| Over the last 36 years the FNC
has:  Demonstrated
that leaves grow trees, resources grow
leaves, and that optimum values will only be
realized with site specific manipulation of
both site and genetic resources;
Demonstrated that the potential
productivity of plantations in many areas of
the Americas are much higher than previously
thought and has become a significant force
behind the worldwide adoption of effective
and environmentally sustainable silvicultural
practices;
Identified the debilitating effects of
chronic nutrient limitations on plantation
productivity and the opportunities to enhance
productivity through nutrient additions;
Developed and assisted members in
implementing an accurate and efficient method
of estimating leaf area for plantations using
Landsat imagery;
Provided the fertilizer prescriptions for
the more than one million acres of pine
plantations which are fertilized each year in
the southeast US resulting in 30 million more
tons of wood being produce every year on the
same land base;
Created decision support systems and
prescription guidelines to optimize the use
of soil tillage, vegetation management,
fertilization, and thinning to enhance stand
growth and value;
Published more than 250 papers and reports
dealing with plantation productivity, forest
nutrition, soils, and silviculture (a
complete list of publications can be found on
our web site);
Provided members with the latest
information concerning intensive silviculture
on a personal contact basis through field
visits and a successful workshop series;
Graduated over 60 PhD and MS students from around
the world who are now serving as scientists,
educators, and natural resource managers in
Australia, Brazil, Chile, Sweden, Turkey, and
the United States.
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