AFF Research Grants
Public policies that impact private forest ownership are strengthened and more effective at conserving forests when informed by sound research. Due to a lack of research, the dynamic nature of and full suite of ecological, economic, and social benefits provided by family forest ownerships are not fully understood. As a result, public policies may not succeed in supporting family forests and the services they provide to the public.
The American Forest Foundation is launching a new research grants program that aims to fill gaps in our understanding of forest ecology, the socio-economic dimensions of forest ownership and management, and the impact of public policies on forest sustainability, with an emphasis on family forests. The findings of this grants program will help develop and advance policies that improve the sustainability of America’s family forests.
2009 Research Grant –
no longer accepting proposals The 2009 AFF Research Grant will focus on how state and local forest tax policies impact family forests in all 50 states. Applicants should take an interdisciplinary approach and form teams of experts from relevant fields to explore the issues and develop recommendations for tax policies. The award will be made in June 2009 and research should be completed by December 2010.
Grantees are encouraged to take creative and innovative research approaches to explore how different tax policy approaches impact the sustainability of family forests. However, all proposals should explain how the proposed research will:
1) Compare and contrast existing state and local tax policies in all 50 states (e.g. preferential tax programs, conservation tax credits, etc.);
2) Analyze the historic and projected impact of state and local tax policies on family forest ownerships; and
3) Identify and recommend promising tax policy options that would encourage intact family forest ownerships at the landscape level.
For further details:
2009 Request for Proposals 2009 Research Grants Cover Page Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of experts from within and beyond AFF, and awardees will be notified no later than June 15, 2009.
2008 Research Grants –
no longer accepting proposals The Research Grants Program of the AFF will fund graduate research seminars during the 2009 fall semester of 2009, and a hosted AFF Fellow in fall 2009/spring 2010.
The graduate research seminars are expected to focus on one on the following issues of relevance to family forests, and explore how different policy approaches to these issues could improve the sustainability of family forests:
1) What are the current and projected impacts of bio-energy markets on the sustainability of family forests? What policy approaches would encourage participation in these markets and improve the economic, ecological, and social sustainability of family forests?
2) What suite of forest ecosystem services are relevant to different ownership classes of family forest owners? What policy approaches would encourage family forest owners to maximize the benefits that their forests provide, both to themselves and to society at large?
3) What are the anticipated impacts of climate change on family forests, and what are the best adaptation strategies? Given the unique challenges of working with family forests, what are the best policy options to maintain intact forestland at the landscape level, ensuring a climate benefit as well as the overall economic viability and ecological sustainability of family forests?
For further details:
2008 Request for Proposals 2008 Research Grants Cover Page AFF’s Research Partners Group (RPG) will select the awardees and will notify recipients no later than December 19, 2008. The diverse group is comprised of experts and academicians from around the country.
