Forest Innovations Institute
The Forest Innovations Institute (FII) facilitates transformative and interdisciplinary research and technical assistance to advance the science and practice of forestry for managing public and private forestlands in Idaho and the region. FII engages industry specialists, businesses, private landowners, public land management agencies, Native American Tribes, nonprofit organizations and other universities to achieve healthy, productive forests that enhances the goods and services demanded by society.
Mission of the Idaho Forest Innovations Institute
Our mission is to advance the use of contemporary and emerging technologies and information systems that support research and technical assistance across forest systems and product value chains.
FII research and technical assistance encompasses:
- Tree ecophysiology and genetics, forest microclimates, wildland fire modeling, silviculture, insects, pathogens and forest habitat
- Policy analysis, economics, planning and marketing, landowner behaviors
- Timber harvesting and operations, harvest scheduling, worker safety, wood science engineering and product development
Interdisciplinary research includes digital transformation of information systems related to networking, robotics, automation, remote sensing and artificial intelligence.
FII, in partnership with university faculty and students, promotes professional training and research to advance the practice of forestry on behalf of Idaho’s industries and landowners. This mission directly supports University of Idaho’s strategic goals related to workforce alignment and prioritizing research that generates practical solutions for Idaho’s residents.
Meet our people
Dennis Becker
Dean and professor of Natural Resource Policy
drbecker@uidaho.edu
208-885-8981
Lee Vierling
Associate dean of Research, University Distinguished Professor
leev@uidaho.edu
208-885-7911
Charles Goebel
Professor of Forest Ecosystem Restoration and Ecology and department head of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences
cgoebel@uidaho.edu
208-885-7311
Collaboration with FII
University of Idaho has several research units that are uniquely aligned with the FII:
Center for Forest Nursery and Seedling Research
A global leader in native plant regeneration education and research housed at the Franklin H. Pitkin Forest Nursery- a fully operational production nursery that produces nearly 500,000 seedings annually.
CNR Forest Products Lab
Producing sustainable, innovative products adding value to the entire forest supply chain while advancing responsible use of forestlands.
IFIRE Combustion Lab
This state-of-the-art, highly instrumented facility is the only fire combustion lab located on a university campus in the US.
Inland Empire Tree Improvement Cooperative
This regional forestry consortium meets reforestation challenges by applying forest crop breeding techniques for best outcomes.
Intermountain Forestry Cooperative
A regional cooperative of federal, state and private forestry organizations with the goal of developing forest management practices that best meet members’ ecological, economic and regulatory objectives.
Mica Creek Experimental Watershed
A 25+ year watershed-scale collaboration between Potlatch Corporation and UI to study the impacts of logging practices on streams and fish.
Policy Analysis Group
Established by the Idaho State Legislature in 1989, PAG provides data and objective analysis of the impacts of natural resource policy proposals to industry, communities and the legislature.
A hub for drone-related activities that provides a pool of drones, sensors, equipment, software and knowledge to support high-quality research and management.
UI Experimental Forest
Provides forestry training, learning and employment opportunities for students across a 10,000 acre network of research and working lands.
UI Forest Affiliate Network
Collaborative partnership among private, industrial and public entities to transfer cutting edge forest science and management strategies.
UI Wildland Fire Center
A hub of fire science and management expertise bringing together people from across the full spectrum of fire-related topics.