U.S. Endowment and Forest Products Lab launch video series on forest innovation

By AI, Created 11:36 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities has partnered with the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Products Laboratory on a video series showcasing research, stewardship and economic opportunity in the U.S. forest products sector. The effort aims to make lab work more accessible while highlighting how wood innovation affects communities, industries and ecosystems nationwide.

Why it matters: - The video series is designed to show how forest products research translates into real-world benefits for communities, industries and ecosystems. - The effort spotlights innovation that can support working forests, new markets and long-term economic vitality in forest-reliant regions. - The Forest Products Laboratory is the nation’s only federally funded national wood utilization research laboratory, making its work a key public research asset.

What happened: - The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities partnered with the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Products Laboratory on a co-funded video series. - The series was announced May 6, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. - The project highlights innovation, stewardship and economic opportunity in America’s forest products sector. - The videos offer behind-the-scenes views of research and specialized facilities at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin.

The details: - The Forest Products Laboratory conducts scientific research on wood and develops innovative wood products. - The lab’s stated mission is to support the nation’s economy, healthy forests and quality of life through wood and fiber utilization research. - The series covers engineering and remote sensing, wood preservation, nanocellulose and innovations, wood anatomy and forensic work, the carwash chamber and the fire lab. - Engineering and remote sensing tools help improve how forests are monitored and managed at scale. - Wood preservation research aims to extend product life and improve environmentally friendly processes. - Nanocellulose work explores new uses for wood-based materials with high strength and versatility. - Wood anatomy and forensic science are used to identify species, trace origins and combat illegal logging. - The carwash chamber simulates weather exposure for building materials to assess long-term performance. - The fire lab supports research on fire safety, material resilience and structural performance. - Alicia Cramer, chief operating officer at the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, said forests and the products they provide are central to strong communities, healthy landscapes and sound economies. - Cramer said the series highlights researchers who are creating new possibilities and markets for forest products to help ensure the long-term vitality of working forests. - More information is available on the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities website. - The organization also shared social media links on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Between the lines: - The video format suggests the partners want to broaden access to research that may otherwise stay inside technical or academic settings. - The focus on facilities and applied science points to an effort to connect public research funding with tangible economic and environmental outcomes. - The inclusion of forensic wood science and illegal-logging detection also signals a broader enforcement and sustainability angle, not just product development.

What’s next: - The partners are expected to use video storytelling to continue showcasing forest product research and its practical impact. - The series may help build awareness of new applications for wood-based materials and the role of research in supporting working forests. - The Endowment says it will continue collaborating with public and private partners to advance sustainable change for working forests and forest-reliant communities.

The bottom line: - The partnership uses video to turn specialized forest products research into a public-facing story about innovation, stewardship and economic value.