry developments 

and adjust series as needed. 

Problem: There is a lack of understanding of

the effects of sustainable forestry efforts and 

certification of forests and forest products on 

demand for and supply of wood in the United

States. 

Activities: Provide information to aid in 

projecting market trends and technology 

change in the pulp and paper industry and 

the solid wood industry. 

Problem: There is a need to 

monitor market trends and improve 

the understanding and modeling of 

market equilibria, production 

trends, and technology changes of 

the U.S. pulp and paper industry. 

Activities: Economic modeling and 

analysis of market trends in the 

U.S. pulp and paper sector for RPA 

assessments and other purposes 

requires a range of research 

studies and collaboration with 

research partners. 

Problem: Improved understanding 

is required about the effect of 

production trends and technology 

changes in solid wood industries 

and end-use industries on product 

and wood needs. 

Activities: Develop estimates of the 

amounts of solid wood waste 

available in the United States, and 

assess opportunities to increase its 

utilization in recycled products. 

Problem: Readily available, 

consistent information is needed on 

timber, wood products, and paper 

products industries for forestry and 

forest industry strategic planning. 

Activities: Maintain national data 

series using most appropriate

sources and develop new data 

series, in cooperation with users, to 

show new industry developments 

and adjust series as needed. 

Problem: Knowledge is needed on 

the economic viability of new 

technologies for converting wood 

and fiber into new or improved

paper and wood products. 

Activities: Evaluate market 

prospects and material needs for 

alternative products that would use 

small-diameter timber in the West. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Forest Products 

Laboratory’s 

research work 

unit and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Problem: Economic analysis 

is needed to assess new 

technologies for converting

timber into new or improved 

paper and wood products. 

Activities: Assess new 

technologies for producing 

new or improved paper and 

wood products. The 

technologies evaluated will be

those developed at the Forest 

Products Laboratory.

Source: Forest Service documents. 

Note: The Forest Products Laboratory’s research work unit activities for 4708, 4715, and 4718 are not 

listed in the table because they were combined with other units during the 1990s. 

Table 15: Conducted and Planned Activities for the Forest Service’s Research Work Units Associated with Research Stations 

Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Northeastern

Research

Station 

4701 

Improved Processing Technology for 

Hardwoods, 1990-97 

Efficient Use of the Northern Forest 

Resource, 1997-2003 

Efficient Use of the Northern

Forest Resource, 2003-08

Area of

research

applicability 

Eastern U.S. and wherever hardwood 

lumber and products are processed. 

Northern U.S. and hardwood growth 

and processing regions nationwide. 

Northern U.S. and hardwood 

growth and processing regions 

nationwide. 

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Planned Wood Utilization Research and 

Product Development 

Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Mission To increase effective use of hardwood 

resources through research to improve 

processing technology. 

To promote natural resource 

conservation and help sustain forestbased industries and economies 

through research and development on 

resource characteristics, forest 

management, and innovative 

processing technologies and their 

influence on conversion efficiency in 

solid wood processing. 

To develop and deliver 

knowledge and innovative 

technology that improves 

efficiency in forest products 

conversions to strengthen U.S. 

worker productivity in global 

wood products marketplace; 

increase the value of the timber 

resource and the economic 

viability of forest management 

options. 

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Techniques are needed to 

evaluate production and economic 

implications of using new processing 

technologies. 

Activities: Develop realistic simulation 

models to evaluate technical 

characteristics of integrated hardwood 

processing systems using new

technology. 

Problem: Standards and test criteria are 

needed for evaluating computer-numeric 

controlled (CNC) machinery and 

associated tooling. 

Activities: Develop standards for 

evaluating the accuracy, efficiency, and 

safety of CNC woodworking machinery. 

Problem: More efficient techniques are 

needed to make existing information 

available to decision makers in a timely 

manner and in a form suitable to answer 

specific questions. 

Activities: Quantify the existing 

knowledge in specific areas of wood 

processing and develop expert systems 

using this information. 

Problem: Research is needed to 

determine how wood quality and 

utilization opportunities are affected by 

silvicultural systems and forest

operations. 

Activities: Determine the effects of 

silvicultural systems and forest

operations on wood quality (including 

physical and mechanical properties, 

decay, and bacterial infection) of 

certain northern hardwood species. 

Problem: More effective production 

control methods and software tools 

must be developed to analyze the 

impact of current and proposed

production systems on efficiency of 

resource utilization. 

Activities: Develop optimal rough-mill 

processing strategies and product 

recovery benchmarks for different 

lumber characteristics through

research into interactions among such

factors as lumber size and grade, and 

develop improved lumber-scanning 

technology. 

Problem: Research is needed

to determine how wood quality 

and utilization can be enhanced 

through silvicultural and forest 

pest management systems and 

operations. 

Activities: Determine the effects 

of silvicultural systems, forest 

pests, and forest operations on

wood quality of selected 

eastern hardwood species. 

Problem: More effective 

manufacturing strategies and 

production control technologies 

must be developed and 

implemented so that solid wood 

products manufacturers can 

improve resource utilization 

efficiency and international 

competitiveness. 

Activities: Develop and 

enhance the adoption of 

optimal rough-mill processing

and product-recovery strategies 

by researching interactions 

among such factors as lumber 

size and grade.

4751 

Forest Engineering Research Systems 

to Integrate Harvesting with Other 

Resource Management Objectives, 

1988-97 

Forest Engineering ResearchSystems Analysis to Evaluate 

Alternative Harvesting Strategies, 

1997-2003 

Integration of Forest 

Operations Into Eastern

Hardwood Intermediate

Cuttings and Structural 

Retention Treatments, 2003-

08 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Area of

research

applicability 

Mountainous, ridge and valley, and 

plateau regions of the eastern United

States. 

United States Northeastern United States 

Mission To use systems analysis to effectively 

integrate silviculture, logging technology, 

economics, and wildlife management into 

a forest management decision model with 

particular applications to steep terrain. 

To use systems analysis to evaluate 

alternative harvesting strategies for all 

forested geographic regions in the 

Northeast. 

To improve and integrate forest 

operations to accomplish 

intermediate silvicultural

treatments in hardwood forests 

of the Northeast. 

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Forest management planning 

tools are inadequate for steep terrain. 

Activities: The goal of this research is to 

develop a system analysis computer 

model, MANAGE, that adequately 

models the biological, technological, 

economical, and silvicultural treatment of 

a forest stand over a rotation. 

Problem: Methods are inadequate to plan 

and carry out multiproduct harvesting and 

utilization of eastern hardwoods on steep 

terrain. 

Activities: Systems theory would be used 

to model multiproduct harvesting and 

utilization of eastern hardwoods on steep 

terrain in order to measure the impact of 

multiproduct harvesting on forest 

management. 

Problem: Management planning 

models are inadequate for forest 

operations and forest product 

transportation.

Activities: The goal of this research is 

to develop a systems analysis

computer model that adequately 

incorporates validated growth models, 

logging technology, wildlife, 

economical, and silvicultural 

treatments of a forest stand over a 

rotation. 

Problem: There is a lack of complete 

synthesis on all aspects of the forest 

operations process, selection of the 

harvesting process, multiproduct 

harvesting, loss caused by log

damage, and other procedures. 

Activities: The goal of this research is 

to provide better information and 

synthesis of all phases of the forest 

operations so that better management 

models can be developed. Information 

will be synthesized with other stand 

data to determine the maximum 

revenue that can be expected from a 

stand. 

Problem: There is a lack of 

synthesis of the forest 

operations process to improve 

intermediate cuttings and 

structural retention harvests for 

eastern hardwoods. 

Activities: The goal of this 

research is to provide better 

information and synthesis of the 

forest operations process so 

that economical decisions can

be made when selecting and 

implementing intermediate 

cuttings and structural retention 

treatments. 

4803 

Analysis of Domestic and International 

Hardwood Product Markets, 1992-97 

Economics of Eastern Forest Use,

1997-2003 

Eastern Forest Use in a 

Global Economy, 2003-08

Area of

research

applicability 

United States and countries with which it 

conducts trade in hardwood products. 

National, but with a primary focus on 

hardwood and softwood forest

resources in the eastern United 

States. 

National, but with an emphasis

on issues affecting the 

hardwood forest industry and 

resources of the eastern United

States. 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Mission To develop economic and technical

information which enables concerned 

individuals and organizations to make 

more informed decisions regarding the 

use of forest resources and the 

production and marketing of forest 

products. 

To develop annual estimates of 

primary and secondary hardwood 

product production and consumption, 

identify and analyze economic and 

other factors or events that are likely 

to significantly alter wood production

and consumption patterns and future 

trends, and examine and analyze 

alternatives (opportunities) for 

extending and conserving the 

hardwood resource and improving the 

efficacy of hardwood forest 

management, utilization, and rural 

development initiatives. 

To provide economic, market, 

and wood-use information that 

will support the health and 

sustainability of forest-based 

industries, hardwood forests, 

and forest communities in the 

eastern United States. 

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: There is a need to explain the 

interrelationships among domestic 

markets for hardwood products. 

Activities: Develop refined databases for 

hardwood product production, usage, and 

price. 

Problem: There is a need to develop 

more detailed information on international 

hardwood products and describe the 

impact of international trade on domestic 

hardwood product markets. 

Activities: Collect and validate all 

domestic and foreign data relating to the 

exportation or importation of hardwood 

products from or into the United States. 

Problem: Information is needed on all 

markets for roundwood and on the 

principal consumers (domestic and 

overseas) of hardwood lumber and 

wood fiber on a continuing basis. 

Activities: Compile statistics on

primary hardwood product production 

in cooperation with FIA and assume 

responsibility within the Northeastern 

Research Station for activities

associated with the TPO.

Problem: Research is needed on 

viable, market-based, value-added 

product opportunities that improve use 

of the forest resource, enhance 

achievement of resource management 

objectives, and sustain rural 

communities. 

Activities: Research conducted in this 

area will be product, process, site, and 

market-specific. 

Problem: There is a need to 

benchmark and monitor 

hardwood use to assess the 

impacts of change and 

competing demands on the 

forest industry, forest resource, 

and forest-based communities 

of the eastern United States. 

Activities: Compile statistics on

roundwood receipts by primary 

processors within the 13 states 

comprising the Northeastern 

Research Station. 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Problem: There is a need to develop 

market-based decision-making tools that 

can be used by hardwood processors 

(secondary and primary) and rural 

development personnel. 

Activities: Develop a profile of common 

characteristics based on different types of 

primary and secondary hardwood 

manufacturers on the basis of size, 

productive inputs purchased, marketing 

practices, and product(s) produced. 

Problem: Need to provide 

information, analysis, and tools 

to assist in assessing 

competitive environments and 

evaluating product, market, and 

management opportunities and

challenges facing U.S. 

producers of wood and woodbased products so as to more 

effectively manage and utilize 

the U.S. eastern hardwood 

resource. 

Activities: Studies will be

conducted to determine the 

effects of size, product type, 

management style and quality, 

financial structure, employee 

relations, material cost, and 

other factors that affect 

competitiveness. 

4805 

Enhancing the Performance and 

Competitiveness of the U.S. Hardwood 

Industry, 1994-2000 

The Influence of Markets on the 

Sustainability of Eastern Hardwood

Forests, 2000-05 

Area of

research

applicability 

Eastern United States Primary focus on the hardwood region 

of the eastern United States 

Mission To explore alternative strategies that will 

improve the long-term performance and 

competitiveness of the U.S. hardwood 

products industry and analyze the impact 

of these strategies on the hardwood 

resources. 

To examine interrelationships 

between forest product markets and 

the composition, structure, and 

sustainability of the eastern hardwood 

forest. 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: There is a need to analyze the 

structure, conduct, and performance of 

the various hardwood products industries 

that utilize hardwood, roundwood, or 

hardwood timber. 

Activities: Classify, in economic terms, 

the structure of the major primary 

hardwood processing industry on a 

regional basis and assess the conduct 

and performance of each industry based 

on this classification. 

Problem: There is a need to assess the 

impact of alternative intervention 

approaches to remedy externalities from 

the production, harvesting, and 

processing of hardwood timber. 

Activities: Examine intervention 

mechanisms that are currently being 

used to remedy market externalities 

associated with hardwood timber 

production, harvesting, and processing. 

Problem: There is a need to explore 

strategies that will help hardwood 

processing firms and industries remain 

competitive while adhering to the 

mandates of a changing society. 

Activities: Isolate the major “unresolvable 

issues” that are likely to polarize 

environmental organizations and the 

hardwood industry and examine the 

major reasons why these conflicts exist. 

Problem: There is a need to examine 

current impact of different localized

market situations on forests and 

provide information that will allow 

policy makers, industry, and others to 

assess forest sustainability under 

current market-induced disturbance 

regimes. 

Activities: Develop a framework to 

examine market-induced disturbance 

utilizing the constructs of economic 

theory in combination with current and 

historic information on the changing 

forest industry and markets. 

Problem: There is a need to develop 

procedures to predict how future 

market-induced disturbance will 

change species distribution, timber 

quality, and the sustainability of 

specific ecosystems and examine how 

adaptive technology will influence 

these changes. 

Activities: Relate long-term changes in 

price, demand, and biological supply 

to changes in technology and the type 

of forest that will be impacted by the 

technology. 

Pacific 

Northwest 

Research

Station 

4865

Human and Natural Resources 

Interactions Research Program, 1995-

2002 

Human and Natural Resources 

Interactions Research Program, 

2002-current 

Area of

research

applicability 

No information. Utilization, economics, and social 

science research; regional (Pacific 

Northwest), national, and international 

scales. 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Mission No information. To improve understanding of social 

and economic values as input to and 

evaluation of resource management 

decisions. 

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Ecologically sustainable 

production of forest activities.

Activities: Evaluate the influence of 

specific stand structure-manipulation 

operations on the quality and quantity of 

forest products. 

Problem: There is a need to improve 

knowledge of the opportunities to use 

local, regional, and international 

markets and how to use management 

practices to sustain diversity of forest 

conditions and outputs. 

Activities: Improve understanding of 

how the forest sector (broadly defined) 

functions, including intrasectoral 

dynamics, and interactions between 

the forest sector and other sectors. 

Pacific 

Southwest

Research

Station 

4202 

No wood utilization No wood utilization Sierra Nevada Research 

Center, 2005-15 

Area of

research

applicability 

Local, regional, and 

international 

Mission Sierra Nevada ecosystems are 

complex and our knowledge of

them is incomplete. As a result, 

the long-term outcome of any 

given land and resource 

management strategy is 

uncertain. We will provide 

assistance to land managers 

and policy makers by 

addressing this management 

dilemma through targeted

research emphasizing an 

integrated, ecoregional 

approach to examine particular 

physical, ecological, and socioeconomic issues, across a 

range of appropriate spatial and 

temporal scales specific to each 

issue. 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Institutional and policy 

processes. 

Activities: Develop appropriate 

research methodologies to 

understand institutional 

processes by which resource

values are established as public 

goods. 

Rocky 

Mountain

Research

Station 

4156

No wood utilization No wood utilization Southwestern Forest Health 

Restoration and WildlandUrban Interface Fuels 

Management, 2005-

Area of

research

applicability 

Unknown

Mission Unknown

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: A need exists to 

develop and understand 

economics, markets, and 

utilization opportunities to 

support the management and 

restoration of southwestern 

forests that also contribute to 

the economic vitality of local

and regional communities. 

Activities: Understand the 

economic and social impacts of 

alternative forest management 

options on communities and 

sustainable utilization 

opportunities. 

Southern

Research

Station 

Area of

research

applicability 

Southern United States Southeastern United States Southern United States 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

4104 

(previously 

4104 and 4701) 

Utilization of Southern Timber (4701), 

1993-98 

Ecology and Genetics of Southern

Pine Ecosystems, 1994-99 (4104) 

Disturbance and the

Management of Southern

Pine Ecosystems, 1999-2004

Mission To define how environmental and 

socioeconomic factors will change the 

southern timber resource; and develop 

fundamental information and technology 

to utilize this resource while conserving 

biodiversity and providing for a sustained 

supply of raw material. 

To develop scientific knowledge 

needed for regenerating, managing, 

protecting and improving pine 

plantations, natural stands, and 

ecosystems. 

To increase understanding and 

develop applications of 

disturbance to sustain the 

productivity and functions of 

southern pine ecosystems. 

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Information is lacking on the 

effects of site, species composition, 

stockings, rotation age and their 

interactions on value, yield, anatomical, 

physical and mechanical properties of 

southern timber, which is a barrier to 

meeting management and utilization 

goals. 

Activities: Three areas of research 

emphasis: (1) value and yield of forest 

products; (2) anatomical and physical 

properties; and (3) mechanical

properties. These areas are interrelated. 

 Problem: There is a need to 

better understand the effects of 

within tree, stand, 

environmental, and forest 

management factors on wood

properties to meet productivity

and sustainability objectives. 

Activities: The emphasis of this

research is on relating basic 

wood properties to and within

its tree, stand, environmental,

and management factors that 

affect southern pine wood 

formation. 

4701

Utilization of Southern Forest 

Resources, 1993-99

Utilization of Southern Forest 

Resources, 1999-2005 

Utilization of Southern Forest 

Resources, 2005-10

Area of

research

applicability 

Southern United States and tropical

areas 

Southern United States and tropical

areas 

Southern United States and 

tropical areas 

Mission To define and apply fundamental 

chemistry, material science, and 

engineering principles to the utilization 

and processing of southern forest 

resources in an environmentally sound 

way. 

To define and describe the 

fundamental raw material 

characteristics influencing the 

sustainable and environmentally 

sound use of southern forest 

resources. 

To define and describe the 

fundamental raw material 

characteristics influencing the 

sustainable and 

environmentally sound use of 

southern forest resources. 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: Little is known of the composition 

of secondary metabolites in plants of forest

communities, their biological significance, or 

their potential value as a renewable source

of specialty chemicals. 

Activities: Define the chemistry and 

significance of secondary metabolites of 

selected plants in the forest community to 

help determine the biological significance of 

these compounds. 

Problem: Information is inadequate on the 

physical and mechanical properties of 

primary wood constituents to analytically 

model and understand the properties of 

many wood-based composites. 

Activities: Research will focus on 

development of new structural wood-based

composites as well as improvements on 

conventional composites. 

Problem: New adhesive systems and 

bonding processes are needed to enhance 

adhesion, reduce bonding costs, and 

provide technological improvements. 

Activities: This research will focus on 

defining the performance of adhesive 

bonding process for wood-and-polymer 

composites and developing new processing

technology to utilize mixture of recycled 

wood fiber and plastics for high-value 

products. 

Problem: More understanding of the 

fundamental chemistry and physics of 

interaction between synthetic polymers and 

wood materials is needed to accommodate 

the use of wood in new composite systems. 

Activities: The research in this area will

continue along the program lines that have 

been established over the last several years 

of investigation that address the physicochemical interaction between wood fibers 

and synthetic polymers. 

Problem: A gap in our understanding of the 

fundamental physical properties that are 

central to the biological/ecological 

significance of plant polyphenols or terpenes

limits their usefulness. 

Activities: Define fundamental physical 

properties that are important in determining 

the biological or ecological significance of 

secondary plant metabolites. 

Problem: There is a need to improve 

composite properties by evaluating the 

physical and mechanical properties of 

primary wood constituents. 

Activities: Research will focus on property 

assessment and material characterization as 

they relate to the structural performance of 

wood-based composites. 

Problem: There is a lack of adequate 

understanding of interfacial structure and 

properties to develop new composite material 

development. 

Activities: This problem area will study the 

relationship between wood surface properties

and interfacial characteristics.

Problem: There is a need to improve 

effective utilization of wood from difficult-torecycle and intensively managed sources 

into high performance composite products. 

Activities: This research will support the 

development of intensively-cultured 

production approaches for wood by 

investigating this material’s performance in 

existing process technologies and composite 

systems. 

Problem: There is a need to sufficiently 

understand the relationships between tree 

growth variables, fundamental wood 

properties, and end-product performance for 

optimal utilization of the forest resource. 

Activities: This research area will focus on

the development and use of rapid 

assessment methods to study wood 

characteristic/product property relationships 

at the molecular level. 

Problem: Information is 

insufficient on the 

physical, chemical, and 

mechanical properties of 

woody raw material 

originating from southern 

forests. 

Activities: This problem 

area will focus on three 

elements pertinent to the 

effective utilization of our 

southern forest resource.

Problem: There is a 

need to better design 

biobased products 

based on the properties 

and composition of the 

southern forest raw 

material. 

Activities: Research on

this problem area will be 

accomplished by a 

three-pronged approach, 

which includes the 

relationship between 

component properties 

and their composite 

products. 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

4702

Primary Hardwood Processing and 

Products, 1988-97

Integrated Life Cycle of Wood: Tree 

Quality, Processing, and Recycling,

1997-2003 

Forest Products 

Conservation, 2003-08 

Area of

research

applicability 

National National National

Mission To identify, evaluate, and develop new or 

improved automated primary hardwood 

processing technologies and hardwood 

products that make U.S. industry more 

competitive in domestic and foreign 

markets. 

To enhance wood resource 

conservation and sustainability 

through advanced timber analysis and 

wood processing, and effective wood

product recovery, reuse, and 

recycling. 

To enhance sustainable forest

resource use through improved 

product, processing, and 

recycling analysis. 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: There is a need to develop 

improved and new automated primary 

hardwood processing technologies. 

Activities: This research will evaluate and 

develop computer simulations, expert 

systems, and vision-system supported 

computer-aided hardwood sawmill edging 

and trimming. 

Problem: There is a need to identify, 

evaluate, and develop new or improved 

products that use our abundant nonselect 

hardwood sawtimber resources. 

Activities: Emerging and potential primary 

hardwood products will be identified 

along with new production concepts. 

Problem: There is a need to develop and 

demonstrate systems to make and 

market short-length lumber and 

dimension for profitable use of low-grade 

hardwood sawtimber. 

Activities: Research will determine 

through simulation and actual testing 

whether short lumber grading systems 

can be designed to facilitate the use of 

short logs, low quality logs, thick 

shortslabs, and/or low-grade lumber to 

make short lumber. 

Problem: There is a need for reliable 

and accurate nondestructive timber 

assessment and allocation methods to 

evaluate standing and felled trees. 

Activities: This research will 

investigate the use and application of 

ground-based digital imagery,

combined with image processing 

software and product allocation

software to estimate tree volume, 

product allocation, and tree grade for 

inventory purposes. 

Problem: There is a need to improve 

wood processing technology and 

equipment to efficiently evaluate and 

process wood resources. 

Activities: This research will develop 

and use expert systems and vision 

systems to support computer-aided 

and automated hardwood sawmill 

edging and trimming. 

Problem: There is a need to extend 

the life of resources, effectively 

refurbishing and reusing wood pallets 

and other solid wood products, or 

converting them to alternative highvalue products. 

Activities: This research will 

investigate and evaluate current and 

new repairs for damaged and used 

wood pallets and compare these to 

new pallets. 

Problem: Reliable and accurate 

nondestructive timber 

assessment and allocation 

methods are needed to 

evaluate standing and felled 

trees. 

Activities: This research will 

investigate the use and 

application of ground-based 

digital data collection, combined 

with information extraction 

software and product allocation

software to estimate tree 

volume, product allocation, and 

tree grade for inventory 

purposes. 

Problem: Wood processing 

technology and equipment must 

be improved to efficiently 

evaluate and process wood 

resources. 

Activities: Develop and use 

expert systems and vision 

systems to support computeraided and automated hardwood 

sawmill edging and trimming.

Problem: There is a need to 

extend the life of resources, 

effectively refurbishing and 

reusing wood pallets and other

solid wood products, or 

converting them to alternative 

high-value products. 

Activities: This research will 

investigate and evaluate current 

and new repairs for damaged 

and used wood pallets and 

compare these to new pallets. 

4703 

Title unknown, 1994-99 Forest Operations Research to

Achieve Sustainable Management, 

1999-2005 

Area of

research

applicability 

No information available. National 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Mission To provide engineering knowledge and 

improved, economically viable forest 

operations for sustained resource 

management and develop an 

understanding of the interactions 

between biological and engineering 

systems in forest ecosystems. 

To provide the science and 

technology integrating ecological and 

engineering disciplines to achieve 

economically and ecologically viable 

forest operations which are necessary 

for sustainable and socially 

acceptable forest resource 

management. 

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Research

station—

associated

work unit,

and plan

components Research work unit title, and period and activities covered

Research

problem and 

activities 

Problem: There is a need to sufficiently 

understand the implications and 

interactions between biological systems, 

soil, and hydrologic site factors, and 

forest operations for the design and 

development of environmentally sound 

forest operations. 

Activities: The cause-effect relationship 

between selected engineering variables 

and soil physical property changes will be

established. Such information will be

used to improve systems for forest 

operations. 

Problem: Current techniques and 

technologies are not always feasible or 

cost effective under a holistic approach to 

forest resource management.

Activities: Approaches to solving this 

problem involve improving system 

design, management, and performance, 

or developing alternative concepts such 

as innovative technologies and

small-scale machinery. 

Problem: The capabilities and limitations 

of the human element are not adequately 

considered in current forest operations, 

resulting in degraded safety, productivity, 

and system performance. 

Activities: Three distinct research 

elements will be pursued—industrial 

safety management, effective personal 

protective equipment, and application of 

ergonomic principles to equipment 

design. 

Problem: Available analytical methods for 

forest operations are not sufficient to 

support the implementation of

multi-resource, multi-scale management 

in southern forests. 

Activities: Research will focus on the 

development of a specific model for 

tactical planning of access and 

management activities. 

Problem: There is a need to develop a 

better understanding of the effect of 

forest operations systems on the 

ecological processes of forest 

ecosystems. 

Activities: To understand more

completely the complex machine-soil

interaction in terms of temporal, 

spatial, vegetative, site, and climatic 

differences, and to integrate the 

results into a comprehensive systems 

approach to management for 

sustained above- and below-ground 

productivity. 

Problem: There is a need to develop 

new and innovative methods and 

technologies to reduce the ecological 

impacts of forest operations. 

Activities: Considering the impact 

roads have on the forest ecosystem, 

more work needs to be undertaken to 

design road systems which are 

acceptable based on the goal of 

sustainable forestry practice. 

Problem: Better information about the 

performance, cost, and operational 

ranges of new and existing forest 

operations systems is needed.

Activities: Performance will be

measured in terms of factors such as 

production, energy consumption, labor 

input, and capitalization. 

Problem: New approaches are 

needed to acquire and utilize 

information for planning and 

management of forest operations 

across landscapes. 

Activities: Studies will be conducted to 

develop tools for optimizing 

application efficiency of equipment on 

given sites, identifying those factors 

that most influence effectiveness of 

operations, and techniques to adapt 

systems to local conditions. 

Source: Forest Service documents. 

Page 95 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES

R

 Wood Utilization 

esearch Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Page 96 GAO-06-624 

This appendix presents information on CSREES’ wood utilization research 

centers, including some of their objectives, specialty areas, and research 

activities over 11 years—fiscal years 1995 through 2005. 

This center specializes in assisting the Alaska Forest Products industry 

through research, extension, and education activities. 

Table 16: University of Alaska Wood Utilization Research Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization 

Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 2000-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objectives Approach/research activities

2000 Implement a broad-based program that will help Alaska 

become competitive in the value-added wood products 

industry by providing specific technical, business, and 

marketing assistance; develop a facility where 

promising new projects can be developed and tested; 

study the educational and training needs of sawmill 

operators (and others) involved in present and evolving 

wood products industries and then to respond with a 

client-centered approach to technical transfer and 

product development; make assistance available in

processing and performance, marketing research, and 

development of wood and forest-based products. 

• Conduct an overall needs assessment of educational and 

industrial clientele in Alaska’s forest products industry 

• Use study results to identify and develop a variety of techniques 

that will be the basis for another research project to ascertain the 

most effective means of transferring technology to help 

entrepreneurs and their employees develop and apply technology 

for peak efficiency 

• Support ongoing efforts to develop in-grade testing specific to 

Alaska species

2001 Help Alaska’s forest products industry develop new, 

cost-effective methods for converting wood and other 

tree and plant components to consumer products; 

define new markets; and, assist individuals and 

organizations by providing required training and 

research. 

• Provide course offerings and technical training that are required by 

a dynamic industry 

• Support applied research projects that focus on the basic physical 

and mechanical properties of wood and other tree and plant

material 

• Conduct research that identifies new products, technology, 

production processes, and markets; and, extension services to 

assist entrepreneurs and firms in the industry 

2002 Help Alaska’s forest products industry develop new, 

cost-effective methods for conversion of wood and 

other forest material to marketable products; 

emphasize forest products education identification of 

markets, and new and improved production system to 

create high-value products from low-value material; 

help Alaska become competitive in the value-added 

forest products industry by providing specific technical, 

business, and marketing assistance and a facility for 

developing and testing promising new projects. 

Continues 2001 approach. 

University of Alaska Wood 

Utilization Research 

Center 

Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objectives Approach/research activities

2003 Help overcome lack of representation on boards, 

committees, and organizations that create grading 

rules or standards and collect marketing information, 

which often results in barriers to the economic

development and maximum use (technically and 

economically) of the products from the region. Conduct 

projects that assist with the restructuring of the forest 

products industry in Alaska; emphasize projects that 

have the potential to help rebuild the forest products 

industry in southeast Alaska. 

• Continue support for an in-grade testing program at the Ketchikan 

Wood Technology Centers 

• Use samples in accordance with ASTM D-143 to evaluate the 

properties of small clear samples of western hemlock lumber, 

focusing on the relationship between specific gravity and the

evaluated properties 

• Use results as the basis for recommendations for proceeding with 

an Alaska Wood Density Survey to allow development of new 

small clear strength values for western hemlock harvested in

Alaska 

2004 Conduct research programs to help restructure the 

forest products industry in Alaska; design research 

projects to respond to the needs of the industry and 

people in Alaska; develop projects based on needs 

identified by ongoing research and studies, direct 

request from industry organizations, educational 

institutions, and government agencies. 

• Continue an ongoing University of Alaska project at the Ketchikan 

Wood Technology Center to review the basic properties of Alaska 

species 

• Develop updated strength values for Alaska species, based on 

testing of small clear samples 

2005 Continue testing Alaska wood species for unique 

properties for value-added products; report the 

chemical determination of Alaska birch bark by species 

and region using the bark from harvested trees; 

conduct an integrated study that inventories and maps 

harvestable nontimber forest products, plant species, 

and potential harvest areas; document traditional and 

current uses of special forest products in four

additional southeast Alaska native communities; make 

recommendations for marketing efforts for value-added 

Alaskan wood and special forest products. 

• Use standard tests to determine the potential for using Alaskan 

birch in value-added industries

• Study plant species and potential harvest areas to inventory

nontimber forest products 

• Continue to define consumer reaction to terms used to describe 

lumber produced from Alaska species and to promote value-added 

wood products made from Alaskan wood and special forest 

products 

Source: GAO’s analysis of CSREES data. 

Inland Northwest Forest 

Products Research 

Consortium 

The consortium uses a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional approach to 

solving forest operations and wood utilization problems unique to the 

Inland Northwest region. The consortium consists of the universities of 

Idaho and of Montana, and Washington State University. 

Page 97 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Table 17: Inland Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization 

Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1999-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objectives Approach/research activities

1999 Conduct forest products research in the inland 

northwest region of Idaho, Montana, and Washington 

on the species quantity, and quality of raw material; the 

capabilities and processes needed by the forest 

products industry to convert this resource to wood 

products; and the potential for wood products from 

alternate species designed for specific applications. 

• Investigate regional problems in harvesting, processing and 

potential products from the wood resource expected in the future 

by joint research teams at the Forest Products Department, 

University of Idaho; Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 

University of Montana; and Wood Materials and Engineering

Laboratory, Washington State University 

• Conduct research projects in resource assessment, 

manufacturing, and harvesting processes; raw material properties; 

and new and value-added wood products 

2000 Continues 1999 objectives. Continues 1999 activities. 

2001 Continues 1999 objectives. Continues 1999 activities. 

2002 Continues 1999 objectives. Continues 1999 activities. 

2003 Continues 1999 objectives. Continues 1999 activities. 

2004 Conduct research to help make regional sawmills more 

efficient, assess the color modification of wood via 

ohmic heating, evaluate wood thermoplastic 

composites for bridge decking, develop flexible wood

composite sheets for sound or thermo insulation, 

analyze the region’s wood products industry, develop 

seismic design parameters for log shear wall, and 

evaluate thermoplastic binders derived from lignin. 

The Inland Northwest Forest Products Research Consortium

represents a cooperative effort between the Forest Products

Department of the University of Idaho, the Bureau of Business and 

Economic Research at the University of Montana, and the Wood 

Materials and Engineering Laboratory at Washington State 

University. The Consortium takes an interdisciplinary, multi 

institutional approach to solving forest operations and utilization 

problems unique to the Inland Northwest, with an emphasis on those 

associated with new forest management regimes. 

2005 Conduct research to (1) improve the physical and 

visual properties of ponderosa pine lumber sawn from 

small-diameter trees; (2) optimize the color of wood via 

ohmic heating; (3) harden and dimensionally stabilize 

wood; (4) characterize the Inland-Northwest wood 

products industry; (5) enhance the utilization of smalldiameter timber; (6) develop a fully wood-based wood 

composite; (7) develop seismic design parameters for 

log shear walls; and (8) develop alternative treating 

methods for oriented stand composites. 

Continues 2004 activities. 

Source: GAO’s analysis of CSREES data. 

University of Maine Wood 

Utilization Research 

Center 

This center specializes in all aspects of utilization concerning species 

indigenous to the New England area.

Page 98 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Table 18: University of Maine Wood Utilization Research Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization 

Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objectives Approach/research activities

1995 Increase knowledge of the properties of timber 

species in New England to improve the efficiencies 

and environmental compatibility of existing industries, 

and to develop new products that could help expand 

the forest products industrial base. 

• Biodegradation and preservation of wood

• Computer-aided processing of northeastern species 

• Fundamental properties of northeastern species 

• Structural engineering 

• Wood-based composites for structural applications 

• Wood chemistry 

1996 Continues 1995 objectives. Continues many 1995 activities, and adds the following: 

• Improved environmental compatibility of pulping technologies 

1997 Continues 1995 objectives. • Chlorine-free sulfur-free high-yield pulps from northeastern

hardwood species 

• Wood fiber composites utilizing paper deinking sludge

• Feasibility of glulam beams reinforced with fiber-reinforced 

plastic sheets 

• Oxidation degradation of lignocellulose by low molecular weight 

chelators isolated from brown-rot fungi 

• Novel technology for the detection of wood-degrading fungi

1998 Continues 1995 objectives. • Improve design to increase efficiency of alkaline oxygen pulping 

• Technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of combining fiberreinforced polymers 

• Identify the role of redox chemical reactions in the breakdown of 

lignocellulosic materials through X-ray absorption and fine

structure spectroscopy 

• Experimental techniques of fluorescence, genetic, and 

biochemical analysis to understand the physiology of wood 

decay fungi 

• Effect of steaming and dry heat on the resonant frequency and 

frequency response of wood 

• Forecast the service life of laminated composites comprised of 

glass fibers bonded with catalyzed PVAc to red pine or red 

maple species

1999 Continues 1995 objectives. • Determine major factors affecting the price of wood for use in

pulp manufacture and softwood dimension manufacture

• Evaluate the effects of precommercial thinning on wood 

properties of spruce-fir forests 

• Predict warp potential in spruce-fir studs using ultrasonic waves 

Page 99 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objectives Approach/research activities

2000 Continues 1995 objectives. • Develop a wood-concrete connection and evaluate its behavior 

under static and fatigue load

• Identify the causes and costs of idle logging product capacity, 

wood supply, labor, and other issues related to Maine logging 

• Evaluate dry matching of 2x4 SPF studs from green condition 

using three drying schedules and variation in moisture content 

loss along the length of the dimension samples, measure the 

warp, and compare restricted loss and unrestricted loss samples

2001 Evaluate the basic processing and feasibility of 

manufacturing structural composite lumber from 

northeastern wood species using a long-strand, high 

yield, log breakdown procedure; assess the 

commercial feasibility of stock glulam beams 

produced from Maine hardwood resources; assess 

the relation of local differences in shrinkage for the 

level of warp in red and white pine lumber. 

• Restore a log reducer to operating condition and use it to crush 

small-diameter logs; after resin addition, use an RF press to

produce structural scale material to determine mechanical

properties 

• Merchandize 3,000 board feet of #3 common 4/4 hardwood by 

length and width to established yields for e-rated lamination

stock 

• Harvest red and white pine trees and saw lumber from two 

stands. Obtain shrinkage rate samples from the logs. Measure 

and correlate full sized lumber shrinkage with sample rates.

2002 Develop an optimized preassembled narrow shear 

wall system using advanced OSB; improve the 

strength and stiffness properties of polyolefin wood 

composites by modifying the post-die process

conditions; investigate the material requirements 

planning, logistics, and conversion efficiency of 

northeastern pulp mills. 

• Conduct static and cyclic connector tests using screws and ring 

shank nails and develop allowable design values for walls using 

ICBO AC 130 criteria 

• Monitor cooling rates via thermocouple and physical and 

mechanical properties 

• Obtain information from publicly available data sources 

supplemented by on-site interviews with key personnel involved 

in inventory planning and control at both groundwood and kraft 

pulp mills 

2003 Study impact of processing additives on extruder 

operating parameters and properties of 

polypropylene wood-plastic composites; quantify 

several factors that may affect the levels of VOC 

release from hardwoods and softwoods; evaluate the 

competitive position of the Maine paper industry. 

• Identify the influences of maleation, zinc stearate, EBS wax, fire 

retardant, neustrene, and HALS on the mechanical performance 

of extruded wood polypropylene composites through ASTM 

mechanical and weathering tests 

• Measure VOCs using established procedures on fresh logs of 

red oak, white oak, hard maple, and cherry; perform other tests 

with white pine that is untreated or dipped in various fungicides 

• Monitor both primary and secondary resources to meet the 

objectives; use interviews and databases for each resource

2004 Improve the technical performance and efficiency of 

products that use wood as the main constituent. 

• Conduct design parameters, panel, and connection design 

through finite element modeling and experimental testing of fullscale panel systems 

• Use a variety of commercial additives to prepare extruded 

wood-plastic materials using commercial scale equipment 

available in the laboratory 

• Obtain specimens of several Maine wood species from 

sawmills; obtain composite panels from regional manufacturers 

and measure specific heat capacity using a differential 

calorimeter 

Page 100 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objectives Approach/research activities

2005 Discover underlying science and develop technology 

that will both improve the ability to provide 

sustainable forest-based products for societal needs 

and help increase the global competitiveness of the 

U.S. forest products industry. 

• Use enzymatic pretreatment of pulps to evaluate commercial

laccases and catechol dioxgenases prior to oxygen

delignification to reduce the environmental footprint 

• Elucidate fundamental physiological and biochemical pathways 

of fungi to develop strategies of biological techniques to control 

microbial biodegradation and preserve wood and wood products

• Evaluate the use of chemical and physical foaming agents in 

extrusion systems to reduce the density of wood plastic 

composites and the application of near InfraRed (near-IR) 

technologies to wood plastics composites production to provide 

on-line product quality information 

Source: GAO analysis of CSREES data. 

Michigan State University 

Wood Utilization Research 

Center 

The center specializes in sustainable hardwood utilization, with a focus on 

wood preservation, wood composite materials, and genetic engineering of

necessary wood properties for specific product development.

Table 19: Michigan State University Wood Utilization Research Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

1995 Improve hardwood lumber yield by examining

alternatives to current rough-mill practices for saw 

log conversion and evaluate short log and 

underutilized species for veneer production for 

concealed furniture parts; establish standards for 

evaluating composite surface quality with comparison

of contact and noncontact methods; continue

hardwood preservation research. 

• Improvement of the hardwood saw log conversion process 

• The surface quality and stability of wood and wood products 

• Preservative treatment of hardwood 

• Recycling of treated lumber, untreated recycled wood fiber, and 

wood ash 

• Laser-cutting of wood and wood composites

1996 Improve hardwood lumber yield and utilization; explore 

recycling opportunities to reduce wood consumption; 

improve quality of wood composites; compare log 

yields by grade sawn and live sawn; evaluate

economics of short log and underused species for 

veneer production; set standards for evaluating 

composite surface quality; complete comparison of 

stability model with lab-produced OSB. 

• Hardwood preservation project 

• Complete evaluation of particleboard and fiberboard made with 

recycled newsprint 

• Make and evaluate composites made from recycled treated and 

demolition wood

• Explore new pulsed laser cutting approach 

• Economic analysis of log improvement study and recycling 

projects 

Page 101 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

1997 Improve yield and value from hardwood logs through 

conversion process improvements; extend forest 

resources by preserving wood and composites and by 

recycling treated wood; use mixed eastern hardwoods 

to manufacture particleboard; rationalize internal bond 

and thickness OSB swell test specimen; promote forest 

sustainability and certification of eastern hardwood 

forests. 

• Create real log database for computer-simulated sawing 

comparisons 

• Determine mechanism of CCA treatment in soft maple using logs 

harvested at different seasons 

• Determine properties of composites made of recycled treated 

wood and conduct durability tests 

• Compare properties of single-species and mixed species furnish 

particleboards 

• Expose hardboard siding and other hardboard materials to cyclic 

swelling and shrinking to establish secondary stability 

1998 Extend hardwood forest resources by preserving wood 

and wood composites and by recycling treated wood; 

improve stability of wood composites; rationalize 

internal bond and thickness of OSB swell test 

specimen; recycle wood ash from power plants; 

promote forest sustainability and certification of eastern 

hardwoods. 

• Determine species of copper in wood after various treatments and 

relationship to effectiveness of preservative 

• Develop a method of removing CCA from treated wood for 

recycling of fibers 

• Make and test particleboards of single and known blend of 

hardwood species 

• Monitor surface energy changes of treated and untreated wood, 

glued and not glued and relate changes to properties of wood 

composites 

1999 Extend forest resource by preserving wood and 

composites and by recycling treated wood; evaluate 

the low performance of CCA-treated hardwood; 

evaluate mixed hardwood species growing in Michigan 

as raw material for particleboard and OSB 

manufacture. 

• Compare properties of single species and mixed species furnished

• Evaluate horizontal density distribution, among other things, of 

representative commercial OSB samples and determine the 

influence of specimen size on measurements 

2000 Extend the service life of forest products, particularly 

hardwood species, by using preservatives, reusing 

treated wood, recycling wood removed from service, 

and applying biotechnological means for producing 

high decay resistant wood; evaluate the recovery of 

CCA from treated wood removed from service; 

evaluate mixed hardwood species growing in Michigan 

as raw materials for particleboard and OSB 

manufacture. 

• Conduct field and laboratory tests to determine the toxic threshold 

and the residual chemicals of several commercial wood 

preservative formulations used to treat silver maple, beech, red 

oak, elm, willow, and hard maple after 5 years’ exposure 

• Manufacture particleboard and OSB single species and mixed 

species furnished of hardwoods growing in Michigan and evaluate 

their properties evaluated to determine the effect of species furnish

2001 Extend the service life of forest resources, particularly 

hardwood species, by using preservatives, reusing 

treated wood, recycling wood removed from service, 

applying biotechnological means to produce highdecay resistant wood; investigate environmental 

benign chemicals used in crop protection as wood 

preservatives; evaluate mixed hardwood growing in

Michigan as a source of raw materials for flake board 

and OSB. 

• Use laboratory soil-block tests and field tests to evaluate the

biological performance of some environmentally benign wood 

preservatives 

• Test wood cement-bonded particleboard and wood fiber 

thermoplastic made using recycled materials to determine their 

physical, mechanical, and biological performance according to 

well-established standards 

• Measure and use surface energy of raw materials to explain the 

adhesion phenomenon between wood fibers and the matrix

• Compare the properties of OSB made with single and mixed

species furnished 

• Use genetic manipulation technology to increase the levels of 

wood extractives that render them decay resistant 

Page 102 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

2002 Increase use of hardwood species for exterior 

applications: use environmentally benign chemicals; 

reuse and recycle wood products from demolition as 

raw materials for wood composites; develop processes 

to use sawdust from the furniture industry as raw 

materials to manufacture commercially viable and 

value-added products; investigate effects of major 

economic and social forces on timber supply and 

demand in subregions of the Lake States; and develop 

biotechnology to produce value-added wood products. 

• Screen chemicals with low-to-negligible impact on the environment 

as potential preservatives 

• Use a continuous extrusion process to manufacture wood plastic 

composites 

• Analyze the relationship between sawlog price, labor demand, and 

capital investment in the Lake States’ hardwood sawmill industry 

• Use a metabolic engineering approach to produce value-added 

hardwood products 

2003 Continues 2002 objectives. Continues 2002 activities. 

2004 Continues 2002 objectives. Continues some 2002 activities and adds genomics of decay

resistance and wood growth will be studied using micro array analysis 

to determine the genes that are involved in the commercially

important biological processes 

2005 Increase the use of hardwood species for exterior 

applications: use environmentally benign chemicals as 

wood preservatives and reuse and recycle wood 

products as raw materials for wood composites; 

develop processes to use sawdust and wood fiber to 

produce commercially viable extruded wood-plastic 

composites; use biotechnology to evaluate the control 

of genes that express important wood characteristics 

and to develop new value-added products. 

• Screen chemicals with low impact on the environment as wood 

preservative

• Use laboratory soil block tests and field exposure tests to 

determine the biological effectiveness and study samples to

determine the degree of fixation in the wood

• Use continuous extrusion and co-extrusion processes to 

manufacture wood-plastic composites as well as particleboards 

without using formaldehyde-based adhesive

Source: GAO’s analysis of CSREES data. 

University of Minnesota, 

Duluth, Wood Utilization 

Research Center 

This center specializes in helping existing small and mid-size wood 

products companies remain or become competitive by conducting 

research and development and forest productivity work in hybrid poplar, 

red pine, and other Minnesota species; and by forming new regional 

industries based on forest products materials and technologies. This is 

done to ensure the sustainability of the forest products industry 

Page 103 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Table 20: University of Minnesota, Duluth, Wood Utilization Research Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

1995 Develop private sector forest products opportunities 

in the Upper Midwest, particularly Minnesota; help 

existing small and mid-size forest products 

companies implement technologies that can help 

economic growth. 

• Supply technical assistance 

• Help with business plans and marketing 

• Assist with cost accounting and inventory systems 

• Perform prototype manufacturing, and conduct product or 

process research and development 

Much of the work will involve the transfer of technologies 

previously developed at the center or developed at other research 

institutions. 

1996 Continues 1995 objectives. Continues 1995 activities. 

1997 Continues 1995 objectives. Continues 1995 activities. 

1998 Continues 1995 objectives. Continues 1995 activities. 

1999 Continues 1995 objectives. Continues 1995 activities. 

2000 Continues 1995 objectives. Continues 1995 activities. 

2001 Help the sustainable development of private sector 

forest products opportunities in Minnesota and the 

Upper Midwest; emphasize helping existing small 

and mid-size wood products companies remain or 

become competitive through research and 

development or specific technical or business

expertise; direct work in biotechnology and chemical 

extractives to form new industries in the region, 

benefiting farmers, small landowners, and large 

regional forest products companies; undertake 

promising independent projects that may lead to new 

job creation without an identified industry partner. 

Generally continues 1995 activities and adds the following: 

• Undertakes product or process research and development

within program areas—biotechnology, chemical derivatives,

biobased composites and manufacturing efficiency, wood

materials and engineering, and secondary wood products 

2002 Continues most of 2001 objectives and adds specific 

subprojects in the areas of wood engineering,

secondary wood products manufacturing, and 

biobased composites. 

• Serve more than 50 companies as clients and strategic partners 

• Use funding from previous special grants to work with more than 

100 different companies, resulting in the formation of new 

companies, and facilitating the rapid growth of others 

2003 Help the sustainable development of private sector 

forest products opportunities in Minnesota and the 

Upper Midwest.

• Chemical extractives 

• Wood materials and engineering 

• Secondary wood products 

• Biobased composites 

• Manufacturing efficiency 

Page 104 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

2004 Assist with the sustainable development of private 

sector forest products opportunities in Minnesota and 

the Upper Midwest; help small and mid-size wood 

products companies remain or become competitive 

through research and development; form new 

regional industries. 

• Lean manufacturing 

• Nondestructive evaluation 

• Portable wood finishing systems 

• Membrane press technology 

• Ready-to-assemble wood frame housing internal connectors 

• Lightweight sandwich panel 

• Phosphate bonded composites

• ThermoWood 

• Larch tree extractives 

2005 Assist with the sustainable development of private 

sector forest products opportunities in Minnesota and 

the Upper Midwest; help small and mid-size wood 

products companies remain or become competitive 

through research and development; form new 

regional industries based on forest products 

materials and technologies. 

• Lean manufacturing concepts 

• Nondestructive evaluation technologies 

• Membrane press technology 

• Breathable and waterproof mineral-bonded strandboard 

• Iron phosphate impregnated wood products 

• Radio frequency identification

• Process technology for aspen, poplar, and sycamore tree 

extractives 

• Utilization of forest harvest residues for renewable energy 

Source: GAO’s analysis of CSREES data. 

Mississippi State 

University Wood 

Utilization Research 

Center 

This center specializes in timber harvesting, transportation, and 

economics; lumber manufacturing and processing; wood-based composite 

materials; protection and preservation of wood; wood chemistry; 

economic evaluation; and technology transfer. 

Table 21: Mississippi State University Wood Utilization Research Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objectives Approach/research activities

1995 Administer a continuing research program on using 

southern pines; strengthen existing efforts in wood 

utilization; provide support for research initiatives in 

these areas. 

• Harvesting, transportation, and primary processing 

• Economic evaluation and technology transfer 

• Structural engineering 

• Wood chemistry 

• Protection and preservation of wood 

• Timber manufacturing and processing 

• Wood-based composite materials 

1996 Continues 1995 objectives and adds timber harvesting. Continues 1995 activities. 

Page 105 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objectives Approach/research activities

1997 Continues 1996 objectives. Continues 1995 activities. 

1998 Continues 1996 objectives. Activities in five of seven broad program areas: 

• Harvesting, transportation, and primary processing 

• Economic evaluation and technology transfer 

• Wood chemistry 

• Protection and preservation of wood 

• Timber manufacturing and processing 

1999 Administer a continuing program of research and 

technical assistance on utilization of southern pines, to 

strengthen existing efforts in wood utilization, and to 

provide support for new research initiatives in these 

areas. 

Research to be conducted within five of the seven broad areas: 

• Harvesting, transportation and timber processing 

• Economic evaluation and technology transfer 

• Structural engineering 

• Protection and preservation of wood 

• Timber manufacturing and processing 

2000 Administer a continuing program of research and 

technical assistance to improve the use and value of 

southern timber resources; strengthen existing efforts 

in timber harvesting and wood utilization; and support 

new research initiatives in these areas. 

Continues 1999 activities. 

2001 Continues 2000 objectives. Research to be conducted within five of the seven broad areas: 

• Harvesting and transportation

• Economic and market evaluation and technology transfer 

• Wood engineering and wood-based composites 

• Wood protection and biodeterioration

• Timber manufacturing and processing 

2002 Continues 2000 objectives. Continues 2001 activities, except for harvesting and transportation. 

2003aContinues 2000 objectives. • Forest resources 

• Economic and market evaluation and technology transfer 

• Engineered wood products 

• Wood protection and biodeterioration

• Timber manufacturing and processing 

2004 Continues 2000 objectives. • Utilization of wood-based materials in housing 

• New manufacturing systems for wood-based industry 

• Fiber and chemicals from wood 

• Timber harvesting and wood utilization in Mississippi 

2005 Continue 2000 objectives. • Biotechnology and fundamental research 

• Chemicals and energy from wood 

• New manufacturing systems for wood-based industries 

• Performance of wood structures and housing

Source: GAO’s analysis of CSREES data. 

Page 106 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

a

In fiscal year 2003, the Mississippi center began receiving a committee-directed grant to conduct a 

statewide forest resources inventory. This grant was included in the center’s fiscal year 2003 

proposal; thereafter, the center has submitted separate proposals for the inventory. 

North Carolina State 

University Wood 

Utilization Research 

Center 

This center specializes in wood machining and tooling technology. 

Table 22: North Carolina State University Wood Utilization Research Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

1995 Improve understanding of the interface between the 

woodworking machine and the wood product, including 

the machine power source, spindle assembly, cutting 

tool, method of attachment of the tool to the spindle, 

cutting tool geometry and cutting edge materials and 

treatment, and resulting work piece accuracy and 

surface finish quality. 

• Machine and tool vibration and stability 

• Tool materials and tool wear mechanisms 

• Process monitoring and control 

• Surface measurement technology 

1996 Continues 1995 objective. Continues 1995 activities. 

1997 Establish a national educational and research resource

to foster improvements in woodworking machine and 

tool performance; focus on the machine-tool-work 

piece interface to develop a better understanding of 

spindle and tool dynamics, tool materials and tool 

wear, and machining conditions. 

Adapt and develop technology to further understanding of the woodmachining process, including cross-transfer of computer models from 

metal working to woodworking to help relate tool forces to the 

machining conditions (process monitoring) and work piece surface 

quality 

1998 Establish education and research programs to help the 

wood machining and tooling industries conserve 

natural resources, compete with foreign markets, and 

compete with other building material industries; provide 

industry with graduates knowledgeable in wood 

machining practices and the means to educate 

employees in the latest technology through technology 

transfer. Conduct applied research focusing on the 

machine-tool-work piece interface. 

Activities conform with objectives. 

1999 Continues 1998 objectives. Objectives and descriptions of research activities are similar to 

objectives. 

Page 107 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

2000 Continues 1998 objectives. • Adapt existing technologies from other disciplines, such as the 

metal-cutting and aerospace industries 

• Use high speed machining techniques to achieve higher 

throughputs 

• Adapt process monitoring techniques developed for metal cutting 

to wood machining 

• Use surface quality evaluation techniques to monitor the 

machining process as well as the condition of the work piece. 

2001 Foster research and education to achieve an improved 

understanding of tool/work piece interaction 

phenomena, including enhancing wood utilization and 

wood products manufacturing efficiency through 

increased tool life, improving surface quality, reducing 

machine and tool maintenance problems, improving 

cutting accuracy, and increasing machine productivity. 

Continues 2000 activities, and adds 

• Conduct abrasive machining research, resulting in significant 

energy savings

2002 Continues 2001 objectives. Continues 2001 activities. 

2003 Continues 1998 objectives. Continues 2001 activities. 

2004 Help the wood machining and tooling industries 

conserve natural resources, compete with foreign 

markets, and compete with other building material 

industries; provide industry with graduates 

knowledgeable in wood machining practices and with

the means to educate employees in the latest

technology through technology transfer efforts; conduct 

applied research focusing on the machine-tool-work 

piece interface.

Continues 2001 activities. 

2005 Help the wood machining and tooling industries 

conserve natural resources, compete with foreign 

markets, compete with other building material 

industries, as well as provide these industries with 

graduates knowledgeable in wood machining 

practices. Focus on the machine-tool-work piece 

interface to better understand and improve tool 

materials, machine and tool designs, and process 

monitoring and control techniques. 

Continues some 2001 activities. 

Source: GAO’s analysis of CSREES data. 

Oregon State University 

Wood Utilization Research 

Center 

This center specializes in science, technology, and business practices that

will enhance the domestic and global competitiveness of the U.S. wood 

products industry, especially in the western United States; this will ensure 

more efficient use of available wood resources. A special emphasis is 

placed on training future scientists, researchers, and practitioners. 

Page 108 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Table 23: Oregon State University Wood Utilization Research Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization 

Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

1995 Meet environmental goals during timber harvest and 

forest product manufacture, leading to sustained timber 

production; extend the forest resource base through 

improved manufacturing and processing, developing 

new wood composites, and extending the service life of 

wood; develop new structural applications for wood; 

exploit wood extractives as alternatives to current 

preservatives, pesticides and adhesives, and as a 

potential source of pharmaceuticals. 

• Applied and basic studies on forest harvesting and other 

operations such as road-building 

• Basic studies on wood and other materials properties to use in 

applied research on composites manufacture and testing 

• Basic and applied studies in wood engineering, wood 

preservation, and wood chemistry 

1996 Continues 1995 objectives. Continues 1995 activities. 

1997 Continues 1995 objectives. Continues 1995 activities. 

1998 Continues 1995 objectives. Continues 1995 activities. 

1999 Continues 1995 objectives. Continues 1995 activities. 

2000 Meet environmental goals, particularly water quality, 

during timber harvest and forest products manufacture, 

leading to sustained timber production; improve 

understanding of slope stability in forested 

environments; extend the forest resource base through 

improved timber harvest and road-related practices, 

manufacturing and processing, developing new wood 

products, and extending the life of wood; develop new 

structural applications for wood; explore new ways to 

detect wood defects; and understand the effects of 

different silvicultural practices on wood quality. 

• Applied and basic research studies, including modeling, on forest 

harvesting and other operations, such as road-building and 

maintenance 

• Basic research on slope stability in forest environments 

• Basic studies on properties of wood and other materials to use in 

applied research on composites manufacturing and testing; basic 

and applied studies in wood engineering, wood preservation, and 

wood chemistry 

2001 Develop the relationships between temperature, 

humidity, airflow, and the levels of VOC emissions from 

wood during the kiln drying process; create a decision 

support system that helps forest planners select 

efficient transportation routes for montane forest 

operations; develop a model to determine the life-cycle 

assessment of structural wood products, considering 

the steps in manufacturing. 

• Dry wood under a variety of conditions, and panel products

manufactured to compare emissions at both dryer and press—

especially to look for any effects of drying conditions on 

subsequent press emissions 

• Use global information systems and economic analysis techniques 

to analyze terrain and road construction and maintenance costs 

and to generate optimization techniques 

• Use an existing computer model to develop life-cycle data for a 

selected number of wood-based composite products 

2002 Develop the knowledge and technology necessary to 

balance the sustainable use of the nation’s forest 

resources with the need to maintain a vigorous, 

competitive, domestic forest products industry. 

• Aggregate existing optimization and simulation software modules 

into a unified system with a user-friendly interface and 

demonstrate effectiveness in solving typical manufacturing 

problems 

• Experimentally determine if slash bundling technology can be

effectively used in harvesting of 1- to 4-inch-diameter trees in highfire risk stands

• Select three promising “smart sensor” technologies and 

experimentally evaluate for field efficacy, accuracy, repeatability, 

and cost in a forestry application 

Page 109 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

2003 Continues 2002 objectives. • Collect data from selected ongoing commercial logging operations 

and use regression analysis to develop forecasting tools 

• Use traditional market research and telephone surveys after indepth interviews of 16 “bellwether firms” 

• Modify a base stochastic drying model for recent research on 

presorting and other features 

2004 Develop the science, technology, management 

approaches, and business practices that will enhance 

the domestic and global competitiveness of the U.S. 

wood products industry, especially in the Pacific 

Northwest. 

• Use a mix of log production control gaming in field evaluations and 

design harvest experiments 

• Evaluate bioactivity of species-specific mill residues and analyze 

chemical constituents of those that test positive 

• Experimentally assess the effect of range of decay fungi on

selected composite material properties 

2005 Continues 2004 objectives. • Employ new life-cycle inventory and assessment models to 

benchmark current manufacturing practices and analyze process 

alternatives 

• Physically measure hygro-mechanical and other properties using 

compression tests and controlled changes in climate conditions 

• Apply field, laboratory, and computer-simulation techniques to a 

series of 5-10 ha model stands 

Source: GAO’s analysis CSREES data. 

University of Tennessee 

Wood Utilization Research 

Center 

This center specializes in southern Appalachian hardwood utilization and 

manufacturing of composite materials. 

Table 24: University of Tennessee Wood Utilization Research Center—Activities Conducted under Grants for Wood Utilization 

Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 1999-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

1999 Apply statistical process control methodologies to 

manufacturing hardwood lumber for improved lumber 

thickness control; develop dimensionally stable 

wood-based composites panel products for improved 

performance and durability; characterize the hardwood 

sawmill in Tennessee to ensure future productivity and 

competitiveness. 

• Have researchers from the Tennessee Forest Products Center 

work together to attain the program objectives 

• Conduct research in cooperating sawmills, in the laboratory, and 

by mail survey, of sawmill owners 

• Analyze data and prepare reports and publications 

• Make presentations to industry groups, professional societies, and 

research cooperators 

Page 110 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

2000 The Tennessee Quality Wood Products Initiative will

address understanding sources of variation in

manufacture of hardwood flooring and cabinets; the 

Tennessee Hardwood Lumber Processing Initiative will 

address efficiency in manufacture of hardwood lumber; 

an international technology transfer conference on 

dimensional stability of wood-based composites will 

bring together researchers from around the world to 

address this subject through oral presentations and 

poster papers.

Continues 1999 approach and adds 

• Research in flooring and cabinet plants and secondary wood

products manufacturers in Tennessee 

• International technology transfer conference on wood-based 

composites 

2001 Apply statistical process control to improve hardwood 

lumber processing; evaluate microwave technology for 

wood drying; and develop technology to improve OSB 

panel with emphasis on thickness swell optimization. 

• Center researchers work with other university and industry 

partners to attain program objectives 

• Conduct research in cooperating industries and the laboratory, 

and by conference training 

• Analyze data and prepare reports and publications 

• Make presentations to industry groups, professional societies, and 

research cooperators 

2002 Improve the efficient and effective use of the nation’s 

hardwood resources by expanding their use in

composite wood products like medium-density 

fiberboard and OSB. Two research projects focus on 

minimizing raw material loss by improving process 

monitoring and control methods. The work will explore 

the information available from new spectroscopic 

sensors while developing new statistical tools for data 

mining and information presentation. 

• Center researchers work with other university, government, and 

industry partners to accomplish the program objectives 

• Conduct research primarily in the Center’s laboratories 

• Compile and analyze experimental data for presentation in reports 

and scientific publications, and make presentations to industry 

groups, professional societies, and cooperating researchers 

2003 Define the effect of molecular level orientation in 

regenerated cellulose fibers on the properties of 

carbon fibers made from this starting material; develop 

dynamic mechanical analysis to assess mechanical 

properties of red oak at elevated temperature and 

moisture contents; determine the effect of adhesive 

resin content and cure level on strength characteristics 

of wood fibers. 

• Build on recent reprogramming of Center’s research to include a 

focus on renewable composites and develop low-modulus, carbon

fibers from cellulose fibers regenerated from NMMO solution 

• Apply nanoindentation to study fundamental questions of 

interphase structure and properties to composite performance and 

use this tool to generate new information on the material 

properties of the wood cell wall

2004 Focus on delivering new insight into the performance 

of wood in heterogeneous materials to better define the 

fundamental parameters that dictate product

performance; better understand the role of the 

wood/polymer interface in composites, and develop 

improved systems for monitoring and control of the 

manufacturing process. 

• Develop new algorithms to model product properties based on 

input from multiple sensors, including novel near infrared 

fingerprints 

• Use microscopy and thermal analysis to study species effects on 

wood-plastic composite structure and properties 

• Develop spectroscopic imaging to characterize resin penetration 

and chemistry in veneer-composite bondlines

Page 111 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix III: CSREES Wood Utilization 

Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

2005 Focus on developing new information on processing 

and performance of extruded wood-polymer composite 

materials; better understand the role of the wood and 

polymer interface in composites, better define 

interfacial structure-property relationships, and develop 

improved systems for monitoring and control of the 

extrusion process; develop novel wireless sensors for 

moisture content monitoring during the drying process. 

• Develop new approaches to monitor and model extruded 

composite properties based on input from multiple sensors, 

including novel near infrared fingerprints 

• Conduct research on wood-polymer composites to explore the 

effect of copolymer architecture on interfacial structure and 

adhesion with amorphous polymers 

• Use dynamic mechanical analysis and spectroscopic methods to 

assess characteristics of the wood-polymer interphase 

Source: GAO analysis of CSREES data. 

University of West Virginia 

Wood Utilization Research 

Center 

This center specializes in improving the utilization of upland hardwoods in 

Appalachian forests. 

Table 25: University of West Virginia Wood Utilization Research Center—Activities Conducted Under Grants for Wood 

Utilization Research and Product Development, Fiscal Years 2004-2005 

Fiscal 

year Objective Approach/research activities

2004 Provide research leadership to the forest products 

sector in the Appalachian region and increase the 

success of the wood products industry: assess the 

fundamental properties of Appalachian hardwoods 

relative to improved use and manufacturing; improve 

opportunities for value-added products developed from 

residues, poor quality resources, and underutilized 

upland hardwood species; and enhance the global 

competitiveness of Appalachian hardwood industries 

by promoting their quality and efficient use. 

• Condition assessment of logs using ground-penetrating radar

(GPR): use GPR to develop nondestructive scanning technology 

for identifying subsurface defects in hardwood logs 

• Oak logging residues: determine lumber and component yields of 

low-quality logs and bolts remaining after timber harvesting in 

West Virginia 

• Determine economic feasibility of converting logging residues into 

value-added products for the lumber, tie, pallet, and component 

industries 

• Increase use of low-quality wood: increase use of oak by 

investigating knife angles and projections during stranding for OSB 

panel production 

2005 Provide research leadership to the forest products 

sector in the Appalachian region and increase the 

success of the wood products industry. 

Continues 2004 activities and adds 

• Value recovery through merchandizing hardwood log products 

• Enhancement of commercial competitiveness through application 

of advanced technologies 

Source: GAO analysis of CSREES data. 

Page 112 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix IV: Budget Authority for the Forest

Service’s Research Work Units and for the 

CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers 

This appendix presents budget authority information for the Forest 

Service, information on FTE scientists and support staff for the Forest 

Service, and budget authority information for CSREES wood utilization 

research centers, from fiscal years 1995 through 2005. 

Table 26: The Forest Service’s Wood Utilization Research Work Units’ Budget Authority, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Nominal dollars in thousands

Work units 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Forest 

Products

Laboratory 

4502 $549 $351 $317 $655 $660 $660 $643 $680 $722 $806 $673

4701 333 333 333 474 478 478 468 469 553 532 425

4703 1,338 1,125 1,150 976 983 983 960 962 987 1,107 1,107

4706 874 894 894 1,104 1,113 1,113 1,086 1,163 1,188 1,265 1,265

4707 610 271 280 523 527 527 515 591 616 697 697

4708 1,031 1,031 1,031 a a a a a a a a

4709 1,395 1,195 1,395 1,340 1,350 1,350 1,316 1,319 1,389 1,877 1,877

4710 1,147 1,267 1,267 2,042 2,058 2,058 2,206 2,211 2,236 2,231 2,231

4712 1,333 1,228 1,363 1,349 1,359 1,359 1,427 1,430 1,476 1,474 1,474

4714 893 953 953 965 973 973 1,091 1,093 1,118 1,193 2,445

4715 870 910 910 a a a a a a a a

4716 1,917 1,502 1,502 1,419 1,430 1,430 2,182 2,514 2,461 2,555 875

4718 739 335 a a a a a a a a a

4719 1,495 1,300 1,300 1,335 1,345 1,345 1,228 1,231 1,327 1,308 1,308

4722 918 933 933 972 980 980 956 958 1,028 1,013 1,013

4723 1,249 1,249 1,249 1,354 1,365 1,365 1,294 1,372 1,397 1,394 925

4724 a a a a a a629 630 655 638 638

4725 a a a a a a a a a a775

4851 905 923 923 1,218 1,229 1,229 1,923 1,928 1,935 1,935 1,485

Subtotal—

Forest 

Products

Laboratory $17,596 $15,800 $15,800 $15,726 $15,850 $15,850 $17,924 $18,551 $19,088 $20,025 $19, 213

Northeastern

Research

Station 

4701 1,114 1,059 1,459 1,459 1,059 1,059 1,139 1,137 1,131 1,117 1,084

4751 300 200 200 200 200 261 233 235 246 250 248

4803 857 400 478 650 1,050 1,030 1,159 1,157 1,150 1,136 1,103

Appendix IV: Budget Authority for the Forest 

Service’s Research Work Units and for the 

CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers 

Page 113 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix IV: Budget Authority for the Forest

Service’s Research Work Units and for the 

CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers 

Nominal dollars in thousands

Work units 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

4805 112 108 129 126 126 145 155 155 167 168 161

Pacific 

Northwest 

Research

Station 

4865 1,442 1,131 1,277 1,227 1,569 2,423 2,637 2,671 2,638 2,717 2,644

Pacific 

Southwest

Research

Station 

4202 a a a a a a225 225 225 206 164

Rocky 

Mountain

Research

Station 

4156 a a a200 300 300 300 300 300 300 300

Southern

Research

Station 

4104 569 475 375 330 330 336 368 374 381 391 401

4701 1,089 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,110 1,171 1,226 1,226 1,226 1,250 1,183

4702 448 400 398 398 402 420 475 495 495 491 479

4703 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200

Total $23,727 $20,873 $21,416 $21,616 $22,196 $23,195 $26,041 $26,726 $27,246 $28,251 $27,179

Source: Forest Service data. 

a

Indicates the research work unit was not established, was discontinued, or was not doing any wood 

utilization research in the given year. 

Table 27: FTE Scientists and Support Staff in the Forest Service’s Wood Utilization Research Work Units, Fiscal Years 1995-

2005 

Work unit Staff 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Forest Products 

Laboratory 

Total scientists 67.2 69.0 64.3 60.6 56.4 55.8 59.0 58.5 57.2 62.8 59.6

Total support 78.0 73.5 61.5 60.4 61.9 60.3 62.3 61.5 62.0 58.3 57.3

Total FTE 145.2 142.5 125.8 121.0 118.3 116.1 121.3 120.0 119.2 121.1 116.9

4502 Scientists 4.2 4.2 2.8 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1

Support 1.1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2.2 2 1.1

4701 Scientists 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1

Support 0 0.2 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9

4703 Scientists 4 4 4 4 4 2.6 3.3 3 3 3 3

Page 114 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix IV: Budget Authority for the Forest

Service’s Research Work Units and for the 

CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers 

Work unit Staff 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Support 3.4 3.3 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 4.4 4.5

4706 Scientists 2 2 4.5 5 4 4 3 3 3 5 6

Support 4.7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 9.4 9.5

4707 Scientists 1.2 1 2.1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Support 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2.5 2.5

4708 Scientists 3.2 5.1 a a a a a a a a a

Support 7 4.5 a a a a a a a a a

4709 Scientists 6 6 6.1 6 5 5.8 6 6 4.4 4 5

Support 3.5 8 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5

4710 Scientists 4 4 6 6 6 6 6.5 5 4.6 4.5 6

Support 11 8.5 8.5 8.5 12 12 13.5 13.5 14.7 9.3 6.5

4712 Scientists 5 5 3.5 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4

Support 10 8.1 8.1 7 7 7 7 7 7 6.5 6.5

4714 Scientists 4 4 4 3 3 2.8 3.5 3 3 7.8 7

Support 2.3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2.5 2.2 2.2

4715 Scientists 4 4 a a a a a a a a a

Support 0.5 0.5 a a a a a a a a a

4716 Scientists 8.3 8.7 7 7 7 7 5.2 6 6.7 7 2

Support 6.5 5.5 4 4 3 3 2.5 2.5 1.1 0.5 1.7

4718 Scientists 2 2 a a a a a a a a a

Support 3.5 3.5 a a a a a a a a a

4719 Scientists 4 4 5 5 4 4 4 4 3.5 3.5 3

Support 5.5 3.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9

4722 Scientists 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4.4 5

Support 2.5 2 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

4723 Scientists 2 2 5 4 3 4 4 4 4 2 3

Support 7.3 7.3 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 3.8 4.3

4724 Scientists a a a a a a3 3 3 3 3

Support a a a a a a2 2 2 2 2

4725 Scientists a a a a a a a a a2 2.1

Support a a a a a a a a a2.6 2.5

4851 Scientists 6.3 6 6.3 6.3 6.3 5.4 6.3 6.3 6.8 6.4 5.4

Support 6.7 7.1 6 6 5 5 4 3.2 3.2 0.8 1.7

Northeastern

Research Station

Total scientists 13 14 12 10 12 12 11 10 9 9 9

Total support 10 9 9 10 8 10 10 11 11 11 10

4701 Scientists 7 8 7 6 5 5 5 4 3 3 3

Page 115 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix IV: Budget Authority for the Forest

Service’s Research Work Units and for the 

CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers 

Work unit Staff 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Support 4 4 4 4 3 5 5 6 6 6 6

4751 Scientists 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1

Support 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

4803 Scientists 4 4 3 2 5 4 4 4 4 4 4

Support 5 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 3

4805 Scientists 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Support 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Pacific Northwest 

Research Station—

4865 

Scientists 7.5 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 8.8 8.8 7.8 10.1 9 9.3

Support 8 6 5 5 5.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 6 4.5 7

Pacific Southwest 

Research Station—

4202 

Scientists a a a a a a1 1 1 1 1

Support a a a a a a0 0 0 0 2

Rocky Mountain 

Research Station—

4156 

Scientists a a a0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

Support a a a0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Southern Research

Station 

Total scientists 10.5 9.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 7.5 6.7 6.7 8.7 8.7 8.7

Total support 13.0 13.0 13.0 12.0 11.0 10.0 10.0 9.3 9.3 9.3 9.8

4104 Scientists 4 3 2 2 2 1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2

Support 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

4701 Scientists 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 4 4 4

Support 7 7 7 7 6 5 5 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.8

4702 Scientists 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3

Support 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

4703 Scientists 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

Support 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

Forest Service Total scientists 98.2 98.3 90.6 85.0 82.8 84.2 86.6 84.1 86.1 90.6 87.7

Total support 109 101.5 88.5 87.4 86.4 87.8 89.8 89.3 88.3 83.1 86.1

Total FTEs 207.2 199.8 179.1 172.4 169.2 172 176.4 173.4 174.4 173.7 173.8

Source: GAO’s analysis of Forest Service data. 

a

Indicates the research work unit was not yet established, was discontinued, or was not doing any 

wood utilization research in the given year. 

Page 116 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix IV: Budget Authority for the Forest

Service’s Research Work Units and for the 

CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers 

Table 28: Budget Authority for the CSREES Wood Utilization Research Centers, Fiscal Years 1995-2005 

Nominal dollars in thousands

Wood utilization research centers 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Alaska a a a a a$540 $596 $596 $585 $543 $602

b b b b

Consortium $514 457 514 504 511 460 509

Maine $752 $752 $704 $704 824 732 824 807 807 736 717

Michigan 752 752 704 704 824 732 824 807 807 736 717

Minnesota 233 233 218 218 255 227 255 250 246 228 222

Mississippic752 752 704 704 824 732 824 807 1,260 1,154 1,180

North Carolina 289 290 271 271 317 282 317 311 306 283 276

Oregon 752 752 704 704 824 732 824 807 795 736 717

Tennessee b b b b421 374 421 412 412 376 417

West Virginia d d d d d d d d d418 463

Total $3,530 $3,532 $3,305 $3,305 $4,805 $4,805 $5,400 $5,304 $5,730 $5,670 $5,820

Sources: Wood utilization research centers’ annual special grant proposals. 

Note: Totals may not add due to rounding. 

a

This center was added in fiscal year 2000. 

b

This center was added in fiscal year 1999. 

c

In fiscal year 2003, the Mississippi center began receiving a committee-directed special grant to 

inventory forest resources statewide. This grant was included in the center’s fiscal year 2003 

proposal, and thereafter the center has submitted separate proposals for the inventory, which were 

included in the center’s total budget for fiscal years 2004 and 2005.

d

This center was added in fiscal year 2004. 

Page 117 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D
Appendix V: 

A

GAO Contact and Staff 

cknowledgments 

Page 118 GAO-06-624 Wood Utilization R&D

Robin M. Nazzaro (202) 512-3841 

In addition to the contact named above, Andrea Wamstad Brown, 

Jacqueline Adams Cook, Richard Johnson, Rebecca Shea, Jay Cherlow, 

Carol Herrnstadt Shulman, Jeremy Ames, and Jaelith Hall-Rivera, made 

key contributions to this report. 

Appendix V: GAO Contact and Staff 

Acknowledgments 

GAO Contact 

Staff 

Acknowledgments 

(360532) 
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