MOSCOW, Idaho — A new interdisciplinary research institute at University of Idaho dedicated to advancing forestry science, management and innovation aims to partner with landowners, industry and government agencies to develop solutions for 21st-century forestry challenges. The mission of U of I’s newly established Forest Innovations Institute (FII) is to help public and private forest landowners and industry partners apply the latest research and technology, said Dennis Becker, dean of the College of Natural Resources. This includes topics such as tree physiology and genetics, fire modeling, silviculture, forest pests and pathogens, harvest operations and the economics and policy of forest management. “FII will engage broadly with public and private forest landowners, industry partners, tribal governments, nonprofits and other universities on a regional and even international level,” Becker said. “FII aims to ensure that forestry research is not only cutting edge but also grounded in real-world needs and opportunities.”