Long-Term Research Partnerships
Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (CAFS)
CAFS brings together industry and agency scientists with practitioners and university scientists from across the country to take interdisciplinary approaches to solving problems facing our nation's planted and natural forests. Its mission is to help create a future with sustainable, healthy forests that provide an economic foundation for many communities and industries, and that offer numerous environmental services.
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE)
Forest management in the eastern United States is faced with many modern challenges. Professional foresters have an innovative set of management options for the maintenance of healthy forest ecosystems. As populations of some forest organisms decline, restrictions on landowners may increase because species become classified as endangered or threatened (e.g., the Indiana bat), while increasing populations of other species (white-tailed deer, invasive plants) create economic and ecological challenges. To address these issues, the HEE, a long-term, large-scale experimental study of forest management and its impacts, was initiated in 2006.
Integrated Deer Management Project (IDMP)
IDMP is a multi-year research project led by the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University in partnership with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Fish and Wildlife. The goal of the Integrated Deer Management Project is to combine deer population and habitat condition information with public perceptions of deer and deer management to better inform white-tailed deer management in Indiana.
Integrated Digital Forestry Initiative (iDiF)
iDiF is leveraging digital technology and multidisciplinary expertise to measure, monitor and manage urban and rural forests to maximize social, economic and ecological benefits. The team is working to harmonize four key components of digital age technology – Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Edge and Cloud Computing.
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The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources is actively collaborating with government & non-government organizations on a number of outreach and continuing education opportunities.
PartnersLearn More About Our Research
FNR is organized and staffed to deliver programs addressing the land-grant mission of learning, discovery and engagement in natural resources. The department boasts 31 tenure-track, two clinical and two research faculty members. Faculty expertise covers the core disciplines to deliver undergraduate degrees in Aquatic Sciences, Forestry and Wildlife. In addition, FNR faculty have strong expertise in interdisciplinary ecology, natural resources social science and wood products.
View our nine research areas along with our world-class faculty.
The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources maintains an impressive collection of state-of-the-art research and education facilities. These labs, green houses, and educational facilities are a fundamental component that enables our faculty and students to learn, make new discoveries, and engage our clients in using these discoveries to sustain our nation’s ecosystems and natural resources.
The mission of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources is to develop and disseminate knowledge in the natural resource sciences associated with the protection, management, and sustainable use of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. One way the department accomplishes our mission is by owning and managing 24 properties located throughout the state to provide opportunities for research, extension, and education that achieves sustainable use of our natural resources.