For over 100 years, the CFS has provided Canadians and the Canadian forest sector with forest science leadership and innovative approaches to forest management practices. Because of its expertise in scientific and technical research, the CFS will continue to play a strong role in addressing national and international issues affecting the sustainable management of Canada's forests.

A key function of the CFS S&T program is to provide scientific data that will advance Canada's goal of achieving sustainable forest management. Recognizing the need for timely and accurate data on current and emerging forest resource issues across Canada, the CFS focuses its S&T research on generating, gathering, and reporting forest science information at a national scale.

The CFS delivers S&T research through a system of five national target-based networks:

• Climate Change and Fire Research
• Enhanced Timber Production and Protection
• Forest Ecosystem
• Processes Forest Health and Biodiversity
• Knowledge and Information Synthesis

These networks allow the CFS to address national and international forest science issues and priorities. As well, national networks encourage partnerships between the CFS and outside agencies and help to link research projects and sites throughout Canada.

Although the CFS S&T program is national in scope, it also addresses the specific needs of its regional clients. Forests vary from region to region across Canada, presenting forest managers and researchers with distinct biological conditions and unique management challenges. By operating five research centres, located in Victoria, British Columbia, Edmonton, Alberta, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Sainte-Foy (Québec), and Fredericton, New Brunswick, the CFS maintains regional links with the provinces and territories, industry, Aboriginal communities, model forests, and non-governmental organizations. Increasingly, a multi disciplinary and multipartner approach to research is applied, enhancing communication and broadening the range of research topics that can be addressed. Through active collaboration with forest researchers throughout Canada, CFS scientists assist in the development of regional conservation strategies, investigate regional socioeconomic aspects of forestry, identify and monitor localized occurrences of invasive forest pests, delineate seed zones for forest tree nurseries, and develop integrated management strategies, models, and expert systems tailored to regional conditions and< specific forest ecozones.

The CFS S&T program is focussed on delivering appropriate solutions to specific problems that currently face forest managers and stakeholders. A t the same time, it maintains its strong commitment to exploratory research. By conducting basic science - investigating the biology of forest pests at the molecular level, documenting boreal forest wildfire history, typifying indicators of old-growth forests, and demonstrating complex interactions between climate and forest - the CFS S&T program continues to add to what is currently known about forest ecosystems, thereby increasing its capacity to respond to future forest sector challenges.

CFS S&T is committed to remaining fully informed about its clients' needs. Initiatives such as the National Forest Science and Technology Course of Action provide clear direction regarding the critical information needs of the forest sector and forest communities. Consultation with Canadian forest S&T advisory bodies, including the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, the Forest Sector Advisory Council, the National Advisory Board on Forest Research, and the National Forest Strategy Coalition, is ongoing. FORCAST, a non-profit entity that champions the importance of science and technology in the forest sector, also provides input.

The key to providing leading-edge CFS S&T research is the continual identification and evaluation of S&T research priorities. The CFS is committed to seeking the most efficient possible application of its S&T research capacity to ensure that the research requirements of all its clients, the forest stakeholders of Canada, are fully met now and in the future.