CFRU seeks research proposals now through January 5th, 2024.

The Cooperative Forestry Research Unit is seeking research proposals for funding beginning in the summer of 2024. CFRU research focuses on developing applied information/tools that member organizations can use to improve forest management and planning. Proposals and scope of work should address the interests and challenges forest managers face today and in the near future (5-10 years).

Scope of member interests:

Members are surveyed yearly to assess their areas of interest for the RFP. The most recent summary of a member research listening session can be found here and may be helpful when forming research proposals specific to CFRU interests. Remote sensing research emerged as the top interest during the session for our members and the following topics were identified as priorities:

• utilization of remote sensing for improving methods of carbon quantification
• cost-effective methods of remote sensing and other technologies to supplement data between LiDAR acquisitions
• using LiDAR & remote sensing to model and map wildlife habitats.

All remote sensing research related to the forestry sector will be considered. Additionally, silviculture is the cornerstone of CFRU’s research portfolio, and we welcome related applied research projects, particularly those leveraging the Maine Adaptive Silviculture Network (MASN).

Timeline:

• December 21, 2023, 5:00 PM: letters of intent are due (emailed to regina.smith@maine.edu)
  Letters should include a brief description of the research project, outline linkages and benefits to Maine’s forest sector, and a total requested amount for funding. Letters should be no longer than 1 page single-spaced in length. Keep language
  as clear and concise as possible.
• January 5, 2023, 5:00 PM: pre-proposals are due. Please use this Google form to submit your pre-proposal.
  Pre-proposal template and directions can be found here.
• January 25, 2023: (if pre-proposal is selected) present to CFRU membership via Zoom

Please see the attached RFP below for more details.