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Stelprd3798091.Pdf Cover image: views of the headquarters of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry. Top photo by G. Bauer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Contents Editor’s Message ....................................................................................................................................................v A Message from the Director ..............................................................................................................................vi Vision and Mission ...............................................................................................................................................vii A Working Vision for Safety ................................................................................................................................vii The Institute .........................................................................................................................................................viii Institute Headquarters—Historic and Sustainable .................................................. 1 Description of the Institute’s Facilities ...............................................................................................................2 Headquarters ........................................................................................................................................................................2 Sabana Field Research Station ..............................................................................................................................................3 Support and Administration ....................................................................................... 4 Finances and Workforce ......................................................................................................................................4 Incoming Funding ..................................................................................................................................................................4 Distribution of Funds .............................................................................................................................................................4 Workforce Statistics ..............................................................................................................................................................4 Funding Partners for FY12 ...................................................................................................................................5 Cooperators Who Received Funding from the Institute ...........................................................................................................5 Cooperators Who Provided Funds to the Institute ...................................................................................................................5 Institute Social Media (Twitter) ...........................................................................................................................6 Institute Twitter Account ........................................................................................................................................................6 Caribbean Landscape Conservation Cooperative Twitter Account ...........................................................................................6 Research and Development ....................................................................................... 7 Research FY 2012 Key Accomplishments .......................................................................................................7 Information Technology Highlights of 2012......................................................................................................7 Research Highlights of 2012 ..............................................................................................................................8 Scientist Profiles ..................................................................................................................................................10 Ecosystem Ecology ..............................................................................................................................................................10 Soil Ecology ........................................................................................................................................................................10 Social Science ....................................................................................................................................................................10 Plant Physiology ..................................................................................................................................................................10 Wildlife Ecology ...................................................................................................................................................................11 Silviculture ..........................................................................................................................................................................11 Biogeochemistry .................................................................................................................................................................11 Watersheds .........................................................................................................................................................................12 Landscape Ecology .............................................................................................................................................................12 Research Highlights By Scientist ......................................................................................................................13 I. Water, Air, And Soil ...........................................................................................................................................................13 II. Wildlife ...........................................................................................................................................................................17 III. Resource Management and Use .....................................................................................................................................20 IV. Climate Change ..............................................................................................................................................................23 V. Inventory and Monitoring .................................................................................................................................................25 Cooperative Research Agreements .................................................................................................................29 Ecological Effects of Nutrient Enrichment on a Coastal Fringe Mangrove System in Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico ...........................29 Sustainable Management of Big-Leaf Mahogany in the Brazilian Amazon .............................................................................29 State and Private Forestry .........................................................................................31 The Urban and Community Forestry Program ................................................................................................32 Green Infrastructure and Our Parks ......................................................................................................................................34 Caguas Arbor Day Celebration ............................................................................................................................................34 St. Croix Historic Trees ........................................................................................................................................................35 Forest Legacy Program ......................................................................................................................................36 Virgin Islands Acquires First Forest Legacy Properties ..........................................................................................................36 The Cooperative Fire Program ..............................................................................................................................................36 Incident Qualifications System (IQS) ....................................................................................................................................37 Dry Hydrant Demonstration
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