Who We Are

The Southern Forest Resource Assessment Consortium is a research and application group designed to improve analysis and modeling of the effects of biological, economic, and social information for regional forestry decision-making. Our objective is to sustain and enhance economic and environmental benefits generated by our forests through economically efficient and environmentally acceptable forest management.

In particular, SOFAC develops forest sector market models for applications to forest resource assessments in the South, the U.S., and the world.

SOFAC's goal is to give forest managers and policy-makers the data and the models they need to make sound decisions in a rapidly changing world. Research and applications are developed to analyze local and southern forest resource conditions, management alternatives, and policy scenarios. SOFAC's models can be applied to analyze wood mill supply, develop strategic plans, perform state and regional economic development analysis, and assess regional investment possibilities.

Organized in 1994 to enhance the analysis of the South's forest resources, SOFAC was a cooperative endeavor involving USDA Forest Service Research, southern forest industry, timberland investment management organizations, and state forestry agencies.

SOFAC was moved to NC State University as new cooperative program in 2008 and had 18 forestry sector members as of July 2008.  These organizations contribute funding and participate as voting members.

For more information, contact:

who we are | publications | research | member services | SOFAC scientists | home page