Forest Innovations Institute

Logging and Maintenance at the Experimental Forest

The Forest Innovations Institute (FII) facilitates transformative, interdisciplinary research and technical assistance to improve the management of public and private forestlands in Idaho and the region. FII partners with industry specialists, businesses, landowners, agencies, tribes, nonprofits and other universities to sustain healthy, productive forests that enhance the goods and services society depends on.

Two people stand in a forest.

Digitized forests

Learn how LiDAR is impacting the future of forestry.

Read the story

Mission

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.

Collaboration with FII

FII Networks and Cooperatives
  • UI Forest Affiliate Network
    Collaborative partnership among private, industrial and public entities to transfer cutting edge forest science and management strategies.
  • 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.
FII Research Lab Resources
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • UI Drone Lab
    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 Wildland Fire Center
    A hub of fire science and management expertise bringing together people from across the full spectrum of fire-related topics.
FII Experimental Field Sites
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • UI Experimental Forest
    Provides forestry training, learning and employment opportunities for students across a 10,000 acre network of research and working lands.

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