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NIFA supports research, educational, and extension efforts in a wide range of scientific fields related to agricultural and behavioral sciences.

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    Second Annual Virtual Grants Support Technical Assistance Workshop
    Check out this five-day workshop in March 2024 workshop, designed to help you learn about NIFA grants and resources for grants development and management.

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    ForestsSharePrint Friendly Email Twitter Facebook
    
    Natural Resources
      Air
          Forests
          Grasslands and Rangelands
          Soil
          WaterForests are ecosystems comprised of trees, other plants, animals, and surrounding natural resources.  For many, the land provides a chance for leisure activities. Beyond presenting recreational opportunities, forests offer vital economic and environmental benefits.

Importance of Forests

The forestry industry supports over 1.6 million workers in a market worth over $50 billion dollars, but forests provide much more than materials for lumber and paper. Increasingly, scientists are recognizing that forests play a critical role in climate change, absorbing as much as 14 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions each year. The country’s woodlands serve vital environmental and economic needs by providing:

Habitat for plants and animals
	Recreational  opportunities
	Tourist revenue of some $11 billion each year for surrounding businesses and communities
	A natural mechanism for reducing greenhouse gases
	Raw materials for bioenergy production
	Opportunities for farmers to practice agroforestry — a land use practice that combines crop production with that of timber and other tree-based productsNIFA’s Impact

NIFA projects are working to restore the health of the nation’s forests by:

Expanding knowledge of forest ecosystems
	Reducing the risk of destructive wildfires and restoring forest health
	Implementing sustainable practices designed to restore and maintain forest health
	Fostering a globally competitive forest resources sector
	Preparing the nation’s forests to adapt to a changing climate
	Increasing carbon dioxide sequestration technologies to mitigate climate change
	Educating farmers and landowners about sustainable forest practices and forest farming
	Teaching future forestry professionals

  Programs
    Agricultural Extension Programs at 1890 Institutions
              Equipment Grants Program (EGP)
              Forests Programs
              From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals (NextGen)
              McIntire-Stennis Capacity Grant
              Renewable Resources Extension Act Capacity Grant
              Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture

  Funding Opportunities
    Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) (Joint NSF) Competitive Grants Program
              Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems
              Research Facilities Act Program Return to top
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