ASPB has joined a coalition of scientific societies in expressing concern over proposed closures, consolidations, and reorganizations of US Forest Service (USFS) research facilities. The letter warns that these actions could “degrade and damage the Forest Service’s scientific capacity and its ability to collect and deliver critical information” that supports ecosystem health, forest management, and local communities.
The signatories emphasize that USFS research provides the scientific foundation for decisions related to wildfire management, water resources, forest health, food security, and climate resilience. They further caution that facility closures could result in the loss of “irreplaceable national research assets” and “an unprecedented erosion of institutional knowledge” that is essential to managing the nation’s natural resources.
By signing this letter, ASPB reaffirms its support for science-based decision-making and sustained federal investment in the research infrastructure that underpins environmental stewardship, agricultural resilience, and healthy ecosystems.
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