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Montana Forest & Conservation Experiment Station
Centers, Institutes, and Special Programs

The Applied Forest Management Program

An applied research entity to develop and promote silvicultural management knowledge to the full spectrum of Montana’s 11,000 forest landowners.

The Bitterroot Ecosystem Management Research Project

The Bitterroot Ecosystem Management/Research Project is exploring and demonstrating ecosystem-based management in northern Rocky Mountain forests. The project focuses on the Bitterroot National Forest, a complex of grassland, forest, and alpine ecosystems in western Montana and northeastern Idaho.

Bolle Center for People and Forests

The Bolle Center helps people participate effectively in natural resources decision-making. It conducts research and outreach programs which focus primarily on the issues of the Northern Rockies region.

Boone and Crockett Wildlife Conservation Research Program

The Boone and Crockett program conducts research on wildlife conservation and integrated resource management, primarily on private lands. Ongoing studies include the interface between wildlife and ranching, the culture and environmental history of ranching, geomorphology, hydrologic, and the economics of wildlife conservation in a ranch setting.

Geographic Information Systems Program

This program has become a leader in the field as related to natural resources in the northwestern region of the United States. We seek out and support sponsored graduate and faculty research projects which utilize GIS in new and exciting ways, and we work cooperatively with natural resource managers to develop tools which integrate various models into a spatial context. We foster technology transfer by conducting workshops and providing demonstrations to various audiences.

Hazard Reduction/Ecosystem Restoration Study in Pine/Fir Forests – Montana

This interdisciplinary study, part of the Fire and Fire Surrogates national network, is designed to evaluate the effects of alternative hazard reduction treatments in fire-adapted forests. Knowledge gained from this long-term study is being used in conjunction with results from other network sites to develop local, regional, and national guidelines to assist managers in prioritizing areas for treatment, designing effective treatments, and predicting treatment outcomes.

Inland Northwest Growth and Yield Cooperative

INGY researches technical problems and concerns associated with the growth and yield of forests in the Inland Northwest through the support and cooperation of private industry, federal agencies, consulting firms , the Nez Perce tribe, and other universities the region.

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research

ITRR provides research leadership and assistance to Montana's tourism and recreation industry. ITRR's research enables public and private segments of Montana's tourism and recreation industry to plan, market, develop, and manage tourism and recreation resources effectively

Mission Oriented Research Programs

MORP develops and disseminates knowledge and techniques needed to improve multiple-resource production of second growth forests in Montana, including multi-resource stand management practices, and the use of GIs and GPS technology for designing and evaluating landscape-level applied ecosystem management.

The Montana Ecosystem Management Learning Center Program

The Montana Ecosystem Management Learning Center Program is a cooperative effort among researchers, educator, managers and students to explore the interaction between humans and the environment. The Program seeks to: Provide new learning opportunities on the interaction of people with forest and range ecosystems, promote cooperative ventures among land managers, researchers, university personnel, primary and secondary school teachers, and the public that demonstrates Ecosystem Management principles and to improve understanding of ways ecosystem dynamics and human interactions influence land use planning.

The National Center for Landscape Fire Analysis

The National Center for Landscape Fire Analysis is a locus for research, learning, and technology development located within The College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana, Missoula. Its work depends upon collaborative relationships with federal, state, and local partners engaged in fire, fuels management, and research in the western United States.

Numerical Terradynmaic Simulation Group (NTSG)

NTSG uses satellites, geographic information systems, computer simulation and visualization, and biophysical theory to develop new techniques for addressing regional ecological problems. NTSG project examine all scales of ecological study from one-acre plots to the entire terrestrial biosphere.

PRIMENet

PRIMENet is a joint Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Park Service (NPS) program to assess the effects of environmental stressors on ecological systems nation wide. A system of 14 monitoring and research sites have been established in National Parks. This network of monitoring and research locations uses the park units as "outdoor laboratories," where environmental changes are monitored through time in relatively undisturbed sites.

Quantitative Services Group

QSG provides information technology systems and spatial analysis applications support for research and instruction within the School of Forestry. It maintains leading-edge GIS and other natural resource analysis systems.

Riparian and Wetland Research Program

RWRP studies and collects data on riparian and wetland areas -- the green borders of streams, lakes, marshes, springs and other watered sites. The program participates in research projects of the Montana Riparian and Wetland Association -- a statewide cooperative program the develops classification systems, inventory techniques and management information needed to ensure healthy riparian ecosystems.

UMAC-PARC

The Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium (UMAC) integrates academia, government, and industry. Academic members of the Consortium are the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Montana State University, the University of Montana, The University of Wyoming, and the University of Idaho.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grizzly Bear Recovery Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator office is located on the University of Montana Campus. This office facilitates grizzly bear research between state and federal agencies as well as with universities. These research projects advance grizzly bear recovery as outlined in the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.

Wilderness Institute

The Wilderness Institute develops information for resource managers and citizens, conducts continuing and public education programs, helps develop the expertise wildland decision-making requires, and administers the University of Montana's Wilderness and Civilization educational programs.