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The Cooperative Forest Ecosystem Research program,
commonly referred to as CFER, was formed in 1995 to facilitate management
of forest ecosystems on public lands administered by the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) in western Oregon. 
Coniferous forests dominate the landscape of
western Oregon and the western portion of most of the Pacific Northwest.
The information needs of resource managers are
inherently complex and integrative, and many of the issues extend
over many years and a broad geographic area. Accordingly, CFER has
adopted an integrated approach that is oriented towards answering
questions at different scales of time and space.
The CFER program has an adaptable structure designed
to adjust to the changing demands and short-term needs of resource
managers, while maintaining the continuity to pursue problems requiring
many years of effort.
The CFER program began with the Memorandum of
Understanding signed by the program's initial cooperators in June
1995.
Initial funding for CFER will be provided by
the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, USGS Biological
Resources Division. As the program evolves, additional funds from
other cooperators may be available. In FY 1996, funding supported
development of the problem analysis and this long-range plan. In
FY 1997, additional support was allocated for planning, coordination,
program development, and initiation of pilot studies. The CFER Program
is being implemented in FY 1998 with $500,000 in funding. Funding
in FY 1999 through 2007 is expected to be approximately $1,200,000
annually.
Principal review and oversight for CFER are provided
by the CFER Steering Committee. Progress on the program's research
and information exchange activities is reported to the Steering
Committee annually. Program reviews are conducted every five years.
In addition, an independent peer-review process will be used to
evaluate all research plans and scientific products.
Program progress is reported to cooperators,
forest managers, and researchers in many ways. This will be accomplished
primarily with the CFER Annual Report. In addition, regular periodic
updates of CFER progress are provided through CFER's information
exchange program.
Smith, J.P., R.E. Gresswell, and J.P. Hayes,
1997. A research problem analysis in support of the Cooperative
Forest Ecosystem Research (CFER) Program. Report to the Forest and
Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Biological Resources Division,
US Geological Survey, Corvallis, Oregon. Oregon State University
Contract Agreement No.H952A1-0101-25. 92 p.
Janet Erickson
CFER Information Exchange Specialist
3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331
541-737-6593
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