The goal of the collaborative is to bring together faculty, students, industry partners, landowners, and communities to connect research, teaching, and Virginia Cooperative Extension in support of a forest supply chain that is sustainable, resilient, and prepared to meet the needs of future generations.
“The forest supply chain touches every part of Virginia, from rural communities and family-owned forests and logging businesses to manufacturing and renewable materials and energy,” said Scott Barrett, director of the Sustainable Forest Supply Chain Collaborative. “By working across disciplines and with partners on the ground, we can help ensure this supply chain remains strong, viable, and sustainable for the long term.”
The forest supply chain includes the interconnected businesses and professionals who manage forests, harvest and transport timber, and manufacture forest-based products. When each part of this system is healthy, communities benefit through good jobs, environmental stewardship, and long-term economic vitality.
The collaborative’s work spans all three pillars of sustainability, economic, social, and environmental with a focus on applied solutions that support forest health, workforce development, safety, efficiency, and responsible forest management.
Affiliated faculty represent multiple departments across the college, including the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation and Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, and bring expertise that addresses complex challenges facing the forest supply chain. An advisory committee guides the collaborative’s direction and partnerships.
Student engagement is a core part of the collaborative’s mission. Undergraduate and graduate students can explore careers across the forest supply chain through coursework, field experiences, research, and internships.
Through research, teaching, and Extension, the Sustainable Forest Supply Chain Collaborative aims to connect research-based information with real-world needs, supporting landowners, loggers, manufacturers, and communities across the commonwealth and beyond.
