The Southern Research Station (SRS) is one component of seven units that provide the framework for the US Forest Service (USFS) Research and Development organization. Forest Service R&D is described by the USDA as "...the most extensive natural resources research organization in the world".

Mission The mission of the Southern Research Station is:

History The R&D organization has been part of the USFS mission since the agency was created in 1905. As one of seven units in the USFS R&D organization, the Southern Research Station had its beginnings as two separate entities – the Southern Forest Experiment Station and the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. During their formative years, major areas of research in these two experiment stations included: Mensuration Growth & yield Harvest and reproduction cutting methods Gum naval stores production Thinning research in even-aged, second-growth loblolly and shortleaf pine stands Forest fire research

Southern Forest Experiment Station (SFES) Initiated in 1921, the SFES was responsible for research in southern pine types within the states of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, East Texas and southern Arkansas. The SFES was headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Southeastern FES directors R. D. Forbes E. L. Demmon Charles A. Connaughton H. L. Mitchell P. A. Brieglib Walter M. Zillgitt T. C. Nelson R. L. Youngs J. C. Barber L. E. Lassen T. H. Ellis Peter J. Roussopouloshttps://ppolinks.com/forestservicemuseum/2022_1_23.pdf

Southeastern Forest Experiment Station (SEFES) The SEFES began as the Appalachian Station in 1921, with its research scope being generally limited to mountain hardwood types. States within the Appalachian Station included North Carolina, South Carolina, northern Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and eastern Tennessee.

After World War II, the Appalachian Station was redesignated as the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, and research was expanded to include both pine and hardwood types from Florida through Virginia. Headquarters for the Appalachian Station and SEFES were in Asheville, NC.

Southern Research Station (SRS) In 1995, the Southern and Southeastern Forest Experiment Stations merged to form the Southern Research Station with headquarters in Asheville, North Carolina. Research was expanded into new fields to address "...how climate change, human population growth, invasive plants, pathogens, and fire affect the provision of timber, wildlife, clean air and water, and recreation, as well as other ecosystem services."

Thirteen US states are within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Southern Research Station.

SRS Science Centers and Research Work Units As of 2022, SRS research activities were being conducted within 15 Research Work Units located throughout the southeastern US and were categorized under four scientific objectives or science centers. + SRS Research Work Units within four Science Centers Science Center Research Work Unit and contact location Forest Assessment and Synthesis •Center for Forest Watershed Research (Otto, NC)•Forest Economics and Policy (Research Triangle Park, NC)•Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center (Asheville, NC and Research Triangle Park, NC)•Center for Integrated Forest Science (Raleigh, NC)•Integrating Human and Natural Systems (Athens, GA and Gainesville, FL) Forest Health and Disturbance •Center for Forest Disturbance Science (Athens, GA and Clemson, SC)•Forest Genetics and Ecosystems Biology (Saucier, MS)•Insects, Diseases and Invasive Plants of Southern Forests (Athens, GA) Forest Inventory and Analysis •Forest Inventory and Analysis (Knoxville, TN) Forest Restoration and Management •Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research (Stoneville, MS)•Upland Hardwood Ecology and Management (Asheville, NC)•Restoring and Managing Longleaf Pine Ecosystems (Monticello, AR)•Southern Pine Ecology and Management (Monticello, AR)•Forest Operations (Auburn, AL)•Utilization of Southern Forest Resources (Auburn, AL)

SRS Experimental Forests Within the SRS, there are 20 Experimental forests and/or Rangelands located in nine southeastern states. These experimental forests and rangelands provide a network for conducting long-term research studies and are a treasure trove of accumulated historical sampling data that span a time period of up to 100 years. Experimental forests also serve as education and demonstration sites where researchers interact with students, forest landowners, and forest managers.

Experimentalforest Size(acres) LocationUS State Yearestablished Escambia 2,990 Alabama 1947 Alum Creek 4,281 Arkansas 1959 Crossett 1,675 Arkansas 1934 Henry R. Koen 720 Arkansas 1951 Sylamore 4,290 Arkansas 1934 Chipola 2,760 Florida 1934 Olustee 3,135 Florida 1934 Hitchiti 4,602 Georgia 1938 Scull Shoals 4,487 Georgia 1961 Palustris 7,515 Louisiana 1935 Experimentalforest Size(acres) LocationUS State Yearestablished Delta 2,580 Mississippi 1961 Harrison 4,111 Mississippi 1934 Tallahatchie 4,569 Mississippi 1950 Bent Creek 5,242 North Carolina 1925 Blue Valley 1,400 North Carolina 1964 Coweeta 5,482 North Carolina 1934 John C. Calhoun 5,082 South Carolina 1947 Hill Demo Forest 2,690 North Carolina 1947 Santee 6,000 South Carolina 1937 Stephen F. Austin 2,560 Texas 1945

Research Natural Areas In 2022, there were 33 established Research Natural Areas (RNA) located within 12 southeastern US states, excluding Tennessee. At least two Research Natural Areas are located within the boundaries of the Southern Research Station's Experimental Forests: The Harrison Research Natural Area is located within the Harrison Experimental Forest. This portion of the experimental forest contains that were designated as a RNA in 1989. When assessed in 1991, the overstory component within this RNA was 90% longleaf pines (Pinus palustris) that established naturally from seeds after the virgin pine forests were clearcut in the 1920s. The R. R. Reynolds Research Natural Area is located within the Crossett Experimental Forest. Other than fire protection, the R.R. Reynolds RNA was set aside from active forest management in 1943 to provide a contrast to managed stands. Based on a 1993 tree inventory, the RRRRNA was described as "... a closed–canopy, mature loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)–hardwood forest", with oaks (Quercus spp.) being the predominant overstory hardwood component. This forest area was designated as a RNA in 2005.

Structural reorganization On July 24, 2025, the US Secretary of Agriculture issued Memorandum SM 1078-015 titled, Department of Agriculture Reorganization Plan. One section of the memorandum specified that, "... the current stand-alone Research Stations would be consolidated into a single location in Fort Collins, Colorado". As a result of that memorandum, the Forest Service proposed the closure of 57 of its 77 research locations throughout the United States, and at least 13 of those locations are scheduled for closure within the Southern Research Station. In a USDA press release dated March 31, 2026, the Secretary of Agriculture announced that, over the course of the next year, the transition phase would begin bringing geographically dispersed Forest Service research stations to Fort Collins, where all scientific research operations would be headquartered under a "unified national research and development organization".

SRS research & development facility closures

Huntsville, AL Monticello, AR Tallahassee, FL Lexington, KY Pineville, LA Leland, MS Oxford, MS Saucier, MS Starkville, MS Stoneville, MS Clemson & Huger, SC Nacogdoches, TX Blacksburg, VA

Note: Designated facility closures as of March 2026

Authority for the reorganization According to the Secretary of Agriculture:

USDA did not seek congressional review before initiating this structural reorganization.

See also Bent Creek Campus of the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station William Willard Ashe Henry E. Hardtner Chung-Yun Hse Peter Koch (wood scientist) John C. Moser Carl A. Schenck

References

External links Publications of the Southern Forest Experiment Station: 1921 – 1954 Publications of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station: 1921–1958 USDA Forest Service TREESEARCH