Research Programs

Integrated Expertise: NRRI Research Programs

With over 200 research projects underway, NRRI's programs help define and organize the projects into 12 manageable - and evolving - areas of focus. 

Research Programs

  1. Ecosystem Evaluation
  2. Water Quality
  3. Habitat
  4. Climate Change Assessment
  5. Geosciences
  6. Metallurgy & Metallic Products
  7. Advanced Mineral Processing
  8. Engineered Biocarbon
  9. Sustainable Materials
  10. Non-Fossil Liquid Fuels
  11. Hybrid Poplar
  12. NRRI Integrated Expertise

Sample Research Projects

Here are a few highlight research projects:

Map of northern minnesota with central region highlighted in yellow and north east region highlighted in purple. Sample sites indicated with red dots.

Minnesota National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program

Documenting long-term population trends of breeding forest birds in the Chippewa and Superior National Forests.

Thermally modified tamarack wood used in a boardwalk in northern MN.

Sax Zim Boardwalk Project

Demonstration of a Thermally Modified Eastern Larch Boardwalk to Catalyze New Markets for Low-value Timber.

Minnesota Natural Resource Atlas screen capture showing geological map of Minnesota

Minnesota Natural Resource Atlas

Online mapping tools and data for natural resource planning, management, and research in Minnesota.

Screenshot of the ForCast tool including data layer overlay in Northern Minnesota, and bar chart analysis of data

ForCAST: Forest Change Assessment and Simulation Tool

The ForCAST tool attempts to provide forestry professionals and land managers with an opportunity to evaluate how a changing climate and changing markets might affect Minnesota’s forests and